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

Gospel text

(Jn 13,16-20): 

After Jesus had washed the feet of the disciples He said «Truly, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his master, nor is the messenger greater than he who sent him. Understand this, and blessed are you if you put it into practice. I am not speaking of you all, because I know the ones I have chosen and the Scripture has to be fulfilled that says, ‘The one who shared my table has risen against me’ I tell you this now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you may know that I am He. Truly, I say to you, whoever welcomes the one I send, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the One who sent me».

The Application

If there is something that Jesus repeats very often is the discipleship and the faithfulness. We are all the disciples of Jesus and are asked to be faithful in His commandment of love. Jesus himself was faithful to the Father and had the joy of fulfilling it.

It is in this faithfulness that service is born and expected of us. This service is also an imitation of Jesus and His ministry in our personal life. However, there are unfaithful disciples who continue to hangover. Whatever may be the situation, Jesus is affirming to us, that nothing will go beyond the divine power and we need not fear of our enemies.  Let our generosity be extended to everyone.

Action of the day: Imitate Jesus in your service.

«After Jesus had washed the feet of the disciples...»

Fr. David COMPTE i Verdaguer
(Manlleu, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, as with those movies that, at the beginning, take us back in time, our liturgy remembers a passage that belongs to the Holy Thursday: Jesus washes the feet of his disciples (cf. Jn 13:12). Thus, this gesture —read from the Easter perspective— recovers a perennial validity. Let us consider only three ideas.

In the first place, the centrality of the person. In our society it seems that to do is the thermometer to measure a person's worth. Within this dynamic it is easy for people to be considered as tools; we use each other extremely easy. Today, the Gospel urges us to transform this dynamic into service dynamics: the other party will never be just a tool. It would rather be a matter of living a spirituality of communion, where the other one —quoting John Paul II— becomes “someone that belongs to me” and a “gift to me”, whom we have “to give room” to. In our language we could translate it as “to care about other people's feelings”. Do we care about other people's feelings? Do we listen to them when they speak to us?

In our world of image and communications, this is not a message to transmit, but a job to be done, to live up to every day: «and blessed are you if you put it into practice!» (Jn 13:17). Maybe, this is why the Master does not limit himself to an explanation: He imprints into his disciples' memory his gesture of service, to pass it immediately on to the Church's memory; a memory that we demand to become a gesture, time and again: in the lives of so many families, of so many people.

Finally, a warning signal: «The one who shared my table has risen against me» (Jn 13:18). In the Eucharist, Jesus resurrected becomes our servant, He washes our feet. But the physical presence is not enough. We have to learn in the Eucharist and get the necessary strength from so that it may become a reality that «having received the gift of love, we die to sin and we live for God» (Saint Fulgence, Bishop of Ruspe).

Gospel text

(Jn 12,44-50): 

Jesus declared publicly: «Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me, sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I am not the one to condemn him; for I have come, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me, and does not receive my word, already has a judge: the very word I have spoken will condemn him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has instructed me in what to say and how to speak. I know that his commandment is eternal life, and that is why the message I give, I give as the Father instructed me».

The Application

The greatest danger is not that we live in darkness, rather voluntarily reject the Light. It is not the question of falling, rather not looking at the possibilities that the Lord proposes to us to get up.

The best way of living our Christian life is, to look at Jesus, the way He loves us. The more we listen to the Word of God, and be sincere in our engagements, the better will be our capacity to welcome Jesus in to our hearts.

How to apply this gospel message into our daily life? Learn to look in every one, the divine presence, as if this person is sent to teach us, to help us to grow, either in their goodness in a positive way, or in their wickedness in a negative way. It is in our capacity to see the divine will, that we learn to accept others as they are, welcome them, with their limits, in to our company. Easily said that done. If we are sincere, the Holy Spirit will certainly accompany us and give us the strength to go forward.

Action of the day: See Christ in every person you meet today.

«Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me»

Fr. Julio César RAMOS González SDB
(Mendoza, Argentina)

Today, Jesus cries out; He cries out just as someone who is saying words everybody should clearly listen to. His clamor synthesizes his saving mission, as He has come «to save the world» (Jn 12:47), but not on his own but in the name of «the Father who sent me and has instructed me in what to say and how to speak» (Jn 12:49).

It is not yet a month ago when we were celebrating the Paschal Triduum: how much present was the Father in the final hour, the hour of the Cross! As His Holiness John Paul II has written, «Jesus, overwhelmed by his foreknowledge of the trial waiting for him, alone before God, invokes him with his usual and tender expression of trust: ‘Abbá, Father’». The next hours clearly show the intimate dialogue of the Son with the Father: «Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing» (Lk 23:34); «Father, into your hands I commend my spirit» (Lk 23:46).

The importance of this work by the Father and his Messenger, well deserves the personal response of he who is listening. This response is to believe, that is, a profession of faith (cf. Jn 12:44); faith that gives us the light —by the same Jesus— so that we shall not remain in darkness. But, he who rejects all these gifts and manifestations, and does not listen to those words «already has a judge: the very Word I have spoken» (Jn 12:48).

Therefore, to accept Jesus is to believe in, see and listen to the Father, not to be in darkness, to obey the command of eternal life. We certainly deserve Saint John of the Cross' rebuke: «[The Father] with this Word said everything in one go (...). Consequently, if you would like to ask God now, or should you pretend some kind of vision or revelation, it would not only be a piece of nonsense, but an offence for God, for not looking up only at Christ without asking for any other thing or novelty».

Texte de l'Évangile

(Jn 12,44-50): 

Jésus, lui, affirmait avec force: «Celui qui croit en moi, ce n'est pas en moi qu'il croit, mais en celui qui m'a envoyé; et celui qui me voit voit celui qui m'a envoyé. Moi qui suis la lumière, je suis venu dans le monde pour que celui qui croit en moi ne demeure pas dans les ténèbres. Si quelqu'un entend mes paroles et n'y reste pas fidèle, moi, je ne le jugerai pas, car je ne suis pas venu juger le monde, mais le sauver. Celui qui me rejette et n'accueille pas mes paroles aura un juge pour le condamner. La parole que j'ai prononcée, elle le condamnera au dernier jour. Car ce que j'ai dit ne vient pas de moi: le Père lui-même, qui m'a envoyé, m'a donné son commandement sur ce que je dois dire et déclarer; et je sais que son commandement est vie éternelle. Donc, ce que je déclare, je le déclare comme le Père me l'a dit».

L’Application

Je voudrais tirer certains mots qui peuvent nous aider à vivre notre foi (croire et lumière) et aussi attirer votre attention à la volonté divine, la mission confiée.  Il est venu nous sauver et nous amener à choisir la Lumière, L’envoyé du Père.

Le grand danger, ce n’est pas ce qu’on vit dans les ténèbres, mais vouloir rejeter la Lumière. C’est pourquoi nous devons porter attention au discernement quotidien. Dans ce discernement, il faut apprendre à voir en tous, la présence divine, car il ou elle peut être cet envoyé(e) du Père.

«Celui qui croit en moi, ce n'est pas en moi qu'il croit, mais en celui qui m'a envoyé»

Abbé Julio César RAMOS González SDB
(Mendoza, Argentine)

Aujourd'hui Jésus crie; Il crie comme un qui dit des paroles que doivent être clairement entendues par tous. Son cri synthétise sa mission salvatrice, car Il est venu «sauver le monde» (Jn 12,47), non en son propre nom, mais au nom du «Père lui-même, qui m'a envoyé, m'a donné son commandement sur ce que je dois dire et déclarer» (Jn 12,49).

Il y a à peine un mois, nous célébrions le Triduum Pascal: combien le Père dû-il être présent à la dernière heure, celle de la Croix! Comme Jean Paul II a écrit, «Jésus, accablé à la pensée de l'épreuve qui l'attend, seul devant Dieu, l'invoque à sa manière habituelle de tendre confiance: «“Abbà”, “Père”».

Et dans les heures qui suivent, l’intime dialogue du Fils avec son Père se fait plus évident: «Père, pardonne-leur: ils ne savent pas ce qu'ils font» (Lc 23,34); «Père, entre tes mains je remets mon esprit» (Lc 23,46).

L'importance de cette œuvre du Père et de son envoyé, mérite une réponse personnelle de celui qui écoute. Cette réponse est celle d'y croire, c'est à dire, la foi (cf. Jn 12,44); cette foi qui —grâce à Jésus— nous donne la lumière pour ne pas demeurer dans les ténèbres. Au contraire, celui qui rejette tous ces dons et manifestations, et ne garde pas ces paroles «aura un juge pour le condamner. La Parole» (Jn 12,48).

Par conséquent, accepter Jésus c'est croire, voir, écouter le Père, ne pas demeurer dans le ténèbres, obéir au commandement de la vie éternelle. Profitons bien de l'avertissement de saint Jean de la Croix: «Il [Le Père] l'a dit tout entier dans son Fils, en nous donnant ce tout qu'est son Fils. Voilà pourquoi celui qui voudrait maintenant l'interroger, ou désirerait une vision ou une révélation, non seulement ferait une folie, mais ferait injure à Dieu, en ne jetant pas les yeux uniquement sur le Christ, sans chercher autre chose ou quelque nouveauté».

Gospel text

(Jn 10,22-30): 

The time came for the feast of the Dedication. It was winter and Jesus walked back and forth in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around him and said to him, «How long will you keep us in doubt? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly». Jesus answered, «I have already told you but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name proclaim who I am, but you don't believe because, as I said, you are not my sheep. My sheep hear my voice and I know them; they follow me and I give them eternal life. They shall never perish and no one will ever steal them from me. What the Father has given me is stronger than everything and no one can snatch it from the Father's hand. I and the Father are one».

The Application

Jesus is in the center of attraction and the Jews refuse to see the light, on the feast day of the light. Jesus asks us to see the world and its works, especially the creation. All creation blesses the Lord and gives Him glory. If we seek this God, He is there, through everything and in everyone. The more we open ourselves to the new realities, the better will be the newness in our life. God renews our life daily and every day is a new day to begin and accomplish.

The baptized are called to be witnesses of His presence, so that others may discover this merciful God. He attaches himself to us, and He gives us His only begotten Son for us. Thus, every day is a new revelation of divine presence in us and particularly through people and events around. Since God resides in us, we are supposed to be joyful and be witness of God’s love.

We must recognize that He is our Shepherd and we are His sheep. By trusting our Shepherd, if we follow Him faithfully, we will discover how Jesus’ Father loves us in Him, and since we know the Father's beloved son, we already know His Father. Let us be in our daily life carriers of God’s love and lights to the world.

Action of the day: Open your eyes and see the works of God in you.

«I and the Father are one»

Fr. Miquel MASATS i Roca
(Girona, Spain)

Today, we see Jesus walking «back and forth in the portico of Solomon» (Jn 10:23), during the Feast of Dedication, in Jerusalem. It was then when the Jews ask him: «If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly», and Jesus answers: «I have already told you but you do not believe» (Jn 10:24-25).

Only through Faith man is able to recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God. When The Holy Father John Paul II addressed the young people on occasion of the 15th World Youth Day at Tor Vergata, in the year 2000, he spoke about the “school of faith”. To the question «Who do the crowds say that I am?» (Lk 9:18), there are many answers... But, then, Jesus becomes more personal: «But, who do you say that I am?». To correctly answer this question we need the “revelation of the Father”. To be able to answer like Simon Peter did —«You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God» (Mt 16:16)— it takes God's grace.

But, even though God wishes everybody to believe and be saved, only humble men are capacitated to receive the gift of grace. «But with the humble is wisdom», can be read in the Book of Proverbs (11:2). Man's true wisdom consists of trusting God.

Saint Thomas Aquinas comments on this passage of the Gospel by saying: «I can see thanks to the sun light, but if I close my eyes, I cannot see; but this is not the fault of the sun, but mine».

Jesus tells them to believe in him, if nothing else, because of his works that manifest God's power: «The works I do in my Father's name proclaim who I am» (Jn 10:25).

Jesus knows his sheep and his sheep hear his voice. Faith allows us to connect with Jesus through prayer. What else is a prayer but a way to communicate with Jesus Christ, who loves us and takes us to the Father? And the outcome and reward of this intimacy with Jesus in this life is eternal life, as we have read in the Gospel.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Jn 10,22-30): 

On célébrait à Jérusalem l'anniversaire de la dédicace du Temple. C'était l'hiver. Jésus allait et venait dans le Temple, sous la colonnade de Salomon. Les Juifs se groupèrent autour de lui; ils lui disaient: «Combien de temps vas-tu nous laisser dans le doute ? Si tu es le Messie, dis-le nous ouvertement!». Jésus leur répondit: «Je vous l'ai dit, et vous ne croyez pas. Les oeuvres que je fais au nom de mon Père, voilà ce qui me rend témoignage. Mais vous ne croyez pas, parce que vous n'êtes pas de mes brebis. Mes brebis écoutent ma voix; moi, je les connais, et elles me suivent. Je leur donne la vie éternelle: jamais elles ne périront, personne ne les arrachera de ma main. Mon Père, qui me les a données, est plus grand que tout, et personne ne peut rien arracher de la main du Père. Le Père et moi, nous sommes un».

L’Application

Jésus nous demande de voir le monde et ses œuvres, particulièrement la création. La création tout entière bénit le Seigneur et Lui rende gloire. Si nous cherchons ce Dieu, Il est là, par tout et en tous. Les baptisés sont appelés à être les témoins de sa présence, pour que les autres puissent découvrir ce Dieu miséricordieux. Il s’attache à nous, et Il se donne à nous.

Nous devons reconnaitre qu’Il est notre Berger et nous sommes ses brebis. En faisant confiance à notre Berger, si nous le suivons fidèlement, nous découvrirons, comment son Père nous aime en Lui, et puisque nous connaissons Le fils bien aimé du Père, nous connaissons déjà son Père. Soyons dans notre vie quotidienne, êtres les témoins de la présence divine.

«Le Père et moi, nous sommes un»

Abbé Miquel MASATS i Roca
(Girona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui nous voyons Jésus qui «allait et venait dans le Temple, sous la colonnade de Salomon» (Jn 10,23), durant la fête de la Dédicace à Jérusalem. Alors les juifs lui demandent: «Si tu es le Messie, dis-le nous ouvertement!», et Jésus leur répond: «Je vous l'ai dit, et vous ne croyez pas» (Jn 10,24.25).

Seule la foi rend l'homme capable de reconnaître Jésus-Christ comme Fils de Dieu. L'an 2000, pendant la rencontre avec les jeunes à Tor Vergata, Jean-Paul II parlait du “laboratoire de la foi”. À la question «Qui suis-je, aux dires des foules?» (Lc 9,18), il y a beaucoup de réponses… Mais Jésus passe ensuite au plan personnel: «Mais pour vous, qui suis-je?». Pour répondre correctement à cette question la “révélation du Père” est nécessaire. Pour répondre comme Pierre —«Tu es le Christ, le Fils du Dieu vivant» (Mt 16,16)— il faut la grâce de Dieu.

Même si Dieu veut que tout le monde croie et soit sauvé, seuls les humbles sont capables d'accueillir ce don. «Aux humbles, la sagesse», lit-on au livre des Proverbes (11,2). La vraie sagesse de l'homme consiste à se fier à Dieu.

Saint Thomas d'Aquin commente ainsi ce passage de l'Évangile: «Je puis voir grâce à la lumière du soleil, mais si je ferme les yeux, je ne vois pas; ce n'est pas la faute du soleil, mais la mienne».

Jésus leur dit que s'ils ne croient pas, qu’au moins ils croient les œuvres qu'Il fait, qui manifestent le pouvoir de Dieu: «Les œuvres que je fais au nom de mon Père, voilà ce qui me rend témoignage» (Jn 10,25).

Jésus connaît ses brebis et ses brebis écoutent sa voix. La foi mène à fréquenter Jésus dans la prière. Qu'est-ce que la prière, sinon la fréquentation de Jésus, qui nous aime et nous emmène au Père? Le résultat et la récompense de cette intimité avec Jésus dans cette vie, est la vie éternelle, comme nous l'avons lu dans l'Évangile.

Gospel text

(Jn 10,11-18): 

«I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. Not so the hired hand or any other person who is not the shepherd and to whom the sheep do not belong. They abandon the sheep as soon as they see the wolf coming; then the wolf snatches and scatters the sheep. This is because the hired hand works for pay and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father. Because of this I give my life for my sheep.

»I have other sheep that are not of this fold. These I have to lead as well, and they shall listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock since there is one Shepherd. The Father loves me because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down freely. It is mine to lay down and to take up again: this mission I received from my Father».

Sunday Homily

What must we do to have eternal life? Jesus answers us by saying, do not be blind, see for yourselves, and recognize your Shepherd, the Shepherd of Israel, who is the only door that will give you access to the Father. In these days we prepare ourselves for deconfinement, knowing that life will no longer be the same. Many of us suffer without being able to participate in the Eucharist, the source of our life. Even though we are in Easter time, we unfortunately live in the desert. It is important that we remember the experience of the people of Israel in the desert and also the temptation of the Lord because they were hungry.  It is in such disappointed moment, an moment of emptiness that the Lord respond. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

Saint John introduces us to the good shepherd. The good shepherd knows his sheep and the sheep recognize his voice. We know for sure that Jesus understands our daily concerns. He sees our human difficulty and human suffering. In difficult times, He is the door that protects and liberates us. He will be our liberator, if we recognize that He is our Shepherd and we are his sheep. The Church invites us to re-read our lives. Are we really His sheep? Do we hear the Word of our Shepherd? Do we recognize the instructions He is giving us here now? 

In the first reading Peter asks us to recognize that the Lord is our only Shepherd and we are his sheep.  From the Shepherd to the sheep, there  a deep relationship is built and it is built in a trust that helps us to flourish.  Jesus is the door, who gives access to the truth, the knowledge of the Father. We should get closer to him.

This parable is a continuation of the healing of the born blind. He was able to see in Jesus the Savior, that is why, even if others prevented him, he cried with a loud voice, Jesus Son of David have mercy on me. Jesus called him and gave him sight, new life, a life of light.  Jesus tells us again in this parable, "He calls each of them by name and brings them out. "Let us trust in Jesus and he will bring us out.

We must recognize that the Church is currently going through a period of transition that obliges it to reconsider in depth its relationship to the world. The world is still searching for meaning, the meaning of life, the life of man. For centuries, God our Father had, in his goodness, entrusted his flock to his shepherds. On this Good Shepherd's Day, I invite you to pray for the shepherds of your parishes, that they may constantly reinvent a certain type of divine presence, so that the sheep may hear the voice of his Shepherd. Let us pray for ourselves, the Father's beloved sheep, that every man may take Jesus as his model and follow his path. Amen.

Que devons-nous faire pour avoir la vie éternelle ? Jésus nous répond en disant, ne soyez pas aveugle, voyez-vous-même, et reconnaissez votre Berger, le Berger d’Israël, qui est la seule porte, qui vous donnera accès au Père. En ces jours, nous nous préparons au deconfinement, en sachant que la vie ne sera plus la même. Beaucoup d’entre nous souffrent sans pouvoir participer à l’Eucharistie, la source de notre vie. Même si nous sommes dans le temps de pâque, nous vivons malheureusement dans le désert. Il est important que nous nous rappelions l’expérience du peuple d’Israël dans le désert et aussi la tentation du Seigneur, car il avait faim. ‘L’homme ne vit pas seulement par le pain mais chaque parole qui sort de la bouche du Seigneur.

Saint Jean nous présente le bon pasteur. Le bon pasteur connait ses brebis et les brebis reconnaissent sa voix. Nous le savons avec certitude que Jésus comprend bien nos soucis du jour. Il voit notre difficulté humaine et la souffrance de l’homme. En moment difficile, Il est la porte qui nous protège et nous libère. Il sera notre libérateur, si nous nous reconnaissons qu’Il est notre Berger et nous sommes ses brebis. Église nous invite à faire ne relecture de notre vie. Sommes-nous vraiment ses brebis ? Entendons-nous la Parole de notre Berger ? Reconnaissons-nous les consignes qu’Il nous donne ici maintenant ?  

Dans la première lecture Pierre nous demande de reconnaitre que le Seigneur est notre seul Berger et nous sommes ses brebis.  D’entre Berger et les brebis, il y a une relation profonde se construit et elle se construit dans une confiance qui nous aide à nous épanouir.  Jésus est la porte, qui donne accès à la vérité, la connaissance du Père.

Cette parabole est une continuation de la guérison d’aveugle-né. Il était capable de voir en Jésus le Sauveur, c’est pourquoi, même si les autres l’empêché, il créa d’une voix forte, Jésus Fils de David ait pitié de moi. Jésus l’appela et lui donna la vue, une nouvelle vie, une vie de lumière.  Jésus nous l’affirme encore dans cette parabole, « il les appelle chacune par son nom, et il les fait sortir. » Faisons confiance en Jésus et il nous ferra sortir.

Nous devons reconnaitre que l’Église traverse actuellement une période de transition qui l’oblige à reconsidérer en profondeur son rapport au monde. Le monde cherche encore le sens, le sens de la vie, la vie de l’homme. Depuis les siècles, Dieu notre Père avait, dans sa bonté, confié son troupeau à ses pasteurs. En ce jour de Bon Pasteur, je vous invite à prier pour les pasteurs de vos paroisses, qu’ils sans cesse réinventent un certain type de présence divine, pour que les brebis entendent la voix de son Berger. Prions pour nous-mêmes, les brebis bien-aimés du Père, que tout homme prenne Jésus pour modèle et suive ses trances. Amen.

Gospel text

(Jn 6,60-69): 

After hearing his doctrine, many of Jesus' followers said, «This language is very hard! Who can accept it?». Jesus was aware that his disciples were murmuring about this and so He said to them, «Does this offend you? Then how will you react when you see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh cannot help. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. But among you there are some who do not believe». From the beginning, Jesus knew who would betray him. So he added, «As I have told you, no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father».

After this many disciples withdrew and no longer followed him. Jesus asked the Twelve, «Will you also go away?» Peter answered him, «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We now believe and know that you are the Holy One of God».

«You have the words of eternal life»

Fr, Jordi PASCUAL i Bancells
(Salt, Girona, Spain)

Today, we have just read in the Gospel Jesus' allocution about the Bread of Life, which is Himself, offering us his body as nurture for our souls and for our Christian life. And, as it usually happens, we have to contemplate two different —if not opposite— reactions, from those who are listening to him.

His language is too hard for some, too incomprehensible for their mentality, closed to the Lord's saving Word; St. John says, somewhat sadly, that «after this many disciples withdrew and no longer followed Him» (Jn 6:66). It is the same evangelist who gives us a clue to help us understanding the attitude of these persons: they would not believe, they would not be willing to accept Jesus' teachings, which were, so often, inexplicable for them.

But, on the other hand, we can see the Apostles' reaction, led by St. Peter: «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We now believe» (Jn 6:68-69). It is not that the twelve are smarter, or even better, nor do they understand the Bible any better; but they are indeed more modest, more trusting, more open to the Holy Spirit, more docile. Every now and then, we can spot them in the Gospels when making mistakes, unable to understand Jesus, arguing over who is more important and even daring to correct the Master when he announces them his Passion; but they are always faithful, by his side. Their secret: they truly loved Him.

St. Augustine expresses it this way: «Good habits leave no trace in our soul, but good loves do (...). Truly, this is all love is about: to obey and believe whom you love». In the light of this Gospel we may wonder: where have I placed my love? what faith and what obedience have I to the Lord and to what the Church teaches? What kind of docility, simplicity and trust do I live with regards to God's things?

Texte de l'Évangile

(Jn 6,60-69): 

Beaucoup de ses disciples, qui avaient entendu, s'écrièrent: «Ce qu'il dit là est intolérable, on ne peut pas continuer à l'écouter!». Jésus connaissait par lui-même ces récriminations des disciples. Il leur dit: «Cela vous heurte? Et quand vous verrez le Fils de l'homme monter là où il était auparavant? C'est l'esprit qui fait vivre, la chair n'est capable de rien. Les paroles que je vous ai dites sont esprit et elles sont vie. Mais il y en a parmi vous qui ne croient pas». Jésus savait en effet depuis le commencement qui étaient ceux qui ne croyaient pas, et celui qui le livrerait. Il ajouta: «Voilà pourquoi je vous ai dit que personne ne peut venir à moi si cela ne lui est pas donné par le Père».

A partir de ce moment, beaucoup de ses disciples s'en allèrent et cessèrent de marcher avec lui. Alors Jésus dit aux Douze: «Voulez-vous partir, vous aussi?». Simon-Pierre lui répondit: «Seigneur, vers qui pourrions-nous aller? Tu as les paroles de la vie éternelle. Quant à nous, nous croyons, et nous savons que tu es le Saint, le Saint de Dieu».

«Tu as les paroles de la vie éternelle»

Abbé Jordi PASCUAL i Bancells
(Salt, Girona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui nous venons de lire dans l'Évangile le discours de Jésus sur le Pain de Vie, Lui-même qui va se donner à nous comme nourriture pour nos âmes et pour notre vie chrétienne. Et, comme il arrive souvent, nous avons pu observer deux réactions bien différentes, et même opposées, de la part de ceux qui l'écoutaient.

Pour certains, son langage est trop dur, incompréhensible pour leur mentalité fermée à la Parole salvifique et vivifiante du Seigneur, et saint Jean ajoute —un peu tristement— «qu'à partir de ce moment, beaucoup de ses disciples s'en allèrent et cessèrent de marcher avec lui» (Jn 6,66).

L'évangéliste nous donne un indice pour comprendre l'attitude de ces personnes. Ils ne croyaient pas, et ils n'étaient guère disposés à accepter les enseignements de Jésus, trop souvent incompréhensibles pour eux.

De l'autre côté, nous voyons la réaction des Apôtres, représentée par saint Pierre: «Seigneur, vers qui pourrions-nous aller? Tu as les paroles de la vie éternelle, et nous croyons» (Jn 6,68-69). Les douze ne sont pas plus malins que les autres; ni meilleurs; ni même plus experts dans les Ecritures; mais ils sont certainement plus simples, plus confiants, plus ouverts à l’Esprit, plus dociles.

De temps en temps, dans les Évangiles, nous les surprenons à se tromper ou à avoir bien du mal à comprendre Jésus; à discuter de qui est le plus important d'entre eux; ou, même, à corriger leur Maître, lorsqu'il leur annonce sa passion; mais nous les trouvons toujours à ses côté, fidèles. Leur secret: ils l'aimaient vraiment.

Saint Augustin l'exprime ainsi: «Ce ne sont pas les bonnes mœurs qui laissent leurs empreintes dans l'âme, mais les bons amours (...). Voici en vérité l'amour: obéir et croire à celui qu'on aime». À la lumière de cet Évangile nous pouvons nous demander: où ai-je placé mon amour? Quelle foi et quelle obéissance ai-je dans mon Seigneur et dans ce que l'Église nous apprend? Avec quelle docilité, quelle simplicité et quelle confiance est-ce que je vis les choses de Dieu?

Gospel text

(Jn 6,52-59): 

The Jews were arguing among themselves, «How can this man give us flesh to eat?». So Jesus replied, «Truly, I say to you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood live with eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day. My flesh is really food and my blood is drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood, live in me and I in them. Just as the Father, who is life, sent me and I have life from the Father, so whoever eats me will have life from me. This is the bread which came from heaven; unlike that of your ancestors, who ate and later died. Those who eat this bread will live forever». Jesus spoke in this way in Capernaum when he taught them in the synagogue.

The Application

Today we understand this passage much better than the time of Jesus, which was filled with confusion and commotion, not only among the Jewish community, but also in the heart of the disciples. Our Eucharistic participation helps us really becoming Jesus, even in our own body, before entering spiritually into the PERSON Jesus. By this communion we allow Jesus to enter into us and make us available, so that Holy Spirit begins to work in us.

Today, the first of May is also the memory of St. Joseph, the worker, who new to cooperate with God, particularly together with Mary. The month of May is considered as a month of Mary. I invite you all to consecrate our family to the Holy Family. Through the Eucharist, let us become members of this Family. Happy feast day to you all.

Action of the day: Be a silent doer like Joseph.

«Truly, I say to you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you»

Fr. Àngel CALDAS i Bosch
(Salt, Girona, Spain)

Today, Jesus makes three key avowals, such as: that we are to eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood; that if we do not take the Holy Communion we cannot have life; and that this life is the eternal life and the condition for resurrection (cf. Jn 6:53-58). There is nothing in the Gospel so clear, so emphatic and so definite as these statements of Jesus.

We Catholics are not always up to the level the Eucharist requires: at times, we try “to live” without the living conditions set up by Jesus and, yet, as John Paul II has written «Eucharist is too big a gift to admit any ambiguities and reductions».

“Eat to live”: to eat the flesh of the Son of Man is to live as the Son of Man. This food is called “communion”. It is “food”, and we say “food” so that there is no doubt with respect to its assimilation, to its identification with Jesus. We receive Holy Communion to remain united: to think like him, to speak like him, to love like him. We Christians were missing John Paul II's Eucharistic Encyclical, The Church lives from the Eucharist. It is a passionate encyclical: it is “fire” because the Eucharist is ardent.

«How I have longed to eat this Passover with you before my death!» (Lk 22:15), Jesus was saying that evening of the Holy Thursday. We have to recuperate the Eucharistic fervor. No other religion has a similar initiative. It is God himself who descends to man's heart to establish a mysterious love relationship. And as of that point the Church is built and participates in the Eucharist apostolic dynamism and eclesial mission.

We are actually digging into the entrails of the mystery, as Thomas did when he was touching the wounds of Christ resurrected. We Christians should revise our fidelity to the Eucharistic fact just as Jesus Christ has revealed it and the Church proposes it to us. And we should live once more the “tenderness” towards the Eucharist: well made and slow genuflexions, increase the number of spiritual communions... And, starting from the Eucharist, men will look sacred, as they just are. And we shall serve them with renewed tenderness.