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

Gospel text

(Lk 8,19-21): 

The mother and relatives of Jesus came to him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd. Someone told him, «Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and wish to meet you». Then Jesus answered, «My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it».

The Application

We are limited with visible and palpable elements. Today Jesus is inviting us to see beyond anything visible and palpable. The moment we are able to see what is invisible, we will understand the relationship that God desires to establish with us. Today Jesus is helping us to understand the best way to relate with the Father and how to be happy in our daily life.

This is not an artificial relationship, rather an affective and familial one. God wishes to relate with us, just like anyone of us, in our normal human relationship. Thus He doesn’t hesitate to associate us all to this spiritual family, where we are called to be members.

This membership is accorded, not by desire, rather the way we listen to the Word of God and our radical application of the love commandment in our daily life. Since the Word of God is filled with love, it is in this love we are called to practice what we have already heard in Jesus.

Action of the day: Listen and act

«My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it»

Fr. Xavier JAUSET i Clivillé
(Lleida, Spain)

Today, we can read a beautiful passage of the Gospel. Jesus is not showing any disrespect for his mother, inasmuch as She has been the first one to hear the Word of God, and He, who is the Word of God, was born from Her. At the same time She is who, most perfectly, has fulfilled God's will: «Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done onto me according to your word» (Lk 1:38), was Her answer to the Angel of the Annunciation.

Jesus tells us what we need to do to likewise pertain to his family: «those who hear...» (Lk 8:21) and to hear him we must get close to him, as his own relatives did, when they went where He was, but could not get to him because of the crowd. But, then, they tried to get closer. It might be convenient for us to ask ourselves if, to get closer to the Word of God, we do fight and try to overcome the obstacles we keep finding on the way. Do I devote, every day, a few minutes to reading, listening to or mulling over the Holy Scriptures? St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us «we must continuously meditate the Word of God (...); this meditation is a powerful help in our fight against sin».

And, finally, to abide by the Word. It is not enough to hear the Word; we must put it into action if we want to become God's relatives. We must put into practice what we are told! This is why it would perhaps be good to ask ourselves whether we only behave obediently when what we are asked just suits us well or is rather easy to do, or if, on the contrary, when it means giving up our comfort, our own prestige, our material things or whatever leisure time we may have at our disposal..., we use to place the Word between parenthesis, until some better time may come. Let us pray to the Virgin Mary that, as She did once, we may hear and abide by the Word of God, so that we shall, thus, be able to follow the path leading to eternal happiness.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Lc 8,19-21): 

La mère et les frères de Jésus vinrent le trouver; mais ils ne purent l'aborder, à cause de la foule. On lui dit: «Ta mère et tes frères sont dehors, et ils désirent te voir». Mais il répondit: «Ma mère et mes frères, ce sont ceux qui écoutent la parole de Dieu, et qui la mettent en pratique».

L’Application

Nous sommes les pèlerins vers notre maison préparée par le Seigneur. C’est exactement notre désir et aussi notre finalité. Si nous prenons conscience de cette vérité, nous fixerons notre regard vers le ciel, nous élargirons notre famille sur la terre, et nous nous associerons notre famille avec celle du Seigneur.

Là nous comprendrons le véritable Temple, le Christ, où nous pouvons bien adorer Dieu.  C’est dans cette adoration, nous contemplons la Parole de Dieu, une Parole nous donne la vie et la vie qui se donne en vie. Cette vie est possible dans l’écoute de la Parole de Dieu et la manière dont nous l’appliquons dans notre vie quotidienne. C’est dans cette pratique de l’application de la Parole de Dieu qu’un chrétien retrouvera le véritable bonheur.

«Ma mère et mes frères, ce sont ceux qui écoutent la parole de Dieu, et qui la mettent en pratique»

Abbé Xavier JAUSET i Clivillé
(Lleida, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, nous lisons un beau passage des Évangiles. Jésus n'offense en rien sa Mère, car Elle est la première à écouter la Parole de Dieu et d'Elle naquît Celui-là même qui est la Parole. C'est Elle aussi qui a le plus parfaitement accompli la volonté de Dieu: «Voici la servante du Seigneur, qu'il me soit fait selon ta parole» (Lc 1,38), répond-Elle à l'ange lors de l'Annonciation.

Jésus nous dit ce qu'il nous faut pour être, nous aussi, membres de sa famille: «ce sont ceux qui écoutent…» (Lc 8,21) et pour écouter il faut nous approcher comme ces mêmes membres, qui parvinrent jusqu'où il se trouvait; mais ils ne purent s'approcher de Lui à cause de la foule. Il conviendrait que nous nous demandions si nous luttons et nous efforçons de vaincre les obstacles que nous rencontrons au moment de nous approcher de la Parole de Dieu. Est-ce que je dédie chaque jour quelques minutes à lire, écouter et méditer la Sainte Écriture? Saint Thomas d'Aquin nous rappelle que «nous devons méditer continuellement la Parole de Dieu (…); cette méditation aide puissamment dans la lutte contre le péché».

Et, finalement, accomplir la Parole, il ne suffit pas de l'écouter; il faut l'accomplir si nous voulons être membres de la famille de Dieu. Nous devons mettre en pratique ce qu'on nous dit! C'est pourquoi il est bon que nous nous demandions si nous obéissons seulement quand ce qu'on nous demande nous plaît ou est relativement facile, et si, au contraire, quand il faut renoncer à notre confort, à notre réputation, aux biens matériels ou à nos moments de repos…, nous mettons la Parole entre parenthèses jusqu'à ce que viennent des temps meilleurs. Demandons à la Vierge Marie d'écouter et d'accomplir comme Elle la Parole de Dieu, afin d'avancer sur le chemin qui conduit à la félicité perdurable.

Gospel text

(Lk 8,16-18): 

Jesus said to his disciples, «No one, after lighting a lamp covers it with a bowl or puts it under the bed; rather he puts it on a lamp-stand so that people coming in may see the light. In the same way, there is nothing hidden that shall not be uncovered; nothing kept secret that shall not be known clearly. Now, take care how well you listen, for whoever produces will be given more, but from those who do not produce, even what they seem to have will be taken away from them».

The Application

Jesus sees in each and every one of us the light of the world and He desires that we burn the whole world with this fire of love, so that the ignorance and darkness be removed, and the whole world be illumined by His grace abundantly.

The problem is that we don’t believe that we carry in us the Light, Jesus and we wish to be Peter and Paul, like great lamps than to be little candle in the darkness. Jesus knows that even in this little candle, we can light up the world. He is reminding us that we may not be discouraged of our smallness, rather put all the confidence in His goodness.

In reality, the light and the lamp-stand are we ourselves. The more we realise that Jesus lives in us, the more we will be able to put this lamp of faith in evidence. By consequence, the better will be the world around us, because they will see the light (Jesus) in us, and this Light will help them to avoid darkness, and they will walk in the light.

The faith that we have may not be a great or bright one. However, the more we put this faith in front, the better will be our own faith. If we refuse to put this faith in evidence, then, the same that we believe to have, may be dying miserably in us, without we be aware of its death.

Action of the day: put the light you have at the service of the world.  

«He puts it on a lamp-stand so that people coming in may see the light»

+ Fr. Joaquim FONT i Gassol
(Igualada, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, a Gospel as brief as this one, is all the same rich in themes appealing to our attention. In the first place, “to give light”: everything is clear in God's eyes! Second great theme: Graces keep in line, if we are faithful to one we receive one blessing after another: «Gratia pro Gratia» (Jn 1:16). And last, human language for divine and imperishable things.

God's Light for those joining the Church! Christian mothers, whispering in their children's ear, have been teaching them for centuries, expressive words, but most of all, they have been doing it with the “light” of their good examples. They have also sown the typical popular and evangelic wisdom, compressed in many proverbs, as full of wisdom as of faith. One of these sayings is this: «Throw some light on, not smoke». St. Matthew tells us: «(...) and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven» (Mt 5:15-16).

Examining our conscience at dusk can be compared to the shopkeeper who cashes up to check the fruit of his work. He does not start by asking: —How much have I lost today? He rather wonders: —How much money did I make today? And immediately after, he may add: —How can I make more tomorrow, what can I do to improve? To finalize our working day we may end it up with a thanksgiving prayer and, in contrast, with an act of love and regret. —I regret not having loved more and hope with illusion, to start, tomorrow, a new day to please Our Lord, who always sees me, comes with me and loves me so much. —I want to give more light while diminishing the smoke of my love's fire.

In family evenings, parents and grandparents have forged —and still do— the personality and compassion of today's children and tomorrow's men. It is worth it! It is urgent! The Virgin Mary, Morning Star, Virgin of Dawn preceding the Light of the Sun-Jesus, guides us and gives us her hand. «O Happy Virgin! It is impossible that he whom you have looked at, gets lost» (St. Anselm).

Gospel text

(Lk 8,16-18): 

Jesus said to his disciples, «No one, after lighting a lamp covers it with a bowl or puts it under the bed; rather he puts it on a lamp-stand so that people coming in may see the light. In the same way, there is nothing hidden that shall not be uncovered; nothing kept secret that shall not be known clearly. Now, take care how well you listen, for whoever produces will be given more, but from those who do not produce, even what they seem to have will be taken away from them».

The Application

Jesus sees in each and every one of us the light of the world and He desires that we burn the whole world with this fire of love, so that the ignorance and darkness be removed, and the whole world be illumined by His grace abundantly.

The problem is that we don’t believe that we carry in us the Light, Jesus and we wish to be Peter and Paul, like great lamps than to be little candle in the darkness. Jesus knows that even in this little candle, we can light up the world. He is reminding us that we may not be discouraged of our smallness, rather put all the confidence in His goodness.

In reality, the light and the lamp-stand are we ourselves. The more we realise that Jesus lives in us, the more we will be able to put this lamp of faith in evidence. By consequence, the better will be the world around us, because they will see the light (Jesus) in us, and this Light will help them to avoid darkness, and they will walk in the light.

The faith that we have may not be a great or bright one. However, the more we put this faith in front, the better will be our own faith. If we refuse to put this faith in evidence, then, the same that we believe to have, may be dying miserably in us, without we be aware of its death.

Action of the day: put the light you have at the service of the world.  

«He puts it on a lamp-stand so that people coming in may see the light»

+ Fr. Joaquim FONT i Gassol
(Igualada, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, a Gospel as brief as this one, is all the same rich in themes appealing to our attention. In the first place, “to give light”: everything is clear in God's eyes! Second great theme: Graces keep in line, if we are faithful to one we receive one blessing after another: «Gratia pro Gratia» (Jn 1:16). And last, human language for divine and imperishable things.

God's Light for those joining the Church! Christian mothers, whispering in their children's ear, have been teaching them for centuries, expressive words, but most of all, they have been doing it with the “light” of their good examples. They have also sown the typical popular and evangelic wisdom, compressed in many proverbs, as full of wisdom as of faith. One of these sayings is this: «Throw some light on, not smoke». St. Matthew tells us: «(...) and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven» (Mt 5:15-16).

Examining our conscience at dusk can be compared to the shopkeeper who cashes up to check the fruit of his work. He does not start by asking: —How much have I lost today? He rather wonders: —How much money did I make today? And immediately after, he may add: —How can I make more tomorrow, what can I do to improve? To finalize our working day we may end it up with a thanksgiving prayer and, in contrast, with an act of love and regret. —I regret not having loved more and hope with illusion, to start, tomorrow, a new day to please Our Lord, who always sees me, comes with me and loves me so much. —I want to give more light while diminishing the smoke of my love's fire.

In family evenings, parents and grandparents have forged —and still do— the personality and compassion of today's children and tomorrow's men. It is worth it! It is urgent! The Virgin Mary, Morning Star, Virgin of Dawn preceding the Light of the Sun-Jesus, guides us and gives us her hand. «O Happy Virgin! It is impossible that he whom you have looked at, gets lost» (St. Anselm).

Gospel text

(Lk 8,16-18): 

Jesus said to his disciples, «No one, after lighting a lamp covers it with a bowl or puts it under the bed; rather he puts it on a lamp-stand so that people coming in may see the light. In the same way, there is nothing hidden that shall not be uncovered; nothing kept secret that shall not be known clearly. Now, take care how well you listen, for whoever produces will be given more, but from those who do not produce, even what they seem to have will be taken away from them».

The Application

Jesus sees in each and every one of us the light of the world and He desires that we burn the whole world with this fire of love, so that the ignorance and darkness be removed, and the whole world be illumined by His grace abundantly.

The problem is that we don’t believe that we carry in us the Light, Jesus and we wish to be Peter and Paul, like great lamps than to be little candle in the darkness. Jesus knows that even in this little candle, we can light up the world. He is reminding us that we may not be discouraged of our smallness, rather put all the confidence in His goodness.

In reality, the light and the lamp-stand are we ourselves. The more we realise that Jesus lives in us, the more we will be able to put this lamp of faith in evidence. By consequence, the better will be the world around us, because they will see the light (Jesus) in us, and this Light will help them to avoid darkness, and they will walk in the light.

The faith that we have may not be a great or bright one. However, the more we put this faith in front, the better will be our own faith. If we refuse to put this faith in evidence, then, the same that we believe to have, may be dying miserably in us, without we be aware of its death.

Action of the day: put the light you have at the service of the world.  

«He puts it on a lamp-stand so that people coming in may see the light»

+ Fr. Joaquim FONT i Gassol
(Igualada, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, a Gospel as brief as this one, is all the same rich in themes appealing to our attention. In the first place, “to give light”: everything is clear in God's eyes! Second great theme: Graces keep in line, if we are faithful to one we receive one blessing after another: «Gratia pro Gratia» (Jn 1:16). And last, human language for divine and imperishable things.

God's Light for those joining the Church! Christian mothers, whispering in their children's ear, have been teaching them for centuries, expressive words, but most of all, they have been doing it with the “light” of their good examples. They have also sown the typical popular and evangelic wisdom, compressed in many proverbs, as full of wisdom as of faith. One of these sayings is this: «Throw some light on, not smoke». St. Matthew tells us: «(...) and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven» (Mt 5:15-16).

Examining our conscience at dusk can be compared to the shopkeeper who cashes up to check the fruit of his work. He does not start by asking: —How much have I lost today? He rather wonders: —How much money did I make today? And immediately after, he may add: —How can I make more tomorrow, what can I do to improve? To finalize our working day we may end it up with a thanksgiving prayer and, in contrast, with an act of love and regret. —I regret not having loved more and hope with illusion, to start, tomorrow, a new day to please Our Lord, who always sees me, comes with me and loves me so much. —I want to give more light while diminishing the smoke of my love's fire.

In family evenings, parents and grandparents have forged —and still do— the personality and compassion of today's children and tomorrow's men. It is worth it! It is urgent! The Virgin Mary, Morning Star, Virgin of Dawn preceding the Light of the Sun-Jesus, guides us and gives us her hand. «O Happy Virgin! It is impossible that he whom you have looked at, gets lost» (St. Anselm).

Gospel text

(Lk 8,16-18): 

Jesus said to his disciples, «No one, after lighting a lamp covers it with a bowl or puts it under the bed; rather he puts it on a lamp-stand so that people coming in may see the light. In the same way, there is nothing hidden that shall not be uncovered; nothing kept secret that shall not be known clearly. Now, take care how well you listen, for whoever produces will be given more, but from those who do not produce, even what they seem to have will be taken away from them».

The Application

Jesus sees in each and every one of us the light of the world and He desires that we burn the whole world with this fire of love, so that the ignorance and darkness be removed, and the whole world be illumined by His grace abundantly.

The problem is that we don’t believe that we carry in us the Light, Jesus and we wish to be Peter and Paul, like great lamps than to be little candle in the darkness. Jesus knows that even in this little candle, we can light up the world. He is reminding us that we may not be discouraged of our smallness, rather put all the confidence in His goodness.

In reality, the light and the lamp-stand are we ourselves. The more we realise that Jesus lives in us, the more we will be able to put this lamp of faith in evidence. By consequence, the better will be the world around us, because they will see the light (Jesus) in us, and this Light will help them to avoid darkness, and they will walk in the light.

The faith that we have may not be a great or bright one. However, the more we put this faith in front, the better will be our own faith. If we refuse to put this faith in evidence, then, the same that we believe to have, may be dying miserably in us, without we be aware of its death.

Action of the day: put the light you have at the service of the world.  

«He puts it on a lamp-stand so that people coming in may see the light»

+ Fr. Joaquim FONT i Gassol
(Igualada, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, a Gospel as brief as this one, is all the same rich in themes appealing to our attention. In the first place, “to give light”: everything is clear in God's eyes! Second great theme: Graces keep in line, if we are faithful to one we receive one blessing after another: «Gratia pro Gratia» (Jn 1:16). And last, human language for divine and imperishable things.

God's Light for those joining the Church! Christian mothers, whispering in their children's ear, have been teaching them for centuries, expressive words, but most of all, they have been doing it with the “light” of their good examples. They have also sown the typical popular and evangelic wisdom, compressed in many proverbs, as full of wisdom as of faith. One of these sayings is this: «Throw some light on, not smoke». St. Matthew tells us: «(...) and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven» (Mt 5:15-16).

Examining our conscience at dusk can be compared to the shopkeeper who cashes up to check the fruit of his work. He does not start by asking: —How much have I lost today? He rather wonders: —How much money did I make today? And immediately after, he may add: —How can I make more tomorrow, what can I do to improve? To finalize our working day we may end it up with a thanksgiving prayer and, in contrast, with an act of love and regret. —I regret not having loved more and hope with illusion, to start, tomorrow, a new day to please Our Lord, who always sees me, comes with me and loves me so much. —I want to give more light while diminishing the smoke of my love's fire.

In family evenings, parents and grandparents have forged —and still do— the personality and compassion of today's children and tomorrow's men. It is worth it! It is urgent! The Virgin Mary, Morning Star, Virgin of Dawn preceding the Light of the Sun-Jesus, guides us and gives us her hand. «O Happy Virgin! It is impossible that he whom you have looked at, gets lost» (St. Anselm).

Gospel text

(Lk 8,16-18): 

Jesus said to his disciples, «No one, after lighting a lamp covers it with a bowl or puts it under the bed; rather he puts it on a lamp-stand so that people coming in may see the light. In the same way, there is nothing hidden that shall not be uncovered; nothing kept secret that shall not be known clearly. Now, take care how well you listen, for whoever produces will be given more, but from those who do not produce, even what they seem to have will be taken away from them».

The Application

Jesus sees in each and every one of us the light of the world and He desires that we burn the whole world with this fire of love, so that the ignorance and darkness be removed, and the whole world be illumined by His grace abundantly.

The problem is that we don’t believe that we carry in us the Light, Jesus and we wish to be Peter and Paul, like great lamps than to be little candle in the darkness. Jesus knows that even in this little candle, we can light up the world. He is reminding us that we may not be discouraged of our smallness, rather put all the confidence in His goodness.

In reality, the light and the lamp-stand are we ourselves. The more we realise that Jesus lives in us, the more we will be able to put this lamp of faith in evidence. By consequence, the better will be the world around us, because they will see the light (Jesus) in us, and this Light will help them to avoid darkness, and they will walk in the light.

The faith that we have may not be a great or bright one. However, the more we put this faith in front, the better will be our own faith. If we refuse to put this faith in evidence, then, the same that we believe to have, may be dying miserably in us, without we be aware of its death.

Action of the day: put the light you have at the service of the world.  

«He puts it on a lamp-stand so that people coming in may see the light»

+ Fr. Joaquim FONT i Gassol
(Igualada, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, a Gospel as brief as this one, is all the same rich in themes appealing to our attention. In the first place, “to give light”: everything is clear in God's eyes! Second great theme: Graces keep in line, if we are faithful to one we receive one blessing after another: «Gratia pro Gratia» (Jn 1:16). And last, human language for divine and imperishable things.

God's Light for those joining the Church! Christian mothers, whispering in their children's ear, have been teaching them for centuries, expressive words, but most of all, they have been doing it with the “light” of their good examples. They have also sown the typical popular and evangelic wisdom, compressed in many proverbs, as full of wisdom as of faith. One of these sayings is this: «Throw some light on, not smoke». St. Matthew tells us: «(...) and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven» (Mt 5:15-16).

Examining our conscience at dusk can be compared to the shopkeeper who cashes up to check the fruit of his work. He does not start by asking: —How much have I lost today? He rather wonders: —How much money did I make today? And immediately after, he may add: —How can I make more tomorrow, what can I do to improve? To finalize our working day we may end it up with a thanksgiving prayer and, in contrast, with an act of love and regret. —I regret not having loved more and hope with illusion, to start, tomorrow, a new day to please Our Lord, who always sees me, comes with me and loves me so much. —I want to give more light while diminishing the smoke of my love's fire.

In family evenings, parents and grandparents have forged —and still do— the personality and compassion of today's children and tomorrow's men. It is worth it! It is urgent! The Virgin Mary, Morning Star, Virgin of Dawn preceding the Light of the Sun-Jesus, guides us and gives us her hand. «O Happy Virgin! It is impossible that he whom you have looked at, gets lost» (St. Anselm).

Gospel text

(Lk 8,16-18): 

Jesus said to his disciples, «No one, after lighting a lamp covers it with a bowl or puts it under the bed; rather he puts it on a lamp-stand so that people coming in may see the light. In the same way, there is nothing hidden that shall not be uncovered; nothing kept secret that shall not be known clearly. Now, take care how well you listen, for whoever produces will be given more, but from those who do not produce, even what they seem to have will be taken away from them».

The Application

Jesus sees in each and every one of us the light of the world and He desires that we burn the whole world with this fire of love, so that the ignorance and darkness be removed, and the whole world be illumined by His grace abundantly.

The problem is that we don’t believe that we carry in us the Light, Jesus and we wish to be Peter and Paul, like great lamps than to be little candle in the darkness. Jesus knows that even in this little candle, we can light up the world. He is reminding us that we may not be discouraged of our smallness, rather put all the confidence in His goodness.

In reality, the light and the lamp-stand are we ourselves. The more we realise that Jesus lives in us, the more we will be able to put this lamp of faith in evidence. By consequence, the better will be the world around us, because they will see the light (Jesus) in us, and this Light will help them to avoid darkness, and they will walk in the light.

The faith that we have may not be a great or bright one. However, the more we put this faith in front, the better will be our own faith. If we refuse to put this faith in evidence, then, the same that we believe to have, may be dying miserably in us, without we be aware of its death.

Action of the day: put the light you have at the service of the world.  

«He puts it on a lamp-stand so that people coming in may see the light»

+ Fr. Joaquim FONT i Gassol
(Igualada, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, a Gospel as brief as this one, is all the same rich in themes appealing to our attention. In the first place, “to give light”: everything is clear in God's eyes! Second great theme: Graces keep in line, if we are faithful to one we receive one blessing after another: «Gratia pro Gratia» (Jn 1:16). And last, human language for divine and imperishable things.

God's Light for those joining the Church! Christian mothers, whispering in their children's ear, have been teaching them for centuries, expressive words, but most of all, they have been doing it with the “light” of their good examples. They have also sown the typical popular and evangelic wisdom, compressed in many proverbs, as full of wisdom as of faith. One of these sayings is this: «Throw some light on, not smoke». St. Matthew tells us: «(...) and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven» (Mt 5:15-16).

Examining our conscience at dusk can be compared to the shopkeeper who cashes up to check the fruit of his work. He does not start by asking: —How much have I lost today? He rather wonders: —How much money did I make today? And immediately after, he may add: —How can I make more tomorrow, what can I do to improve? To finalize our working day we may end it up with a thanksgiving prayer and, in contrast, with an act of love and regret. —I regret not having loved more and hope with illusion, to start, tomorrow, a new day to please Our Lord, who always sees me, comes with me and loves me so much. —I want to give more light while diminishing the smoke of my love's fire.

In family evenings, parents and grandparents have forged —and still do— the personality and compassion of today's children and tomorrow's men. It is worth it! It is urgent! The Virgin Mary, Morning Star, Virgin of Dawn preceding the Light of the Sun-Jesus, guides us and gives us her hand. «O Happy Virgin! It is impossible that he whom you have looked at, gets lost» (St. Anselm).

Gospel text

(Lk 8,16-18): 

Jesus said to his disciples, «No one, after lighting a lamp covers it with a bowl or puts it under the bed; rather he puts it on a lamp-stand so that people coming in may see the light. In the same way, there is nothing hidden that shall not be uncovered; nothing kept secret that shall not be known clearly. Now, take care how well you listen, for whoever produces will be given more, but from those who do not produce, even what they seem to have will be taken away from them».

The Application

Jesus sees in each and every one of us the light of the world and He desires that we burn the whole world with this fire of love, so that the ignorance and darkness be removed, and the whole world be illumined by His grace abundantly.

The problem is that we don’t believe that we carry in us the Light, Jesus and we wish to be Peter and Paul, like great lamps than to be little candle in the darkness. Jesus knows that even in this little candle, we can light up the world. He is reminding us that we may not be discouraged of our smallness, rather put all the confidence in His goodness.

In reality, the light and the lamp-stand are we ourselves. The more we realise that Jesus lives in us, the more we will be able to put this lamp of faith in evidence. By consequence, the better will be the world around us, because they will see the light (Jesus) in us, and this Light will help them to avoid darkness, and they will walk in the light.

The faith that we have may not be a great or bright one. However, the more we put this faith in front, the better will be our own faith. If we refuse to put this faith in evidence, then, the same that we believe to have, may be dying miserably in us, without we be aware of its death.

Action of the day: put the light you have at the service of the world.  

«He puts it on a lamp-stand so that people coming in may see the light»

+ Fr. Joaquim FONT i Gassol
(Igualada, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, a Gospel as brief as this one, is all the same rich in themes appealing to our attention. In the first place, “to give light”: everything is clear in God's eyes! Second great theme: Graces keep in line, if we are faithful to one we receive one blessing after another: «Gratia pro Gratia» (Jn 1:16). And last, human language for divine and imperishable things.

God's Light for those joining the Church! Christian mothers, whispering in their children's ear, have been teaching them for centuries, expressive words, but most of all, they have been doing it with the “light” of their good examples. They have also sown the typical popular and evangelic wisdom, compressed in many proverbs, as full of wisdom as of faith. One of these sayings is this: «Throw some light on, not smoke». St. Matthew tells us: «(...) and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven» (Mt 5:15-16).

Examining our conscience at dusk can be compared to the shopkeeper who cashes up to check the fruit of his work. He does not start by asking: —How much have I lost today? He rather wonders: —How much money did I make today? And immediately after, he may add: —How can I make more tomorrow, what can I do to improve? To finalize our working day we may end it up with a thanksgiving prayer and, in contrast, with an act of love and regret. —I regret not having loved more and hope with illusion, to start, tomorrow, a new day to please Our Lord, who always sees me, comes with me and loves me so much. —I want to give more light while diminishing the smoke of my love's fire.

In family evenings, parents and grandparents have forged —and still do— the personality and compassion of today's children and tomorrow's men. It is worth it! It is urgent! The Virgin Mary, Morning Star, Virgin of Dawn preceding the Light of the Sun-Jesus, guides us and gives us her hand. «O Happy Virgin! It is impossible that he whom you have looked at, gets lost» (St. Anselm).

Texte de l'Évangile

(Lc 8,16-18): 

«Personne, après avoir allumé une lampe, ne la cache sous un couvercle ou ne la met en dessous du lit; on la met sur le lampadaire pour que ceux qui entrent voient la lumière. Car rien n'est caché qui ne doive paraître au grand jour ; rien n'est secret qui ne doive être connu et venir au grand jour. Faites attention à la manière dont vous écoutez. Car celui qui a recevra encore, et celui qui n'a rien se fera enlever même ce qu'il paraît avoir».

L’Application

Jésus nous montre un bon exemple de la vie quotidienne, pour que nous comprenions son message et recevions sa grâce en abondance.  Nous sommes cette lampe dont Jésus nous parle aujourd’hui avec les dons et les talents qui sont les véritables lampes du monde. Et nous sommes la personne qui sommes chargés de la mettre sur un lampadaire, pour que les autres en profitent et que ce monde soit illuminé par la grâce de Dieu. Prenons-nous consciences que nous sommes la lumière du monde ?

«On la met sur le lampadaire pour que ceux qui entrent voient la lumière»

+ Abbé Joaquim FONT i Gassol
(Igualada, Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, cet Évangile si bref est riche en thèmes qui attirent notre attention. En premier lieu, “faire la lumière”: tout est évident aux yeux de Dieu! Deuxième grand thème: les Grâces sont entrelacées, la fidélité à l'une attire les autres: «Gratia pro Gratia» (Jn 1,16). Enfin, voici un langage humain pour des choses divines et perdurables.

Lumière pour ceux qui entrent dans l'Église! Depuis des siècles, les mères chrétiennes ont enseigné dans l'intimité leurs enfants par des paroles expressives, mais surtout avec la “lumière” de leur bon exemple. Elles ont aussi semé avec cette franchise typique du peuple et de l'Évangile, recueillie dans nombre de dictons pleins de sagesse et de foi. L'un d'entre eux dit ceci: «Illuminer et non disséminer». Saint Matthieu nous dit: «(…) elle brille pour tous ceux qui sont dans la maison. Ainsi votre lumière doit-elle briller devant les hommes, afin qu'ils voient vos bonnes œuvres et glorifient votre Père qui est dans les cieux» (Mt 5,15-16).

Notre examen de conscience en fin journée peut se comparer aux comptes de l'épicier qui fait sa caisse pour voir le produit de son travail. Il ne commence pas en se demandant: —Combien ai-je perdu? Mais plutôt: —Qu'est-ce que j'ai gagné? Puis: —Comment pourrais-je gagner davantage demain, que puis-je améliorer? La révision de notre journée finit dans l'action de grâces et, par contraste, en un acte d'amour douloureux. —Je souffre de ne pas avoir aimé plus et j'espère, plein d'ardeur, étrenner demain un nouveau jour pour plaire davantage à Notre Seigneur, qui toujours me voit, m'accompagne et m’aime tant. —Je veux apporter plus de lumière et diminuer la fumée du feu de mon amour.

Dans les soirées familiales, parents et grands-parents ont forgé —et forgent encore— la personnalité et la piété des enfants d'aujourd'hui et des hommes de demain. Ça en vaut la peine! C'est urgent! Marie, Étoile du matin, Vierge de l'aube qui précède Jésus, Lumière du Soleil, guide-nous et donne-nous la main. «Ô Vierge bienheureuse! Il est impossible que se perde celui sur qui tu as posé ton regard» (Saint Anselme).