L'Evangile dans ma vie/ The Gospel in my life

Gospel text

(Mt 16,13-19): 

When Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi, He asked his disciples, «Who do people say the Son of man is?». They said, «For some of them you are John the Baptist, for others Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the prophets». Jesus asked them, «But you, who do you say I am?». Peter answered, «You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God».

Jesus replied, «It is well for you, Simon Barjona, for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. And now I say to you: You are Peter (or Rock) and on this rock I will build my Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and what you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven».

The Application

Jesus is not content with our common opinions, rather He demands that our affirmations and convictions, be personal and intime. He wishes to establish a personal relationship with us. Faith is an expression of this personal relationship and a recognition of God’s grace.

Even though this faith is personal, yet it has a common implication, as it is essentially communal in nature. Since it is a gift of the Holy Spirit, this gift has an end in itself. And this finality is always divine, closely linked to the divine will, the salvation of the world.

For this gift to be fulfilled and all that God has willed be completed, the Holy Spirit accompanies us throughout our lives. God takes us in grace and blesses us. In this blessing, He transforms us, making us worthy of doing His will. In this way, Simon Peter, an ordinary man, will become the stone on which Jesus will build his Church, and grant him the key to the Kingdom of God.

Today, God needs us, He counts us as the Stones He needs to build His Church, on our faith, the foundation and source of our salvation.  

Action of the day: Be a rock for God.

«I say to you: You are Peter (or Rock) and on this rock I will build my Church»

Fr. Antoni CAROL i Hostench

(Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, we celebrate the Chair of St. Peter. Since the 4th century, the Church wants to emphasize with this celebration the fact that —as a gift from Jesus Christ to us— the edifice of his Church stands upon the Prince of the Apostles, who enjoys a peculiar divine help to fulfill that mission. This is how the Lord said it at Caesarea Philippi: «You are Peter (or Rock) and on this rock I will build my Church» (Mt 16:18). Indeed, «from the whole world Peter alone is chosen to take the lead in calling all nations, to be the head of all the Apostles and of all the Fathers of the Church» (St. Leo the Great).

From its very beginning, the Church has benefited of this stony ministry so that St. Peter and his related successors, have presided over charity, have been a source of unity and, most especially, have had the mission to confirm their brothers in the truth.

Once He resurrected, Jesus confirmed this mission to Simon Peter. He, who deeply repented and had already cried over his triple denial before Jesus, makes now a triple statement of love: «Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you» (Jn 21:17). Henceforth, the Apostle will be soothed when realizing Jesus Christ does not deny him and, for three times, He confirms him in the ministry he had been announced before: «Tend my sheep» (Jn 21:16-17).

This authority is not conferred because of his own merits, as, Simon's declaration of faith, at Caesarea, was not either: «for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you but my Father in heaven!» (Mt 16:17). Yes, this is an authority granted with the supreme power to serve. This is why the Roman Pontiff, when signing his writings, he does it with the honorific title of: Servus servorum Dei.

It is, therefore, a power to serve the cause of the unity based upon truth. We undertake to pray for the successor of St. Peter, to intently listen to his words and to be grateful to God for this gift.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mt 16,13-19): 

Jésus, étant arrivé dans le territoire de Césarée de Philippe, demanda à ses disciples: «Qui dit-on que je suis, moi, le Fils de l'homme?». Ils répondirent: «Les uns disent que tu es Jean Baptiste; les autres, Élie; les autres, Jérémie, ou l'un des prophètes». «Et vous, leur dit-il, qui dites-vous que je suis?». Simon Pierre répondit: «Tu es le Christ, le Fils du Dieu vivant».

Jésus, reprenant la parole, lui dit: «Tu es heureux, Simon, fils de Jonas; car ce ne sont pas la chair et le sang qui t'ont révélé cela, mais c'est mon Père qui est dans les cieux. Et moi, je te dis que tu es Pierre, et que sur cette pierre je bâtirai mon Église, et que les portes du séjour des morts ne prévaudront point contre elle. Je te donnerai les clefs du royaume des cieux: ce que tu lieras sur la terre sera lié dans les cieux, et ce que tu délieras sur la terre sera délié dans les cieux».

L’Application

La foi est personnelle, mais elle a une implication commune, car elle est essentiellement de nature communautaire. Comme elle est un don de l'Esprit Saint, ce don a une fin en soi. Et cette finalité est toujours divine, étroitement liée à la volonté divine, le salut du monde.

Pour que ce don s'accomplisse et se complète, tout ce que Dieu a voulu, l'Esprit Saint nous accompagne tout au long de notre vie. Dieu nous prend dans sa grâce et nous bénit. Dans cette bénédiction, il nous transforme, nous rendant dignes de faire sa volonté. Ainsi, Simon Pierre, un homme ordinaire, deviendra la pierre sur laquelle Jésus construira son Église et lui donnera la clé du Royaume de Dieu. 

Aujourd'hui, Dieu a besoin de nous, il nous considère comme les pierres dont il a besoin pour construire son Église, sur notre foi, fondement et source de notre salut.  

«Et moi, je te dis que tu es Pierre, et que sur cette pierre je bâtirai mon Église»

Abbé Antoni CAROL i Hostench

(Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui nous célébrons la chaire de saint Pierre. Depuis le siècle IV, par cette célébration l'Église veut nous démontrer le fait que, comme un don de la part de Jésus à nous tous, l'édifice de son Eglise s'appuie sur le Prince de ses apôtres, et qu'il jouit d'une aide divine particulière pour mener à bout cette mission. Ainsi l'a manifesté le Seigneur en Césarée de Philippe: «Et moi, je te dis que tu es Pierre, et que sur cette pierre je bâtirai mon Église» (Mt 16,18). En effet, «Pierre seul est choisi pour être mis au devant des vocations de toutes les nations, au devant de tous les apôtres et au devant de tous les pères de l'Eglise» (Saint Léon le Grand).

Depuis le début, l'Eglise a bénéficié du ministère de Pierre de telle manière que Saint Pierre et ses successeurs ont présidé la charité, ont été source d'unité et plus spécialement, ils ont eu la mission de confirmer leurs frères dans la vérité.

Une fois ressuscité, Jésus a confirmé cette mission à Pierre. Lui qui repenti au plus profond de lui d'avoir renié Jésus à trois reprises, avait pleuré devant Jésus, fait ici une triple déclaration d'amour: «Seigneur, vous connaissez toutes choses, vous savez bien que je vous aime» (Jn 21,17). Et alors, Pierre voit avec soulagement que Jésus ne le considérait point indigne mais que par trois fois Il le confirme dans le ministère qu'Il lui avait confié auparavant: «Pais mes brebis» (Jn 21,16.17).

Cette puissance n'est pas du propre mérite de Pierre, comme ne l'était pas non plus sa déclaration de foi à Césarée de Philippe: «Ce ne sont pas la chair et le sang qui t'ont révélé cela, mais c'est mon Père qui est dans les cieux» (Mt 16,17). Il s'agit, effectivement, d'une autorité investie par une puissance suprême donnée pour servir. C'est pour cela que le Saint Père quand il signe ses écrits, le fait avec le titre honoraire de Servus Servorum Dei.

Pourtant, il s'agit d'une puissance pour servir la cause de l'unité basée sur la vérité. Nous devons beaucoup prier pour le successeur de Pierre, être attentifs à ses paroles et remercier Dieu de ce grand cadeau qu'il nous a fait.

Today we are celebrating the liturgy of the first Sunday of Lent, and I invite you to live this week, with this theme of conversion, a walk towards the desert with the Lord. Conversion is the amalgamation of  two truths together, that of divine, inexhaustible love, and that of human, a recognition of this unconditional love. Conversion helps us to re-establish the relationship with the God of the covenant like that prodigal son who has broken this covenant  by his disobedience.  Since we have a God who is faithful to his covenant, even in our unfaithfulness, we can, through conversion, find the divine support  in God’s faithfulness. 

To do this, we must know how to leave our places where we are at ease, change our way of thinking and acting, adventuring in confidence, towards the direction that God will show us. Today's gospel shows that this is what Jesus did, immediately after his baptism, "the Spirit drove him out into the desert, and in the wilderness he remained forty days, tempted by Satan. ». Why is he led into the desert to be tempted by the devil, even more so after having recognized by John the Baptist as the expected Messiah, the Lamb of God?

The Gospel tells us that the times are fulfilled, and the reign of God is at hand. It is here in the desert that he is called to discover in his humanity the divine power, especially at times when the devil will put him in difficulty. In this way the humanity will discover in Jesus, the divine accompaniment, the angels of the Lord, who served him faithfully.  Each time we too enter the deserts of life, alone without any landmarks, if we faithfully keep our faith, we will feel the presence of the angels who protect us and who place themselves at our service.  Let us not be afraid of these deserts of life, including illnesses, personal, relational, and family breakdowns. My friends in Jesus Christ, I assure you that in our brokenness we will find the divine grace.

It is important to note that the Lord lived with wild beasts. Like Noah, we live with a people who respect no one but their own freedom or self-interest. Everyone sees his own self-interest, ignoring the common good. In the desert, the devil and the angels were before the Lord. He had a choice, as we do today. Let us make a good discernment, life and death are before us. Let us choose love and God who sees everything in secret will repay us.

A new life in God is always possible and if you want, it begins with a daring life in the desert, a special knowledge of how to live with wild beasts, of course being accompanied by the angels of the Lord. One enters into it, not by compulsion or obligation, but voluntarily out of love, to be with the Lord.   The wild beasts need us, our witness of love, and that they learn, like us, how to love and forgive each other, as God has loved us in Jesus Christ. Among this wild people, we are invited to live our faith, in a peaceful and pleasant way, as witnesses of the joy of the Gospel, so that, looking at our lives, others may be converted, and recognize the importance of sharing and forgiveness.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us give time to ourselves during these days for confession and reconciliation. Let us make this season of Lent as a season of grace filled with love and compassion. Amen.

Gospel text

(Lk 5,27-32): 

After this Jesus went out, and as He noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax-office, He said to him, «Follow me». So Levi, leaving everything, got up and followed Jesus. Levi gave a great feast for Jesus, and many tax collectors came to his house and took their place at table with the other people. Then the Pharisees and their fellow teachers complained to Jesus' disciples, «How is it that you eat and drink with tax collectors and other sinners?». But Jesus spoke up, «Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do. I have come to call to repentance; I call sinners, not the righteous».

The Application

God, who is full of love and mercy, tells us that our sin can also be a means of grace, if we recognize it and convert.

God's presence in the tax collector 's house and his word, reveals to us that God needs us here and He calls us to cooperate with him, so that the divine will may be fulfilled.

Jesus presents himself as a doctor, who came to heal us. If you are sick, isn't the presence of this Doctor among us an insurance?

Action of the day: accept your mistakes.

«I have come to call to repentance; I call sinners, not the righteous»

Fr. Joan Carles MONTSERRAT i Pulido

(Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain)

Today we see how Lent is moving forward and the strength of the conversion our Lord summons us to. The figure of the apostle and evangelist Matthew is very representative of those of us who think that, because of our background, or because of our personal sins or complicated life, we are unworthy of our Lord.

Well, no, we are not; to remove any doubt we might still have, Jesus Christ is offering us the possibility of following him, as He did with the first evangelist, Levi the tax collector, to whom He simply says: «Follow me» (Lk 5:27). With him Jesus does exactly the contrary of what a “sensible” and “wise” mentality would do. If today we wish to pretend being “politically correct”, Levi —instead— came from a world where he was openly rejected by all his compatriots, as he was considered, just because of the fact he was a publican, and a helper of the Romans and, possibly, as much of a corrupt by the “commissions” he might receive, who indulged in choking the poor to collect their taxes; in short, he was considered a public sinner.

Those considering themselves as perfect, could not even think of Jesus not only not requesting them to follow him but not even asking them to his own table.

However, by choosing Levi, Our Lord Jesus Christ is telling us that it is rather this kind of people whom He prefers to call to expand his Kingdom; He has chosen the sick, the sinners, those who consider themselves unworthy: «Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong» (1Cor 1:27). For these are those who need help, and as such, they will also understand those also in need.

We are not to think God wants spotless and immaculate followers to serve him. That privilege belongs only to Our Mother. But for us, subjects of God's eternal salvation and Lent's protagonists, God wants just a contrite and humble heart. In fact, «God has made you weak to give you his own power» (Saint Augustine). This is the type of person who, as the psalm says, God would not despise.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Lc 5,27-32): 

Après cela, il sortit et il remarqua un publicain (collecteur d'impôts) du nom de Lévi assis à son bureau de publicain. Il lui dit: «Suis-moi». Abandonnant tout, l'homme se leva et se mit à le suivre. Lévi lui offrit un grand festin dans sa maison; il y avait une grande foule de publicains et d'autres gens attablés avec eux. Les pharisiens et les scribes de leur parti récriminaient en disant à ses disciples: «Pourquoi mangez-vous et buvez-vous avec les publicains et les pécheurs?». Jésus leur répondit: «Ce ne sont pas les gens en bonne santé qui ont besoin du médecin, mais les malades. Je suis venu appeler non pas les justes mais les pécheurs, pour qu'ils se convertissent».

L’Application

Dieu, qui est plein d'amour et de miséricorde, nous dit que notre péché peut aussi être un moyen de grâce, si nous le reconnaissons et si nous nous convertissons.

La présence de Dieu dans la maison de collecteur des impôts et sa parole nous révèlent que Dieu a besoin de nous ici et nous appelle à coopérer avec lui, afin que la volonté divine soit accomplie.

Jésus se présente comme un médecin, venu pour nous guérir. Si vous êtes malade, la présence de ce Docteur parmi nous n'est-elle pas une assurance ?

«Je suis venu appeler non pas les justes mais les pécheurs»

Abbé Joan Carles MONTSERRAT i Pulido

(Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui nous voyons s'avancer la Carême ainsi que l'intense conversion à laquelle le Seigneur nous appelle. La figure de l'apôtre et évangéliste Matthieu est très représentative de tous ceux qui en sont venus à croire qu'à cause de leurs parcours, ou de leurs péchés personnels ou des situations compliquées, il est difficile que le Seigneur puisse les choisir comme collaborateurs.

Mais Jésus Christ, pour écarter tous nos doutes, nous présente comme premier évangéliste, Lévi, le collecteur d'impôts, à qui Il dit tout simplement: «Suis-moi» (Lc 5,27). Il fait avec lui juste le contraire de ce qu'une mentalité “bien-pensante” et “sensée” peu concevoir. Si, aujourd'hui, nous voulons paraître “politiquement corrects”, Lévi —par contre— venait d'un monde où il était rejeté par tous ses compatriotes, car, du fait d'être un publicain, il était considéré comme un collaborateur des Romains et peut-être aussi comme un escroc. En raison des “commissions” qu'il devait percevoir; comme quelqu'un qui pressurisait les pauvres pour lever les impôts; comme un pécheur publique, enfin.

Ceux qui étaient censés être parfaits ne pouvaient se rendre à l'évidence que Jésus ne songeât pas a leur demander de le suivre ou même à s’assoire a sa table.

Mais, en choisissant Lévi, Notre Seigneur Jésus Christ nous dit qu'il aime plutôt s'entourer de ce genre de personnes pour répandre son Royaume; Il a choisi les malades, les pécheurs, ceux qui ne se croient pas justes: «Ce qu'il y a de faible dans le monde, voilà ce que Dieu a choisi pour couvrir de confusion ce qui est fort» (1Co 1,27). Ce qui ont besoin des médecins, et surtout, ceux qui pourront bien comprendre que les autres peuvent en avoir aussi besoin.

Nous devons, donc, repousser la pensée que Dieu nous veut avec des états de service impeccables pour le servir. Cet état de service, Il ne l'a préparé que pour Notre Mère. Mais pour nous tous, soumis au salut de Dieu et protagonistes du Carême, Dieu veut un cœur contrit et humilié. D'ailleurs, «Dieu t'a crée faible pour pouvoir te donner son propre pouvoir» (Saint Augustin). Voila le type de personnes que, selon le psalmiste, Dieu ne méprise pas.

Gospel text

(Mt 9,14-15): 

The disciples of John came to Jesus with the question, «How is it that we and the Pharisees fast on many occasions, but not your disciples?». Jesus answered them, «How can you expect the wedding guests to mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? Time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, then they will fast».

The Application

We are looking for means to grow. Prayer, almsgiving and fasting are the means available to us, so that we can grow in faith and become true children of God.

Before we choose one, we must discern how we want to apply it and how God would like us to apply it. Is the fast that we practice in these days right before God, does it help us, does it bring us closer to God? Does our fasting help others to grow, or it is self-oriented fasting ?  The time of Lent has arrived, the time of fasting has also arrived. Which fast have we chosen, and why have we chosen it?

Action of the day : Can you do the fasting of evil thooughts ?

«Time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, then they will fast»

Fr. Xavier PAGÉS i Castañer

(Barcelona, Spain)

Today the first Friday of Lent, having experienced the fasting and abstinence of Ash Wednesday, we have attempted to offer our fasting and the prayer of the Holy Rosary, for the Peace, that our World needs so badly. We are willing to take care of this Lenten exercise, our Church, Mother and Teacher, is asking us to abide by, and to remember it was the same Lord who said: «Time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, then they will fast» (Mt 9:15). We have the desire to experience it, not just as the fulfillment of an obligation which is mandatory for us, but —most of all— as the possibility to find the spirit which will let us live this Lenten practice while helping us in our spiritual improvement.

By seeking this deep feeling, we can ask ourselves: which is the true fasting? Already, prophet Isaiah, in today's first reading, tells us which is the fasting God appreciates: «Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard» (Is 58:7-8). God likes and expects from us whatever is taking us towards a true love for all our brothers.

Every year, the Holy Father John Paul II wrote us a message for Lent. One of these messages, under the motto «There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving» (Acts 20:35); helped us to discover the very same charitable dimension of our fasting, which, from the bottom of our heart, allows us to prepare for Easter Time, in an effort to identify ourselves, more and more, with Christ's love which took him to die in the Cross for us. In short, «what every Christian ought to do all the time, he ought to do it now more carefully and more devotedly» (Saint Leo the Great, pope).

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mt 9,14-15): 

Les disciples de Jean Baptiste s'approchent de Jésus en disant: «Pourquoi tes disciples ne jeûnent-ils pas, alors que nous et les pharisiens nous jeûnons?». Jésus leur répondit: «Les invités de la noce pourraient-ils donc faire pénitence pendant le temps où l'Époux est avec eux? Mais un temps viendra où l'Époux leur sera enlevé, et alors ils jeûneront».

L’Application

Nous cherchons des moyens de nous développer. La prière, l'aumône et le jeûne sont les moyens à notre disposition, afin que nous puissions grandir dans la foi et devenir de véritables enfants de Dieu.

Avant d'en choisir un, nous devons discerner comment nous voulons l'appliquer et comment Dieu voudrait que nous l'appliquions. Le jeûne que nous pratiquons de nos jours est-il juste devant Dieu, nous aide-t-il, nous rapproche-t-il de Dieu ? Le temps du Carême est arrivé, le temps du jeûne est également arrivé. Quel jeûne avons-nous choisi, et pourquoi l'avons-nous choisi ?

«Un temps viendra où l'Époux leur sera enlevé, et alors ils jeûneront»*

Abbé Xavier PAGÉS i Castañer

(Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui premier vendredi de Carême, ayant vécu le jeûne et l'abstinence du Mercredi des Cendres, nous avons essayé d’offrir le jeûne et la prière du Saint Rosaire pour la paix. Ce dont nous avons autant de besoin. Nous sommes disposés à avoir soin de cet exercice du Carême que l'Église, Mère et Maître, nous demande d'observer, ainsi qu'à nous souvenir que c'était le Seigneur qui avait dit: «Mais un temps viendra où l'Époux leur sera enlevé, et alors ils jeûneront» (Mt 9,15). Nous avons le désir de vivre pas seulement en accomplissant un précepte auquel nous y sommes obligés mais —surtout— en essayant d'arriver à y trouver l'esprit qui nous fasse éprouver cette pratique du Carême qui va nous aider dans notre progrès spirituel.

En cherchant ce sentiment profonde, nous pouvons nous demander: quel est le véritable jeûne? Dans la première lecture d'aujourd'hui, le prophète Isaïe, nous parle du jeûne qui plaît à Dieu: «N'est-ce pas partager ton pain avec celui qui a faim, recueillir chez toi le malheureux sans abri, couvrir celui que tu verras sans vêtement, ne pas te dérober à ton semblable. Alors ta lumière jaillira comme l'aurore, et tes forces reviendront rapidement. Ta justice marchera devant toi, et la gloire du Seigneur t'accompagnera» (Is 58,7-8). Il plaît à Dieu qui attend de nous tout ce qui puisse nous mener à l'amour authentique à nos frères.

Chaque année, le Saint Père Jean Paul II nous adressait un message de Carême. Dans un de ces messages, sous la devise «Il y a plus de bonheur à donner qu'à recevoir» (Ac 20,35), ses paroles nous aidèrent à découvrir cette même dimension charitable du jeûne, laquelle, du plus profond de notre cœur, nous prépare pour la Pâque avec un effort à nous identifier, chaque fois de plus en plus, avec l'amour de le Christ qui l'a mené jusqu'à donner sa vie dans la Croix. En définitive, «ce que chaque chrétien doit faire en tout temps doit être recherché maintenant avec plus d'empressement et de générosité» (Saint Léon le Grand, pape).

Gospel text

(Lk 9,22-25): 

Jesus said, «The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the elders and chief priests and teachers of the Law, and put to death. Then after three days he will be raised to life». Jesus also said to all the people, «If you wish to be a follower of mine, deny yourself and take up your cross each day, and follow me. For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it, and if you choose to lose your life for my sake, you will save it. What does it profit you to gain the whole world while you destroy or damage yourself?».

The Application

Very often the Lenten season is associated with penitence, fasting, suffering, denying oneself, carrying the cross, etc. Though they are not wrong, it will be a terrible tragedy, if the finality of this act is disassociated from the love of God and of our brothers and sisters.  In which way it helps you to build a good and a healthy relationship with God and with your brothers and sisters, by not taking the meat in these days, or avoiding an act, for example?

Let us not be mistaken about the purpose of the Cross of Jesus! Jesus did suffer on the cross; however, He didn’t choose the cross to suffer, rather to show us how much He loves us. It is by emptying His own divinity that He chose to divinize the humanity, as God had created it.  The Incarnation has restored, through death and resurrection, the dignity that God granted to humanity from the beginning of creation. If the Cross is disassociated from the salvific plan of God, then it’s of no value.

Jesus invites us, particularly in these days, to participate in His divinity. If we want to participate in his divinity, we must abandon our humanity, just as Jesus lived his life on earth. How can we be filled with the Holy Spirit if we do not know how to empty ourselves, especially the human spirit, our own interiority, which is good in itself, so that the divinity may take us completely?  

Action of the day: Learn to accept a surgical intervention for a good health.

«If you wish to be a follower of mine, deny yourself and take up your cross each day, and follow me»

Fr. Josep Mª MASSANA i Mola OFM

(Barcelona, Spain)

Today is the first Thursday of Lent. The ashes our Church laid yesterday on our forehead are still fresh; and are meant to remind us of a forty days journey. In the Gospel, Jesus, shows us two routes: the way of the cross he must undergo, and our own way to follow him.

His path is the Way of the Cross and that of death, but also that of His Glory: «The Son of Man must suffer many things (...), and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. » (Lk 9:22). The route we must take is, essentially, the same one Jesus took, and He shows us how to follow it: «If any man would come after Me...» (Lk 9:23).

Hugging his Cross, Jesus complied with the Will of His Father; as for us, carrying ours on our shoulders, we follow him in his Way of the Cross.

The path of Jesus is summarized in three words: suffering, dying, raising from the dead. Three aspects constitute our own footpath too (two attitudes and the essence of our Christian vocation): Self-Denial, taking up our cross every day of our life and following Jesus.

If we do not deny ourselves and do not take up our cross, we are only seeking to affirm and be ourselves; we want «to save our life», as Jesus says. Yet, by wanting to save it, we will lose it. On the other hand, those who, because of Jesus, will not strive to avoid their suffering and the cross, will save their lives. It is the resulting paradox of our following Jesus: «For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?» (Lk 9:25).

Our Lord's words, closing today's Gospel, tremendously shook Saint Ignatius and sparked off his conversion: «What would happen if I would do just as saint Francis and saint Dominic did?». If only, in this Lent, the same words would help us to reach our conversion, too...!

Texte de l'Évangile

(Lc 9,22-25): 

Jésus disait à ses disciples: "Il faut que le Fils de l'homme souffre beaucoup, qu'il soit rejeté par les anciens, les chefs de prêtres et les scribes, qu'il soit tué, et que, le troisième jour, il ressuscite". Il disait aussi à la foule: «Celui qui veut marcher à ma suite, qu'il renonce à lui-même, qu'il prenne sa croix chaque jour, et qu'il me suive. Car celui qui veut sauver sa vie la perdra; mais celui qui perdra sa vie pour moi la sauvera. Quel avantage un homme aura-t-il à gagner le monde entier, si c'est en se perdant lui-même et en le payant de sa propre existence?». 

L’Application

Ne nous trompons pas sur le but de la Croix de Jésus ! Jésus n'a pas choisi la croix pour souffrir, mais plutôt pour nous montrer combien il nous aime. C'est en vidant sa propre divinité qu'il a choisi de diviniser l'humanité, telle que Dieu l'avait créée.  L'Incarnation a restauré, par la mort et la résurrection, la dignité que Dieu a accordée à l'humanité depuis le début de la création.

Si nous voulons participer à sa divinité, nous devons abandonner notre humanité, tout comme Jésus a vécu sa vie sur terre. Comment pouvons-nous être remplis de l'Esprit Saint si nous ne savons pas nous vider, surtout l'esprit humain, de notre propre intériorité, qui est bonne et bonne, afin que la divinité nous prenne complètement ?  

«Celui qui veut marcher à ma suite, qu'il renonce à lui-même, qu'il prenne sa croix chaque jour, et qu'il me suive»

Abbé Josep Mª MASSANA i Mola OFM

(Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui premier jeudi du Carême, les cendres que l'Église nous a mises sur le front sont encore fraîches. Elles nous introduisaient à ce temps sacré qui est un trajet de quarante jours. Jésus, dans l'Évangile, nous montre deux voies: le Via Crucis qu'il Lui faut parcourir; notre propre chemin, à sa suite.

Sa voie, c'est celle du Chemin de Croix et de mort, mais aussi celle de sa glorification: «Il faut que le Fils de l'homme souffre beaucoup, qu'il soit rejeté (…), qu'il soit tué, et que, le troisième jour, il ressuscite» (Lc 9,22). Pour l'essentiel, notre chemin ne diffère pas de celui de Jésus, qui nous indique d'ailleurs la manière de le suivre: «Celui qui veut marcher à ma suite…» (Lc 9,23).

En embrassant sa Croix, Jésus a fait la Volonté du Père; nous, en prenant la nôtre sur nos épaules, nous l'accompagnons dans son Via Crucis.

Le chemin de Jésus se résume en trois mots: souffrance, mort, résurrection. Notre chemin comporte aussi trois aspects (deux attitudes et l'essence de la vocation chrétienne): renoncer à nous-mêmes, prendre la croix de chaque jour et accompagner Jésus.

Celui qui ne renonce pas à lui-même et ne prend pas sa croix, veut s'affirmer et être lui-même, il veut «sauver sa vie», comme dit Jésus. Mais en voulant la sauver, il la perd. En revanche, celui qui, à cause de Jésus, ne cherche pas à éviter la souffrance et la croix, celui-là sauvera sa vie. Tel est le paradoxe du disciple de Jésus: «Quel avantage un homme aura-t-il à gagner le monde entier, si c'est en se perdant lui-même et en le payant de sa propre existence?» (Lc 9,25).

Cette parole du Seigneur, qui clôt l'Évangile du jour, a transpercé le cœur de saint Ignace et provoqué sa conversion: «Qu'adviendrait-il si je faisais ce que fit saint François et ce que fit saint Dominique?» Ah si, pendant ce Carême, la même parole nous aidait aussi à nous convertir!

Lent is a special time for Christians because it recharges and renews our life of Faith, hope and charity. This moment, offered every year  to believers, invites us to go to the desert, not alone, but with the Holy Spirit. This walk towards the desert is a pilgrimage towards our own interiority, the true sanctuary, the dwelling place of God. In these 40 days, we will be accompanied by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.  Certainly with the temptations to be overcome, through fidelity to the commandment of love, through our baptismal and spiritual commitments, including family and social duties, we will reach our destination, willed by God, voluntarily welcomed in joy and freedom. In the Lenten message, the Holy Father tells us, "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem. In this message he tells us that this time helps us to renew our faith, hope and charity.

To do this, today's Gospel proposes three important steps. We must learn to control ourselves, learn to take care of the body, choose the necessary food, etc. The Gospel will call it 'fasting' or abstinence. To feed man according to our needs, not by our desires. If we are led to that desire which is right before God, let us commit ourselves, putting the common desire before personal desires. Good physical health, inspired in faith, directs us towards mental health, which obliges us to live with the other as our brothers and sisters, sharing our life with them.

Sharing is a fruit of good mental health, which makes us discover not only the suffering of our brothers and sisters, but also our capacity to alleviate their suffering. Let us be sure in faith, my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, with the Five Loaves that we have, and if we dare to share them with our brothers and sisters as the widow of Sarepta who fed the prophet Elijah, the Lord will multiply them and leave with us 12 baskets of bread. How can we travel this path towards resurrection without being charitable? When we say, let us be charitable, let our charity not be limited by the sharing of our material goods, which is easier than others, like by listening, by spending qulitative  time and by presence, etc. The Gospel will name it as almsgiving.

The third stage is that of prayer, the source of everything, our intimate relationship with God. Prayer was the Lord's favourite moment. We see him very often in prayer, united with his Father. Let us not reduce the prayer with the recitation of words, of simple supplications. Prayer is a silent listening, and simply being with God in profound joy and peace. Let us look at the Father in Jesus, and let us allow ourselves to be looked at by God. This gaze takes its perfection from the gaze of Jesus crucified, a gaze full of love and compassion, a gaze that forgives everything and everyone, even if we do not deserve it. Let us contemplate it and make it our own.  It is in prayer that our mental health finds its meaning and perfection. It’s in prayer we discover the neccesity to take care of our body.

Everything is in Him, through Him, and for Him. If we take care of our bodies, it is not because it is beautiful to take care of it, rather, it is God's dwelling place, God's sanctuary. Sharing is not because your brother suffers or needs you, rather Christ who lives in him suffers with him. This Samaritan, isn't the one sent by the Father, so that you can discover Him and serve Him in him?

Our fasting of uncessary and evil elements in life, and our fasting of good things which doesn’t help us to get closer to God, our fasting of anything that separates us from the love of God, will have a meaning in promoting them in this lenten season. Anyother fasting, for the sake of fasting, may loose all its credibility of pratcing them in this lenten moment.

I share with you the beginning of the Holy Father's message, and wish that you read the complete texte  as soon as you have the opportunity. "As we travel the Lenten journey, which leads us to the Easter celebrations, we remember the One who loved us "becoming obedient unto death and death from the cross" (Phil 2:8). In this time of conversion, we renew our faith, we draw the "living water" of hope and we receive with open hearts the love of God that makes us brothers and sisters in Christ. On Easter Night, we will renew the promises of our baptism to be reborn as new men and women through the intervention of the Holy Spirit. The Lenten itinerary, like the Christian itinerary, is already entirely placed under the light of the Resurrection, which inspires the feelings, attitudes and choices of those who want to follow Christ. "Good Lent!