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

Covid-19 is a virus that has been known for centuries, yet ignored, and it teaches us to live our lives differently and makes us to understand that a life even in confinement is possible. It invites us to see the precarity of life and to live it in a different way. Yet all those who have put their trust in the Lord are able to adopt themselves and to see the wonders of God. They are those trees planted on the shore, which give fruit at the right time.

Many of our contemporaries ask themselves why the present situation is imposing itself so brutally and is upsetting not only the economy of the world, but also the spiritual life and our daily life in a radical way? If we learn to see the world with a look of faith, as the Lord tells us in today's Gospel, we will discover the works of God which are still being manifested, even today, especially in those health and security workers, even if they are exhausted, they work day and night, non-stop, so that the sick, the afflicted live their lives in a pleasant and peaceful way. Let us give thanks to God because He has chosen to manifest Himself in them and we acknowledge through their service, the divine presence and guidance. Certainly, there are still some people who do not do their own human duty. 

In the first reading we understood that King Saul, chosen and consecrated by the Lord, was no longer faithful. As a result, God's people were exhausted and crushed. Even in the confinement of the day, we see people who do not respect the rules imposed, nor ensure their own health security, putting fragile people in danger.  To protect us from these people, God in His goodness chose another, another who was the smallest in Jesse's home, even his father did not believe that his son, so small, could provide the answer sought by the people. We are that little ones, however small we may be, chosen by the Lord, to become lights of the world.

In today's gospel, in Jesus Christ, God comes to us, touches us and asks us to see and hear Him.  The disciples see in this blind man a punishment for sins, and the chosen and the learned ones did not even know about him, as he did not even exist. God sees his suffering and isolation, which were totally ignored by others. In order to free him from his suffering and isolation, He offers us an extraordinary solution, which man, with his intelligence, cannot understand: "Go and wash in the pool of Siloam". Was Siloe able to give him the sight ? The Lord was able to simplify this miracle with a single Word. If the Lord asks him to do so, there is a spiritual step, an internal pilgrimage that would help him, through his positive commitment, to express his fidelity and his faith.

"The blind man went, therefore, and washed himself; and when he came back, he saw. "He was not sent into the water of the pool. In truth, in the water of Siloam he plunged into Jesus Christ, to be reborn as a man of light.  He is sent to be sent. Very often, in our own limitedness, we do not understand all that the Lord asks of us, including the prophet Samuel, he was sad and afraid. If we remain faithful, and put into practice all that the Lord teaches us, we will see in ourselves the fulfillment of the divine will. Like Mary, in our humility, we must learn to keep everything in our hearts and meditate.

 The man who was blind is healed. Paradoxically, the scholars who were spiritually blind threw him out of the assembly with the Light sent by the Father. Since that blind man who is now be able to see everything as it is, rejected by the elites, did not know, the One who gave him sight, Jesus will return once again, towards him, so that he may discover the Light of the world, the source of his light.  The catechumens preparing for baptism and the children who were to make their second stage of baptism are called with this blind man to discover the One who gives them sight, faith. We the baptized are invited to discover how God manifests Himself in these children and catechumens.  

Let us pray to the Lord that He may remove our blindness and helps un to be  the Light of the world.

Gospel text

(Lk 18,9-14): 

Jesus told another parable to some per­sons fully convinced of their own righteous­ness, who looked down on others: «Two men went up to the Temple to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by him­self and said: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people, grasping, crooked, adulterous, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give the tenth of all my income to the Temple’. In the meantime the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast saying: ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner’. I tell you, when this man went down to his house, he had been set right with God, but not the other. For whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be raised».

The Application

We give lot of importance to what we do and sometime in our culpability accuse ourselves of not doing what is to be done. Though this approach can be appreciated with certain moderation, what is important is not doing or not doing, but simply ‘BEING’, because everything, (thinking and doing) springs from this being.  It is in this being we realize in us the necessity to remain connected to the divine and it is in this very configuration in Christ that we will discover our own human nature.

God in His goodness helps us to participate in Him, through our thinking and doing. Thus, be the divine grace, knowingly or unknowingly we will be accomplishing the divine will, not by doing what is pleasing to us, or doing what is just and good, rather we continue to be good (in thinking and doing), because, we can’t be otherwise. The more we are connected to God, the better will be our humility, because this humility is in truth and in spirit.

Once we reach to this state of life, we recognize the divine goodness and accept in our humility our sins and unfaithfulness. It is here we ask pardon and mercy. If we keep asking pardon for the same sin of the past, then we haven’t understood or tasted the divine mercy. God forgives once and for all, and we are called to reborn and start to live this life, to its fulness, not in comparison with others’ rather in relation with God and to our own call.

Action of the day: Know your God and live your life in love.

 «Whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be raised»

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

Today, in the midst of an image centered culture, this Gospel has a profound meaning. But let's take it one step at a time.

In the passage we are contemplating we see that in each person we can find a knot made of three strings. These three strings cannot be untangled unless each is taken into consideration at the same time. The first string relates to God; the second one to our fellowmen; and the third one to ourselves. Let us look carefully: those Jesus was addressing were «persons fully convinced of their own righteous­ness, who looked down on others» (Lk 18:9) but who, therefore, were not praying rightly. The three strings are always related to each other!

How can we properly put these relations into the right perspective? Which is the secret of untying that knot? The final conclusion of the sharp parable reveals it: humility. Saint Therese of Avila said it too: «Humility is truth».

It is true, though: humility allows us to recognize our own truth. Neither to swell with pride and vainglory nor to undermind us. Humility allows us to accept the gifts we receive from God as such, and to present him with our daily chores. Humility also allows us to recognize the qualities of our fellowmen. And even to be happy to discover them out.

Last but not least, a sense of humility must also be fundamental in our personal relationship with God. We must remember that, in Jesus' parable, the Pharisee lived a most righteous life; with his weekly religious practices and acts of charity! But he is not humble and that spoils all his other acts.

We are getting close to Holy Week. Soon we shall contemplate —once more!— Christ on the Cross: «Our Lord crucified is an unsurpassable testimony of patient loving and of humble meekness» (John Paul II). There, we shall see how, before Dimas' pleading —«Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom» (Lk 23:42)— the Lord responds with a “sudden canonization” without any precedent: «I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise» (Lk 23:43). That personage was a murderer who, before dying, was finally canonized by the very same Christ. It was a case hitherto unheard, for us, a consolation...: sanctity is not “manufactured” by us, but granted by God, if He finds our heart to be humble and converted.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Lc 18,9-14): 

Jésus dit une parabole pour certains hommes qui étaient convaincus d'être justes et qui méprisaient tous les autres: «Deux hommes montèrent au Temple pour prier. L'un était pharisien, et l'autre, publicain. Le pharisien se tenait là et priait en lui-même: ‘Mon Dieu, je te rends grâce parce que je ne suis pas comme les autres hommes: voleurs, injustes, adultères, ou encore comme ce publicain. Je jeûne deux fois par semaine et je verse le dixième de tout ce que je gagne’. Le publicain, lui, se tenait à distance et n'osait même pas lever les yeux vers le ciel; mais il se frappait la poitrine, en disant: ‘Mon Dieu, prends pitié du pécheur que je suis!’. Quand ce dernier rentra chez lui, c'est lui, je vous le déclare, qui était devenu juste, et non pas l'autre. Qui s'élève sera abaissé; qui s'abaisse sera élevé».

L’Application

Le juste devant Dieu est un homme qui se met volontairement devant Dieu, en reconnaissant la bonté et la miséricorde divine. Devant cette bonté divine il découvre sa propre faiblesse et demande la grâce divine.

Dans sa fidélité il accepte son infidélité et Dieu lui accorde son pardon et sa grâce pour qu’il puisse se reconvertir et de pouvoir se retrouver encore une fois en bonne santé, la santé spirituelle.

Une nouvelle vie recommence et il est appelé à vivre cette vie en Dieu, par Dieu et pour Dieu. Une vie totalement enracinée dans cet amour divin, dans son humanité il agira divinement, car Dieu demeurera dans sa parole et dans ses actes. ‘Dieu ne désire pas la mort des pécheurs, ce qu’ils convertissent et qu’ils vivent en Dieu.’

 «C'est lui, je vous le déclare, qui était devenu juste»

Fr. Gavan JENNINGS
(Dublín, Irlande)

Aujourd'hui, le Christ nous présente deux hommes qui, pour un observateur "ordinaire" pourraient sembler presque identiques, car ils se trouvent au même endroit et font la même chose: tous les deux sont «montés au temple pour prier» (Lc 18,10). Mais au-delà des apparences, au plus profond de leur conscience personnelle, les deux hommes diffèrent radicalement: l'un, le pharisien, a la conscience tranquille, alors que l'autre, le publicain —collecteur d'impôts— est inquiet car il ressent de la culpabilité.

Aujourd'hui, nous avons tendance à considérer les sentiments de culpabilité —le remords— comme quelque chose qui se rapproche d'une aberration psychologique. Cependant, le sentiment de culpabilité permet au publicain de ressortir du Temple réconforté, car «lorsque cet homme est redescendu à sa maison il était devenu juste alors que l'autre non» (Lc 18,14). «Ce sentiment de culpabilité» a écrit Benoît XVI quand il était encore le Cardinal Ratzinger ("Conscience et vérité") «trouble la fausse tranquillité de la conscience et on peut l'appeler "protestation de la conscience" contre mon existence faite d'auto-satisfaction. Il est aussi nécessaire pour l'homme que la douleur physique, qui signifie une altération du fonctionnement normal du corps».

Jésus ne nous incite pas à penser que le pharisien ne dit pas la vérité quand il affirme qu'il n'est pas un rapace, qu'il n'est ni injuste ni adultère et qu'il jeûne et donne de l'argent au Temple (cf. Lc 18,11); ni que le collecteur d'impôts délire en se considérant comme un pécheur. Ce n'est pas la question. C'est plutôt que «le pharisien ne se rend plus compte que lui aussi est coupable. Sa conscience est complètement nette. Mais le "silence de la conscience" le rend impénétrable vis-à-vis de Dieu et des hommes, alors que le "cri de la conscience" qui inquiète le publicain le rend capable de sentiments de vérité et d'amour. Jésus peut troubler les pécheurs!» (Benoît XVI).

Gospel text

(Mk 12,28b-34): 

A teacher of the Law came up and asked to Jesus, «Which commandment is the first of all?». Jesus answered, «The first is: ‘Hear, Israel! The Lord, our God, is One Lord; and you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength’. And after this comes another one: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’. There is no commandment greater than these two».

The teacher of the Law said to him, «Well spoken, Master; you are right when you say that he is one and there is no other. To love him with all our heart, with all our understanding and with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves is more important than any burnt offering or sacrifice». Jesus approved this answer and said, «You are not far from the kingdom of God». But after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

The Application

Life is filled with ups and downs. Many at times we don’t know what to do and how to choose. With many complicated moments and relationships, we are lost in between these impediments, without knowing the right direction or ignoring the better options.  At the end the teacher of the law has chosen the right person to address his problem and decided to get His opinion.

Jesus has suggested him to fix his life both horizontal and vertical. The connecting point would be ‘love’. Is my life filled with divine love? If yes, how do I express this divine love? Jesus is orienting this divine love with minimum self-love and through the self-connect march towards the world.  If I don’t know myself and how to love or express it, how can I love God? And how to love God, while ignoring His beloved ones, who are with us?

Action of the day: Let every word and act of this day, be an expression of your love.

«There is no commandment greater than these two»

Fr. Pere MONTAGUT i Piquet
:(Barcelona, Spain)

Today, Lenten liturgy presents us Love as the deepest root of our self- communication with God: «Our soul cannot live without love, it always wants to love something, for our soul is made of love, as I made it because of love» (Saint Catherine of Siena). God is almighty love, extreme love, crucified love: «It is there [on the Cross] that this truth can be contemplated» (Benedict XVI). This Gospel is not only a confirmation of the prayer the pious Jew used to say every morning, but it is also a self revelation as to how God —through his Son— wants to be loved. With a Commandment from Deuteronomy: «Love the Lord your God» (Deut 6:5) and another one from Leviticus: «Love your neighbor as yourself» (Lv 19:18), Jesus enforces the plenitude of the Law. He loves the Father, as a true God born out of a real God and, as the Word made Flesh, He creates the new Mankind of the sons of God, brothers loving each other with the love of the Son.

Jesus' call to communion and to the mission requires our participation in its very same nature; it is a closeness where to get ourselves in. Jesus does not vindicate him as the milestone of our prayer and of our love. He thanks the Father and constantly lives in his presence. The mystery of Christ attracts us towards the love for God, invisible and inaccessible, while —at the same time— it shows us the way to identify our sincerity in our love and life for our visible and present brother. The burnt offerings in the altar are not the most valued ones, but Christ burning as the unique sacrifice and offering, so that we may become in Him a single altar, a single love.

This unity of knowledge and love woven by the Saint Spirit allows God to love through us and to use all our capacities, while allowing us to be able to love as Christ does, with the same filial and fraternal love. What God united in love, man cannot sever. This is the greatness of he who submits to the Kingdom of God: self love is no longer an obstacle but rapture to love the one and only God and a crowd of brothers.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mc 12,28b-34): 

Un scribe qui avait entendu la discussion, et remarqué que Jésus avait bien répondu, s'avança pour lui demander: «Quel est le premier de tous les commandements?». Jésus lui fit cette réponse: «Voici le premier: Écoute, Israël: le Seigneur notre Dieu est l'unique Seigneur. Tu aimeras le Seigneur ton Dieu de tout ton coeur, de toute ton âme, de tout ton esprit et de toute ta force. Voici le second: Tu aimeras ton prochain comme toi-même. Il n'y a pas de commandement plus grand que ceux-là».

Le scribe reprit: «Fort bien, Maître, tu as raison de dire que Dieu est l'Unique et qu'il n'y en a pas d'autre que lui. L'aimer de tout son coeur, de toute son intelligence, de toute sa force, et aimer son prochain comme soi-même, vaut mieux que toutes les offrandes et tous les sacrifices». Jésus, voyant qu'il avait fait une remarque judicieuse, lui dit: «Tu n'es pas loin du royaume de Dieu». Et personne n'osait plus l'interroger.

«Il n'y a pas de commandement plus grand que ceux-là»

Abbé Pere MONTAGUT i Piquet
(Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui la liturgie du carême nous présente l'amour comme la racine la plus profonde de l'auto communication avec Dieu: «L'âme ne peut vivre sans amour, elle veut toujours aimer quelque chose, parce qu'elle est faite d'amour, et que Moi je l'ai créée par amour» (Sainte Catherine de Sienne). Dieu est Amour tout puissant, amour à l'extrême, amour crucifié: «C'est dans la croix qu'on peut contempler cette vérité» (Benoît XVI). Cet Evangile n'est pas uniquement une révélation de comment Dieu —par l'intermédiaire de son Fils— souhaite être aimé. Avec un commandement du Deutéronome: «Aime le Seigneur ton Dieu» (Dt 6,5) et un autre du Lévitique (Lv 19,18): «Aime ton prochain», Jésus conduit à son terme la plénitude de la loi. Il aime le Père comme Dieu vrai, né du vrai Dieu, et en tant que Verbe fait homme, Il crée une nouvelle humanité de Fils de Dieu, frères qui s'aiment avec l'amour du Fils.

L'appel de Jésus à la communion et à notre mission demande une participation dans le propre de sa nature, c'est une intimité dans laquelle il faut s'introduire. Jésus ne revendique à aucun moment être le but de nos prières et de notre amour. Il rend grâce au Père et Il est continuellement dans Sa présence. Le mystère du Christ nous attire vers l'amour de Dieu —invisible et inaccessible— et en même temps c'est un chemin pour nous permettre de reconnaître l'amour dans la vérité et dans la vie envers nos frères visibles et présents. Ce qui est le plus précieux ce ne sont pas les offrandes qu'on brûle sur l'autel mais le Christ qui brûle comme sacrifice et offrande unique afin que nous soyons avec Lui un seul autel et un seul amour.

Cette unification de connaissance et d'amour tissé par l'Esprit Saint permet que Dieu puisse aimer à travers nous en utilisant toutes nos capacités et pour nous cela nous permet de pouvoir aimer avec le même amour filial et fraternel que le Christ. Ce que Dieu a uni dans l'amour, l'homme ne peut pas le séparer. C'est bien ça la grandeur de celui qui se soumet au Royaume des Cieux: l'amour de soi-même n'est plus un obstacle mais devient pour chacun d'entre nous une extase d'amour envers l'unique Dieu et la multitude de nos frères.

Gospel text

(Mt 1,16.18-21.24a): 

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and from her came Jesus who is called the Christ ­—the Messiah.

This is how Jesus Christ was born. Mary his mother had been given to Joseph in marriage but before they lived together, she was found to be preg­nant through the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to discredit her. While he was pondering over this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, «Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a son. You shall call him “Jesus” for he will save his people from their sins». When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do and he took his wife to his home.

The Application

We find Joseph is troubled of the news and since he was just, he wished an amicable solution, without giving any trouble to Mary. He is just because he searches what is best for the other without compromising his value system. When men search for the bien of the other, the divine answer is easily accessible and comprehensible. It's here Joseph has understood that in Mary and Jesus, he has a mission to accomplish.

Just like Joseph, we too may not have all the necessary means or information for a better decision or solution. The more we remain open, the better will be our understanding of divine realities. God chose to address Joseph in dream and the message received in dream was sufficient for Joseph to act upon. What a courage and faith that Joseph expresses in this act of obedience? Are we open and ready to obey?

Corona Virus is shaking all the existing systems that the humanity has established. Men still search for a solution without any immediate answer. Let us open our eyes and make use of such difficult moment to express our solidarity and charity. In some counties like Italy and France, everything has come to still and we are in confinement. Other counties will soon follow this. Let us hope just the opposite.

Let us pray to St. Joseph that the world may not get frightened of this event and may not loose hope. The message that God shared with Joseph is filled with consolation and affirmation of the mission. Let us take this moment as a mission and pray to God that He may help us to bring this to its completion.  Let us also pray for all our brothers and sisters who celebrate the feast of St. Joseph.  Do pray for me too.

Action of the day: Be humble and open.

«Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife»

+ Mons. Ramon MALLA i Call Emeritus Bishop of Lleida
(Lleida, Spain)

Today, the Church celebrates the solemnity of Saint Joseph, Mary's husband. It is like a joyful interlude within Lent's austerity. But, the joy of this feast should not be an obstacle to our advancing along the path of our personal conversion, as preceptive in Lenten time.

He who, looking ahead, tries hard to accommodate his life to God's plan for us, is very fortunate. And so is he who, looking around him, tries always to properly interpret others' actions by saving their good reputation. In today's Gospel Saint Joseph is presented to us in both aspects of goodness.

God has over each one of us a love plan, inasmuch as «God is love» (1Jn 4:8). But, at times, the hardships of life difficult our discovering it. And then, logically, we grumble and we reluctantly accept to carry our crosses.

Saint Joseph must have gone through a difficult time when realizing Mary «before they had lived together, was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit» (Mt 1:18). He was planning to divorce her, but «in all secrecy» (Mt 1:19). And, at the same time, when «an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream» (Mt 1:20), saying he had to become the legal father, he accepted it right away «and took his wife to his home» (Mt 1:24).

Lent is a good time to find out what God expects from us and strengthen our wish to carry it out. Let us beg God «through the intercession of Mary's husband», as we shall read in the Collect of the Mass, that we may advance in our path of conversion by imitating Saint Joseph in his acceptance of God's will and in the exercise of charity with our fellow men. At the same time, let us keep in mind that if «all the Church is indebted to the Virgin Mary, as we received Christ through her, after her, Saint Joseph should certainly be who mostly deserves our gratitude and reverence» (Saint Bernardino of Siena).

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mt 1,16.18-21.24a): 

Jacob engendra Joseph, l'époux de Marie, de laquelle fut engendré Jésus, que l'on appelle Christ (ou Messie). Voici quelle fut l'origine de Jésus Christ. Marie, la mère de Jésus, avait été accordée en mariage à Joseph; or, avant qu'ils aient habité ensemble, elle fut enceinte par l'action de l'Esprit Saint. Joseph, son époux, qui était un homme juste, ne voulait pas la dénoncer publiquement; il décida de la répudier en secret.

Il avait formé ce projet, lorsque l'ange du Seigneur lui apparut en songe et lui dit: «Joseph, fils de David, ne crains pas de prendre chez toi Marie, ton épouse: l'enfant qui est engendré en elle vient de l'Esprit Saint; elle mettra au monde un fils, auquel tu donneras le nom de Jésus (c'est-à-dire: Le-Seigneur-sauve), car c'est lui qui sauvera son peuple de ses péchés». Quand Joseph se réveilla, il fit ce que l'ange du Seigneur lui avait prescrit: il prit chez lui son épouse.

L’Application

La peur et l’inquiétude de Joseph est bien justifier. Il a voulu sauver Marie de la mort et aussi se sauver d’une histoire hors norme. Chacune et chacun est appelé à chercher les moyens qui se disposent devant nous et en choisir un. Joseph dans sa bonté et de sa générosité a voulu faire une chose qui sera juste devant Dieu. Dieu qui voit tout ce que nous faisons discrètement, dans notre bienveillance, viendra nous accompagner et nous apporter un soutien, dans notre discernement et décision. Comme Joseph, que nous devenions les véritables disciples qui écoutent la Parole de Dieu et qui La mettent en pratique.

Le monde du jour se batte contre la corona virus. Prions à Dieu qu'à travers saint Joseph que le monde devienne de plus en plus fraternel et charitable. Que le monde riche partage avec les pauvres qui souffrent en silence sans aucun moyen. Je prie particulièrement pour les familles qui se trouvent ensembles sans aucun projet, sans rien prévu. Avec l’accompagnement de saint Joseph que ce temps offert par Dieu, soit un moment de partage, d’échange, d’écoute, etc. 

Soyons ouverts au projet divin. Pourquoi pas profiter de ce temps pour une conversion personnelle et radicale ?  Dans notre confinement, en silence écoutons la voix du Seigneur. Ne craignons pas, car Dieu est avec nous.

«Joseph, fils de David, ne crains pas de prendre chez toi Marie, ton épouse»

+ Mgr. Ramon MALLA i Call Evêque Emérite de Lérida
(Lleida, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui l'Église célèbre la solennité de Saint Joseph, époux de Marie. C'est comme une parenthèse dans l'austérité du Carême. Mais dans la joie de cette fête, rien ne nous empêche de pouvoir continuer à avancer dans le chemin de la conversion, propre des jours du Carême.

Joseph est bien celui qui, élevant son regard, s'efforce pour s'adapter au plan de Dieu. Et Joseph est bien aussi celui qui, regardant les autres, essaie toujours d'interpréter dans le bon sens toutes leurs actions afin de sauvegarder leur bonne renommée. C'est dans ces deux aspects de la bonté que Saint Joseph nous apparaît dans l'Évangile d'aujourd'hui.

Sur chacun de nous Dieu a un plan d'amour, car «Dieu est amour» (1Jn 4,8). Mais les difficultés de notre vie font que, parfois, nous ne sachions pas le découvrir. Et, en bonne logique, nous nous plaignons et nous refusons les croix que le Seigneur nous tend.

Il a dû être difficile pour Saint Joseph de voir que Marie «avant qu'ils aient habité ensemble, fut enceinte par l'action de l'Esprit Saint» (Mt 1,18). Il avait décidé de la répudier, mais «en secret» (Mt 1,19). Mais, en même temps, «lorsque l'ange du Seigneur lui apparut en songe» (Mt 1,20), lui dévoilant qu'il devait devenir le père légal de l'Enfant, il accepta immédiatement «et il prit chez lui son épouse» (Mt 1,24).

Le Carême est une bonne occasion pour découvrir ce que Dieu attend de nous, et renforcer notre désir de le mener à bien. Demandons au bon Dieu, comme nous le dirons dans la collecte de la Messe, «que les mérites de l'Époux de votre très sainte Mère soient notre secours, nous vous en prions, Seigneur». Qu'Il nous fasse avancer dans notre chemin de conversion tout en imitant Saint Joseph dans l'acceptation de la volonté de Dieu et l'exercice de la charité envers notre prochain. Et, en même temps, rappelons-nous que «toute la sainte Église est débitrice avec la Mère Vierge, car c'est à travers Elle que l'Église a reçu le Christ, mais, ensuite, Saint Joseph est celui qui mérite le plus notre remerciement et notre révérence» (Saint Bernardin de Sienne).

Gospel text

 (Mt 18,21-35): 

Peter asked Jesus, «Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister? Seven times?». Jesus answered, «No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

»This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven. A king decided to settle the accounts of his servants. Among the first was one who owed him ten thousand gold ingots. As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he be sold as a slave with his wife, children and all his goods in payment. The official threw himself at the feet of the king and said, ‘Give me time, and I will pay you back everything’. The king took pity on him and not only set him free but even canceled his debt.

»This official then left the king's presence and he met one of his companions who owed him a hundred pieces of silver. He grabbed him by the neck and almost strangled him, shouting, ‘Pay me what you owe me!’. His companion threw himself at his feet and asked him, ‘Give me time, and I will pay everything’. The other did not agree, but sent him to prison until he had paid all his debt. His companions saw what happened. They were indignant and so they went and reported everything to their lord. Then the lord summoned his official and said, ‘Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed when you begged me to do so. Weren't you bound to have pity on your companion as I had pity on you?’. The lord was now angry, so he handed his servant over to be punished, until he had paid his whole debt». Jesus added, «So will my heavenly Father do with you unless each of you sincerely for­give your brother or sister».

«The king took pity on him and not only set him free but even canceled his debt»

Fr. Enric PRAT i Jordana
(Sort, Lleida, Spain)

Today, Matthew's Gospel invites us to ponder over the mystery of forgiveness by proposing a parallel between God's ways and our own human behavior when it comes to forgiving others.

Man even dares measuring and keeping control of the magnanimity of his forgiving nature: «Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister? Seven times?» (Mt 18:21). Peter felt seven times was a bit too much, perhaps the very maximum we can stand. In fact, Peter comes out of it quite splendidly if compared to the official of the parable who, when he met one of his companions who owed him a hundred pieces of silver, «grabbed him by the neck and almost strangled him, shouting, ‘Pay me what you owe!’» (Mt 18:28), refusing to listen to his pleading and promises of payment.

In actual fact, man either refuses to forgive or miserly measures out his forgiveness. Who would actually say that we have just received from God an infinitely reiterated and limitless forgiveness…? The parable says: «The king took pity on him and not only set him free but even canceled his debt» (Mt 18:27). And this, despite the fact his debt was very big.

But the parable we are commenting on emphasizes God's ways when it comes to granting forgiveness. After calling the debtor's attention to the gravity of his situation, he suddenly took pity on him before his humble and sorrowful pleading: «(...) he threw himself at the feet of the king and said, ‘Give me time, and I will pay you back everything’. The king took pity...» (Mt 18:26-27). This episode reflects what each one of us knows by our own experience and with deep gratitude: that God forgives the repentant and converted one without any limit. The negative and sad ending of the parable, however, honors justice and evidences the truth of Jesus' words in Lk 6:38: «For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you».

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mt 18,21-35): 

Pierre s'approcha de Jésus pour lui demander: «Seigneur, quand mon frère commettra des fautes contre moi, combien de fois dois-je lui pardonner? Jusqu'à sept fois?». Jésus lui répondit: «Je ne te dis pas jusqu'à sept fois, mais jusqu'à soixante-dix fois sept fois.

»En effet, le Royaume des cieux est comparable à un roi qui voulut régler ses comptes avec ses serviteurs. Il commençait, quand on lui amena quelqu'un qui lui devait dix mille talents (c'est-à-dire soixante millions de pièces d'argent). Comme cet homme n'avait pas de quoi rembourser, le maître ordonna de le vendre, avec sa femme, ses enfants et tous ses biens, en remboursement de sa dette. Alors, tombant à ses pieds, le serviteur demeurait prosterné et disait: ‘Prends patience envers moi, et je te rembourserai tout’. Saisi de pitié, le maître de ce serviteur le laissa partir et lui remit sa dette.

»Mais, en sortant, le serviteur trouva un de ses compagnons qui lui devait cent pièces d'argent. Il se jeta sur lui pour l'étrangler, en disant: ‘Rembourse ta dette!’. Alors, tombant à ses pieds, son compagnon le suppliait: ‘Prends patience envers moi, et je te rembourserai’. Mais l'autre refusa et le fit jeter en prison jusqu'à ce qu'il ait remboursé. Ses compagnons, en voyant cela, furent profondément attristés et allèrent tout raconter à leur maître. Alors celui-ci le fit appeler et lui dit: ‘Serviteur mauvais! je t'avais remis toute cette dette parce que tu m'avais supplié. Ne devais-tu pas, à ton tour, avoir pitié de ton compagnon, comme moi-même j'avais eu pitié de toi?’. Dans sa colère, son maître le livra aux bourreaux jusqu'à ce qu'il ait tout remboursé. C'est ainsi que mon Père du ciel vous traitera, si chacun de vous ne pardonne pas à son frère de tout son coeur».

«Saisi de pitié, lui remit sa dette»

Abbé Enric PRAT i Jordana
(Sort, Lleida, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui l'Evangile de Matthieu nous invite à la réflexion sur le mystère du pardon, en nous proposant un parallèle entre la façon de pardonner de Dieu et la nôtre.

L'homme ose mesurer et compter sa générosité pour accorder son pardon: «Seigneur, quand mon frère commettra des fautes contre moi, combien de fois dois-je lui pardonner? Jusqu'à sept fois?» (Mt 18,21). Pierre pense que sept fois c'est déjà beaucoup ou bien peut-être que c'est le maximum que l'on peut supporter. Enfin si nous y réfléchissons Pierre nous semble même très généreux, si nous le comparons à l'homme de la parabole qui en trouvant son compagnon qui lui devait cent pièces d'argent «se jeta sur lui pour l'étrangler, en disant: ‘Rembourse ta dette!’» (Mt 18,28) refusant d'entendre ses supplications et ses promesses.

En fin compte, l'homme se nie à pardonner ou bien il donne son pardon à la baisse. En vérité, personne ne dirait qu'on vient de recevoir un pardon sans limites, réitéré à plusieurs reprises de la part de Dieu. La parabole nous dit: «Saisi de pitié, le maître de ce serviteur le laissa partir et lui remit sa dette» (Mt 18,27). Et cela même s'agissant d'une dette très élevée.

Néanmoins, la parabole que nous commentons ici met plutôt l'accent sur la manière dont Dieu nous confère son pardon. D'abord Il rappelle à l'ordre son débiteur et lui fait voir la gravité de la situation, soudain Il est saisi de pitié par sa prière contrite et humble «le serviteur demeurait prosterné et disait: ‘Prends patience envers moi, et je te rembourserai tout’» (Mt 18,26-27). Cet épisode met en évidence ce que chacun de nous connaît bien par expérience et avec beaucoup de reconnaissance: Dieu pardonne sans limite celui qui vient vers lui repenti et converti. La fin de cette parabole qui est négative et triste, fait honneur à la justice et mets en évidence la véracité d'une autre parole de Jésus dans Lc 6,38: «Car la mesure dont vous vous servez pour les autres servira aussi pour vous».

Gospel text

(Lk 4,24-30): 

Jesus added, «No prophet is honored in his own country. Truly, I say to you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens with­held rain for three years and six months and a great famine came over the whole land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow of Zarephath, in the country of Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, the prophet, and no one was healed except Naaman, the Syrian».

On hearing these words, the whole assembly became indignant. They rose up and brought him out of the town, to the edge of the hill on which Nazareth is built, in­tending to throw him down the cliff. But he passed through their midst and went his way.

«No prophet is honored in his own country»

Fr. Higinio Rafael ROSOLEN IVE
(Cobourg, Ontario, Canada)

Today, in the Gospel, Jesus tells us that «no prophet is accepted in his hometown» (Lk 4:24). By making use of this proverb Jesus is introducing Himself as a prophet.

A "Prophet" is someone who speaks on behalf of another, he who carries someone else’s message. Among the Hebrews, the prophets were men sent by God to announce, whether with words, whether with signs, the presence of God, the coming of the Messiah, the message of salvation, peace and hope.

Jesus is the Prophet par excellence, the long awaited Savior; in Him all prophecies are fulfilled. But, just as it did happen at the time of Elijah and Elisha, Jesus is not "well accepted" among their own, for those who are filled with anger «got up, and drow Him out of the town» (Lk 4:29).

Each one of us, because of our baptism, is also called to be a prophet. Therefore:

1st. We should announce the Good News. To do so, as Pope Francis said, we have to listen to the Word with a sincere approach, to let it touch our own lives, to let it retrieve us, exhort us, mobilize us, because if we do not dedicate time to pray with that Word, then we shall indeed be a "false prophet", a "swindler" or an "empty charlatan"

2nd. To live by the Gospel. Again Pope Francis says: «We are not asked to be flawless, but to keep growing and wanting to grow as we advance along the path of the Gospel; our arms must never grow slack». It is essential to be sure that God loves us, that Jesus Christ has saved us, that His love is forever.

3rd. As disciples of Jesus, we must be aware that just as Jesus experienced rejection, anger and being thrown out, this will also be present on the horizon of our daily lives.

Let Mary, Queen of the prophets, guide us on our way.