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

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 Application

To a simple question of Peter, Jesus is inviting him to look the same another way to find out by himself, the divine will, and particularly in his pursuit for an answer towards the perfection. If we look at this story deeply, we will find that it is not the question of forgiveness, rather a question of divine justice. Many of us refuse to forgive, because we find in pardon or forgiveness, there is a great contradiction of justice. In today’s story, we will find out that justice and pardon have to co-exist.

If the master has expected this man to do exactly what he has done to the debtor, it is because the master has released him from all the debt, knowing well that this gentile man can’t afford to pay back, believing that others didn’t keep up the word. By doing so, the master has released not only this debtor, but all those who couldn’t bay back to this debtor, one of the causalities essential of the delay and inability.

What this wicked man has done is, he has stolen what is supposed to be, something reserved to the master. What he could have done is, simply forgive the other (because the master has forgiven him) or return the amount to the master, because it belonged to the master. Thus we can conclude that in this story God is demanding us, to be just. We have received it freely and we have the obligation to distribute the same freely.

If we look very deep into our personal life, there will be many such occasions where we have behaved just like this wicked man, totally forgetting all that we have received from the Lord. Thus, if God asks us to forgive, it is not from our pocket, rather, He is asking us to distribute what is justly belong to Him and reasonably meant for others. It is not because that we judge the other person as worthy of this forgiveness (they may not even merit it), rather God has a reason to accord this to them, and through them to others. Why to hold on the divine grace with us, while we don’t have the right to hold on and others (the recipients are unknown to us)  are badly in-need of it?

«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 cœur».

L’Application

Dieu nous a tout donné. Pourtant de temps en temps, qu’il est possible que nous soyons nous épuisés de tout moyens. Lorsque nous n’avons rien à donner, il faut nous présenter, avec nos limites et nos dons. Dieu apprécie ce don, car dans cette sincérité,  devant notre Dieu, que nous reconnaissons que nous sommes ses enfants biens aimés et Il est notre Dieu. Ce Dieu plein d’amour et de miséricorde nous demande de l’être comme Il était avec nous.

Jésus nous présente le Royaume de Dieu. Dans cette histoire, nous découvrons non seulement Dieu de miséricorde, mais également Dieu de justice. Le pardon n’est pas contre la justice, car pardon exige la justice, comme nous l’avons vu dans cette histoire. Faisons une relecture de cette histoire et nous découvrirons, ce n’est plus la question de pardon, mais une question de justice. Dieu nous demande d’être justes.

Si Dieu l’avait tout pardonné, c’est parce qu’Il était possible. En même temps, si Dieu  s’attendait de la part d’autre qu’il fasse le même, c’est parce qu’il était possible aussi à l’autre de le faire, avec le don qu’il a reçu. Lorsqu’il n’y avait pas la réciprocité, Dieu réclame son dû.  Donc le pardon n’est pas un acte qui a son origine en nous, plutôt en Dieu. Dieu m’a donné pour que j’en distribue aux autres, car ils en ont besoin, comme moi, j’en avais profité. Voilà la justice. Pour quoi garder le pardon avec nous, alors il appartient aux autres ?

«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 1,26-38): 

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a young virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, «Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you». Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean. But the angel said, «Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob for­­ever and his reign shall have no end».

Then Mary said to the angel, «How can this be if I am a virgin?». And the angel said to her, «The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born shall be called Son of God. Even your relative Elizabeth is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child, and she is now in her sixth month. With God nothing is impossible». Then Mary said, «I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said». And the angel left her.

The Application

The grace and the fear is given to Mary at a single breath. Putting all the confidence in the Lord, Mary has chosen to remove the genuine fear evoked by human anxiety, and allowed herself to be animated by the Holy Spirit in faith.

Though the message is clear, the details are awaited. Mary has learned from the salvation history, how Abraham, Moses and David have waited patiently for the details and the absence of these details didn’t become a huddle to trust the Lord. In the same tradition, Mary becomes the first human being that God has chosen to make His home. In her, God has accorded the same grace of welcoming Him in our hearts too.

The human curiosity is sincerely honoured by the Lord, by giving her another sign in her relative Elizabeth. This sign is given so that Elizabeth be grace by the presence of the Mother of God. Mary will do exactly what God has desired. It is here many follows the tradition of great prophets, who surrendered their freedom to the divine will.

The message is communicated, the Lord has make her His home, and the angel disappears from here, only to be animated by the Holy Spirit.  In Mary we find the Trinity in action and it is just that she responds to this invitation, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said» How many of have the same courage to take such risk in our life for the accomplishment of the will of God?

«Rejoice, full of grace»

+ Fr. Johannes VILAR 
(Köln, Germany)

Today, in «Rejoice, full of grace» (Lk 1:28) for the first time we hear the name of the Mother of God: Mary (Archangel Gabriel’s second phrase). She has the fullness of grace and the gifts. It is said like this: "keharitoméne", «full of grace» (Angel’s greeting).

Perhaps 15 years old and alone, Mary has to answer in a way that will change the full history of mankind. Saint Bernard pleaded: «Behold, the price of our salvation is offered to you. We shall be set free at once if you consent. In the eternal Word of God we all came to be, and behold, we die. In your brief response we are to be remade in order to be recalled to life». God is awaiting an uninhibited response, and the "full of grace", representing all of us needing Redemption, responds: "génoitó", become! As of today, Mary is freely linked to the Work of her Son; today her Mediation begins. As of today, she is the Mother of those who are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal 3:28). 

Benedict XVI was saying in an interview: «[I would like] to reawake the courage to make definitive decisions: they are really the only ones that allow us to grow, to move ahead and to reach something great in life. They are the only decisions that do not destroy our freedom but offer to point us in the right direction. Risk making this leap, so to speak, towards the definitive and so embrace life fully: this is something I would be happy to communicate to them». Mary: behold an example!

And Saint Joseph is also included in God’s plans: he has to accept taking Mary as his wife and name her son (cf. Mt 1:20s): Jesua, "the Lord saves". And He does it. Another example!

The Annunciation also reveals the Trinity: The Father sends the Son, incarnated by the Holy Spirit. And the Church sings: «And the Word becomes flesh today and makes his dwelling among us». His redeeming work —Christmas, Good Friday, Easter— is present in this seed. He is Immanuel, «God with us» (cf. Is 7:15). Rejoice Humanity! 

The festivities of Saint Joseph and the Annunciation prepare us excellently to celebrate the Paschal Mystery.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Lc 1,26-38): 

Au sixième mois, l'ange Gabriel fut envoyé par Dieu dans une ville de Galilée, appelée Nazareth, auprès d'une vierge fiancée à un homme de la maison de David, nommé Joseph. Le nom de la vierge était Marie. L'ange entra chez elle, et dit: «Je te salue, toi à qui une grâce a été faite; le Seigneur est avec toi». Troublée par cette parole, Marie se demandait ce que pouvait signifier une telle salutation. L'ange lui dit: «Ne crains point, Marie; car tu as trouvé grâce devant Dieu. Et voici, tu deviendras enceinte, et tu enfanteras un fils, et tu lui donneras le nom de Jésus. Il sera grand et sera appelé Fils du Très Haut, et le Seigneur Dieu lui donnera le trône de David, son père. Il règnera sur la maison de Jacob éternellement, et son règne n'aura point de fin». 

Marie dit à l'ange: «Comment cela se fera-t-il, puisque je ne connais point d'homme?». L'ange lui répondit: «Le Saint Esprit viendra sur toi, et la puissance du Très Haut te couvrira de son ombre. C'est pourquoi le saint enfant qui naîtra de toi sera appelé Fils de Dieu. Voici, Élisabeth, ta parente, a conçu, elle aussi, un fils en sa vieillesse, et celle qui était appelée stérile est dans son sixième mois. Car rien n'est impossible à Dieu». Marie dit: «Je suis la servante du Seigneur; qu'il me soit fait selon ta parole!». Et l'ange la quitta.

L’Application

La solennité de l’Annonciation nous  affirme que notre Dieu ne dorme pas et Il veille sur nous. La présence de l’Ange du Seigneur était un signe visible pour Marie et son message nous révèle la profondeur de sa foi, car le Seigneur était avec elle.

Marie nous représente et en elle nous apprenons à accueillir le signe donné par le Seigneur. Ce n’est pas pour la première fois que Marie a su accueillir cette Parole d’espérance, elle l’a déjà accueilli dans son cœur. Puisque Dieu a déjà fait sa demeure en elle, elle savait qu’il y avait un message important dans cette salutation. Comme nous, elle n’a pas tout compris, ni ce message, non plus ses conséquences. Elle savait simplement ce Dieu de bonté et de générosité, avait besoin d’elle et dans sa liberté, elle se disposait à cette volonté divine.

Certes, Marie savait l’histoire du salut,  la manière dont Dieu appela ses prophètes et ses rois et particulièrement comment Il les a accompagné. Aujourd’hui Dieu l’a choisi et elle sera accompagnée par Dieu Lui-même. Dans ce dialogue nous apprenons l’importance de la liberté de la personne.

Dieu a tout fait, non pas pour Marie, mais pour nous tous. Il faut croire en ce Dieu, et faire confiance en Lui. Comme Marie apprenons à accueillir cette Parole d’espérance dans l’humilité, avec un cœur ouvert et osons dire toujours OUI  à cet appel divin.

«Je te salue, toi à qui une grâce a été faite»

+ Abbé Johannes VILAR 
(Köln, Allemagne)

Aujourd'hui dans le «Je te salue, toi à qui une grâce a été faite» (Lc 1,28) nous entendons pour la première fois le nom de la Mère de Dieu: Marie (deuxième phrase de l'archange Gabriel). Elle a la plénitude de la grâce et des dons. Cela s'appelle ainsi: "keharitomén", «pleine de grâce» (salut de l'Ange).

Peut-être qu'à 15 ans et seule, Marie doit donner une réponse qui changera l'histoire entière de l'humanité. Saint Bernard suppliait: «On t'offre le prix de notre Rédemption. Nous serons délivrés immédiatement, si tu dis oui. La terre entière est à tes pieds en attendant ta réponse. Donne ta parole et engendre la Parole Éternelle». Dieu attend une réponse libre, et «La pleine de grâce», qui représente tous ceux qui ont besoin de la Rédemption, répond: "génoitó", ainsi soit-il! A partir de ce jour Marie est restée librement unie à l'Œuvre de son Fils, aujourd'hui sa Médiation commence. A compter d'aujourd'hui elle est la Mère de ceux qui sont un dans le Christ (Gal 3,28). 

Benoît XVI disait dans une interview: «[Je voudrais] éveiller le courage de prendre des décisions définitives: ce sont les seules qui permettent de grandir et d'aller de l'avant, qui permettent les grandes choses dans la vie; elles ne détruisent pas la liberté, mais elles rendent possible une orientation correcte. Prendre ce risque —le saut vers les choses décisives— et ainsi accepter pleinement la vie, c'est cela que je voudrais transmettre». Marie: en voilà un exemple!

Saint Joseph non plus ne reste pas en retrait des plans de Dieu: il doit accepter de recevoir son épouse et donner un nom à l'enfant (cfr. Mt 1,20s): Jesua, "le Seigneur sauve". Et il le fait. Voilà un autre exemple!

L'Annonciation révèle aussi la Trinité. Le Père envoie le Fils, incarné par l'œuvre de l'Esprit Saint. El l'Église chante: «Aujourd'hui la Parole Éternelle se transforme en chair pour nous». Son œuvre rédemptrice —Noël, Vendredi Saint, Pâques— est présente dans cette graine. Il est Emmanuel, «Dieu avec nous» (Is 7,15). Réjouis-toi humanité!

Les fêtes de Saint Joseph et l'Annonciation nous préparent de manière admirable à la célébration des Mystères Pascals.

The time of Lent is a moment of happiness, because we put all our energy to rediscover God and to worship Him in truth. This engagement to know God and to adore Him, is the way to holiness. Anything which leads us to God is the perfect way of living a saintly life. To have this life in permanence, we put all the available means before us and we dispose ourselves freely before the divine impulse, so that our approach towards this God be animated by the Holy Spirit. In this time, we allow God to take us fully and wait patiently for this divine intervention. It is important that we keep our eyes and ears open, so that we may be able to see the signs proposed by the Lord. Moses could see the fire and God could share with him His pain.

The realities of our day, the terrifying events, the wars and the attacks can discourage us and the others who are not in the truth are there to disorient us by repeating us by the different ways that God does not exist, or God has forgotten us, or even God can do nothing, or the man must do everything, etc. Do not let yourself be guided by this philosophy of life. We must never despair. The baptised are the people of hope nourished by the divine covenant.

The readings of the day present us with two faces of God. A righteous God who seeks the fruit and a God who is full of mercy and who is patient with us. Moses' encounter with God presents us with a God who participates in the suffering of the people. The time has come for the people to rediscover once again through Moses this merciful God, faithful to the promise made to Father Abraham. In the gospel of the day, the time has come for this God to receive the fruit, to be honoured and the man by his fidelity to the commandment of love is expected justly to shows the fruits of his commitment to the fulfilment of the divine will.

It is God who takes the initiative and He is still coming to seek us. Yet we must know how to welcome this man Moses sent by the Father to free us. It is a call to conversion, to return to that God who loves us. To be converted internally in the contemplation of the Word of God and externally in our positive commitments. It is an invitation to change our hearts, our habits, our way of thinking, acting, living.

If we do not convert, if we do not change our lives, there is a great danger. Regretting these two misfortunes presented in the Gospel of the day, Jesus warns us, "You will all perish like them. "Fortunately we have a gardener, who is with us, accompanies us, helps us to grow. He is here to show us a good way, a way of truth. Looking at his life, we will discover, especially by His teaching, in the end by His death, He nourishes us by his mercy, by his love, by forgiveness, etc. Here are the manure promised. We must welcome them with an open and humble heart.

Let us listen to how God spoke to Moses, "I have seen the misery of my people ... ..I know their sufferings. Today He speaks to us. He needs us to free the world, free the world from eternal death. To liberate the world, at first we have to be liberated and saved. Let us convert and believe in the good news. Amen.

Gospel text

(Mt 21,33-43.45-46): 

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders, «Listen to another example: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a hole for the winepress, built a watchtower, leased the vineyard to tenants and then went to a distant country. When harvest time came, the land­owner sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the harvest. But the ten­ants seized his servants, beat one, killed another and stoned another. Again the owner sent more servants, but they were treated in the same way. Finally, he sent his son, thinking: ‘They will respect my son’. But when the tenants saw the son, they thought: ‘This is the one who is to inherit the vineyard. Let us kill him and his inheritance will be ours’. So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now, what will the owner of the vineyard do with the tenants when he comes?».

They said to him, «He will bring those evil to an evil end, and lease the vineyard to others who will pay him in due time». And Jesus replied, «Have you never read what the Scriptures say?: ‘The stone which the build­ers rejected has become the keystone. This was the Lord's doing; and we marvel at it’. Therefore I say to you: the kingdom of heaven will be taken from you and given to a people who will yield a harvest».

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard these parables, they realized that Jesus was referring to them. They would have arrested him, but they were afraid of the crowd who regarded him as a prophet.

The Application

Today’s readings bring to our mind the same situation presented to us in yesterday readings. Thus I don’t wish to repeat what I have already said. However, I would like to remind that every Christian should be aware of his own status of life, the self-knowledge will help us to discern and decide better. The more we are in tune with the self-knowledge, the more we will remain faithful to the truth. These tenants have failed to realise their own situation, the mighty of the master because of his mercifulness and the consequences of their act.

They were totally disconnected to themselves and evidently to the will of the master. This disconnect which is multiplied by their wickedness will certainly end up in self-destruction. The more we remain connected to ourselves, easier will be for us to remain connected to God. The more we are connected to God, greater will be our knowledge of divine will. The more we engage to accomplish the divine will, the more holy we will be. The more we try to live a saintly life, the more we will be happy. Have a wonderful day.

«The stone which the build¬ers rejected has become the keystone»

Fr. Melcior QUEROL i Solà 
(Ribes de Freser, Girona, Spain)

Today, Jesus, with the parable of the homicidal tenants, speaks about the betrayal of trust; He compares the vineyard to the people of Israel and the wine growers to the chiefs of the chosen people. Them, and in them, all of Abraham's descendants, have been entrusted with the kingdom of God, but they have embezzled the heritage: «Therefore I say to you: the kingdom of heaven will be taken from you and given to a people who will yield a harvest» (Mt 21:43).

At the beginning of Matthew's Gospel, the Good News seems to be addressed only to the people of Israel. Already in the Old Covenant, the chosen people, had the mission of announcing and bringing salvation to all other nations. But Israel has been unfaithful to its mission. Jesus, the intermediate of the New Covenant, will gather around him the twelve Apostles, a symbol of the “new” Israel, called to yield a harvest of fruits of eternal life and to announce their salvation to all the other peoples.

This new Israel is the Church, all the baptized. We have received in the person of Jesus and in his message, a most unique gift we must make bear fruit. We cannot resign ourselves to an individualist and shortsighted experience of our faith; we must transmit it and give it to anyone who may come close. Hence, we can derive that the first fruit is to live our faith in the warmth of our family, that of the Christian community. That will be easy, «for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them» (Mt 18:20).

But ours is an open Christian community, that is, basically missionary (second fruit). Because of the strength and beauty of the Resurrected “in the midst of us”, the community is appealing in all its gestures and acts, and each one of its members has the capacity to beget men and women to the new life of the Resurrected. And a third fruit, is for us to live with the conviction and certitude that we can find in the Gospel the solution to all our problems.

Let's live in the saint Fear of God, lest the Kingdom of Heaven be taken from us and given to others.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mt 21,33-43.45-46): 

«Écoutez une autre parabole. Il y avait un homme, maître de maison, qui planta une vigne. Il l'entoura d'une haie, y creusa un pressoir, et bâtit une tour; puis il l'afferma à des vignerons, et quitta le pays. Lorsque le temps de la récolte fut arrivé, il envoya ses serviteurs vers les vignerons, pour recevoir le produit de sa vigne. Les vignerons, s'étant saisis de ses serviteurs, battirent l'un, tuèrent l'autre, et lapidèrent le troisième. Il envoya encore d'autres serviteurs, en plus grand nombre que les premiers; et les vignerons les traitèrent de la même manière. Enfin, il envoya vers eux son fils, en disant: Ils auront du respect pour mon fils. Mais, quand les vignerons virent le fils, ils dirent entre eux: ‘Voici l'héritier; venez, tuons-le, et emparons-nous de son héritage’. Et ils se saisirent de lui, le jetèrent hors de la vigne, et le tuèrent. Maintenant, lorsque le maître de la vigne viendra, que fera-t-il à ces vignerons?».

Ils lui répondirent: «Il fera périr misérablement ces misérables, et il affermera la vigne à d'autres vignerons, qui lui en donneront le produit au temps de la récolte». Jésus leur dit: «N'avez-vous jamais lu dans les Écritures: ‘La pierre qu'ont rejetée ceux qui bâtissaient est devenue la principale de l'angle; c'est du Seigneur que cela est venu, et c'est un prodige à nos yeux?’. C'est pourquoi, je vous le dis, le royaume de Dieu vous sera enlevé, et sera donné à une nation qui en rendra les fruits». 

Après avoir entendu ses paraboles, les principaux sacrificateurs et les pharisiens comprirent que c'était d'eux que Jésus parlait, et ils cherchaient à se saisir de lui; mais ils craignaient la foule, parce qu'elle le tenait pour un prophète.

L’Application

Comme je vous l’avais dit hier, si l’homme oublie son origine et sa finalité, il commettra les grandes erreurs dans sa vie. Le plus il reste connecté à Dieu, le plus il sera sage dans son discernement et décision. Si nous volons d’être sage, il faut écouter le Seigneur et faire sa volonté, car dans sa volonté notre bien est inclusif.

«La pierre qu'ont rejetée ceux qui bâtissaient est devenue la principale de l'angle»

Abbé Melcior QUEROL i Solà 
(Ribes de Freser, Girona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui Jésus, par la parabole des vignerons homicides, nous parle de l'infidélité; il compare Israël à la vigne et les chefs du peuple élu aux vignerons. C'est à eux et à toute la descendance d'Abraham que le Royaume de Dieu avait été confié, mais ils ont perverti l'héritage: «C'est pourquoi, je vous le dis, le royaume de Dieu vous sera enlevé, et sera donné à une nation qui en rendra les fruits» (Mt 21,43).

Au début de l'Évangile de Matthieu, la Bonne Nouvelle paraît adressée uniquement à Israël. Déjà dans l'Ancienne Alliance, le peuple élu a pour mission d'annoncer et de porter le salut à toutes les nations. Mais Israël n'a pas été fidèle à sa mission. Jésus, le médiateur de la Nouvelle Alliance, réunira autour de lui les douze apôtres, symboles du “nouvel” Israël, appelé à donner des fruits de vie éternelle et à annoncer à tous les peuples le salut.

Ce nouvel Israël, c'est l'Église, tous les baptisés. Nous avons reçu, en la personne de Jésus et de son message, un présent unique que nous devons faire fructifier. Nous ne pouvons pas nous contenter d'une vie individualiste et fermée à notre foi; il faut la communiquer et en faire don à chaque personne qui s'approche de nous. Il en découle que le premier fruit est que nous vivions notre foi dans la chaleur de notre famille, celle de la communauté chrétienne. Ce sera facile, car «là où deux ou trois sont réunis en mon nom, je suis là au milieu d'eux» (Mt 18,20).

Mais il s'agit d'une communauté chrétienne ouverte, c'est-à-dire éminemment missionnaire (deuxième fruit). Par la force et la beauté du Ressuscité “au milieu de nous”, la communauté est attirante dans tous ses faits et gestes, et chacun de ses membres jouit de la capacité d'engendrer des hommes et des femmes à la vie nouvelle du Ressuscité. Un troisième fruit est que nous vivions avec la conviction et la certitude de ce que dans l'Évangile se trouve la solution à tous les problèmes.

Vivons dans la sainte crainte de Dieu, pour que le Royaume ne nous soit pas enlevé et donné à d'autres.

Gospel text

(Lk 16,19-31): 

Jesus said to his disciples, «Once there was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and feasted every day. At his gate lay Lazarus, a poor man covered with sores, who longed to eat just the scraps falling from the rich man's table. Even dogs used to come and lick his sores. 

»It happened that the poor man died and angels carried him to take his place with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. From hell where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham afar off, and with him Lazarus at rest. He called out: ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus with the tip of his finger dipped in water to cool my tongue, for I suffer so much in this fire’. Abraham replied: ‘My son, remember that in your lifetime you were well-off while the lot of Lazarus was misfortune. Now he is in comfort and you are in agony. But that is not all. Between your place and ours a great chasm has been fixed, so that no one can cross over from here to you or from your side to us’.

»The rich man implored once more: ‘Then I beg you, Father Abraham, to send Lazarus to my father's house where my five brothers live. Let him warn them so that they may not end up in this place of torment’. Abraham replied: ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them’. But the rich man said: ‘No, Father Abraham. But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent’. Abraham said: ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be con­vinced even if someone rises from the dead’».

The Application

We all wish to be happy and wish to have a comfortable life. The best way of having this comfortable life is to have our inner mind peace and tranquillity. Though the earthly life can add little more of pleasure is life, they will soon disappear, because they don’t have the quality of giving permanent pleasure, it will saturate what we already have. The best way to hold on this inner peace and joy is depend up on, our capacity to remain connected to the source of life; God. The eternal tree (God) is to give us eternal fruit; the inner joy. Since God is this Eternal tree for us, we are called to remain connected to this tree and be another tree for our brothers and sisters.

This rich man presented in the gospel has done no harm to others. He remains however faithful to all the interdiction. However, there are two way to sin; commission and omission. By committing an evil act against the love of God we commit sin and at the same time, by not doing our basic responsibilities and duties, we commit sin. This rich man is accused of not doing what is supposed to be done; engage to the development of the humanity.

The poor Lazar was the visible sign of reminder which the rich man totally ignored. His dependence on the earthly goods and security didn’t allow him to see the suffering of this poor Lazar. God does give us many such reminders through Holy Scriptures, prophets, etc. They are always before us. The beatitudes are the best way of living our Christian vocation.  However, if we refuse to listen to these signs and wait for a miracle in our life, then we are only to be blamed and accused, because God has given us the necessary intelligence to interpret these signs, which are freely available for us. To engage, we should listen to God and force to see the poor Lazar in front of our door. Do we see them suffering?

«If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be con¬vinced even if someone rises from the grave»

Fr. Xavier SOBREVÍA i Vidal 
(Castelldefels, Spain)

Today, the Gospel is a parable discovering the realities of man in afterlife. Jesus tells us about the divine reward or retribution we shall have depending upon our behavior.

The contrast between the rich and the poor is very strong. The luxury of the rich and his indifference to the plight of poor Lazarus lying at his door, his pathetic situation, even when dogs used to come and lick his sores (cf. Lk 16:19-21). It all has a deep realism introducing us into the scene.

We might ponder, where would I be if I was one of the two main characters of the parable? Our society reminds us, constantly, that we have to live well, in comfort and well-being, enjoying ourselves, worry free... To live for oneself, without minding others, or at the very best, the minimum necessary to keep one's conscience at ease, but certainly not because of a sense of justice, love or solidarity.

Today, we are presented with the need to listen to God in this life, to convert ourselves and take advantage of the time He offers us. God will eventually call us to account. In this life we risk our eternal life.

Jesus is quite explicit about the reality of Hell and He describes some of its characteristics: the sorrow senses suffer —«and send Lazarus with the tip of his finger dipped in water to cool my tongue, for I suffer so much in this fire» (Lk 16:24)— and its eternity —«Between your place and ours a great chasm has been fixed» (Lk 16:26).

Saint Gregory the Great tells us that «all these things are told so that nobody may apologize because of their ignorance». We have got to get rid of the old man and be free to be able to love our fellow man. We have to react to the suffering of the poor, the unwell or the forsaken. It would be good we might frequently remember this parable so that it would made us more responsible of our life. We all will have to face the moment of death. And we should better be always ready because one day we shall be judged.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Lc 16,19-31): 

«Il y avait un homme riche, qui était vêtu de pourpre et de fin lin, et qui chaque jour menait joyeuse et brillante vie. Un pauvre, nommé Lazare, était couché à sa porte, couvert d'ulcères, et désireux de se rassasier des miettes qui tombaient de la table du riche; et même les chiens venaient encore lécher ses ulcères. 

»Le pauvre mourut, et il fut porté par les anges dans le sein d'Abraham. Le riche mourut aussi, et il fut enseveli. Dans le séjour des morts, il leva les yeux; et, tandis qu'il était en proie aux tourments, il vit de loin Abraham, et Lazare dans son sein. Il s'écria: ‘Père Abraham, aie pitié de moi, et envoie Lazare, pour qu'il trempe le bout de son doigt dans l'eau et me rafraîchisse la langue; car je souffre cruellement dans cette flamme’. Abraham répondit: ‘Mon enfant, souviens-toi que tu as reçu tes biens pendant ta vie, et que Lazare a eu les maux pendant la sienne; maintenant il est ici consolé, et toi, tu souffres. D'ailleurs, il y a entre nous et vous un grand abîme, afin que ceux qui voudraient passer d'ici vers vous, ou de là vers nous, ne puissent le faire’.

»Le riche dit: ‘Je te prie donc, père Abraham, d'envoyer Lazare dans la maison de mon père; car j'ai cinq frères. C'est pour qu'il leur atteste ces choses, afin qu'ils ne viennent pas aussi dans ce lieu de tourments’. Abraham répondit: ‘Ils ont Moïse et les prophètes; qu'ils les écoutent’. Et il dit: ‘Non, père Abraham, mais si quelqu'un des morts va vers eux, ils se repentiront’. Et Abraham lui dit: ‘Sils n'écoutent pas Moïse et les prophètes, ils ne se laisseront pas persuader quand même quelqu'un des morts ressusciterait’».

L’Application

Tout vient du Seigneur et tout appartient au Seigneur. L’homme qui fait confiance dans la providence du Seigneur, sera capable de se connecter au Seigneur, d’une manière permanente. Si nous ne connaissons pas la source de la vie, il est difficile de profiter tout ce dont la vie peut nous apporter. Pour régénérer une conséquence, il faut connaitre la cause. Sans nous lié à cette causalité, nous ne pouvons pas produire la conséquence. Pour nous Dieu est cet arbre de vie qui donne les fruits et pour les autres nous sommes cet arbre qui est connecté à la source de la vie (Dieu) et appelés à donner les fruits.

L’évangile du jour nous présente une telle personne qui est déconnecté à la source de la vie, Dieu. Il se contentait en évitant tout mal (règle de la loi), pourtant il a oublié son obligation de faire du bien. Même si nous ne pouvons pas nous accusé de lui de commission (de mal), il est en tort d’omission. Il a oublié la source de sa vie et sa finalité. C’est pourquoi ce pauvre Lazare devant sa porte comme un signe de rappel de son obligation d’engagement pour le développement de l’homme était totalement absent,  ni la personne était  visible non plus sa souffrance.  Pour lui les écritures sacrées et les prophètes étaient aussi les signes. Sommes-nous connectés à la source de la vie ?

«S'ils n'écoutent pas Moïse et les prophètes, ils ne se laisseront pas persuader quand même quelqu'un des morts ressusciterait»

Abbé Xavier SOBREVÍA i Vidal 
(Castelldefels, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui l'Évangile est une parabole qui nous dévoile la réalité de l'homme après sa mort. Jésus nous parle de prix ou châtiment d'après notre comportement.

Le contraste entre le riche et le pauvre est très fort. Le luxe et l'indifférence du riche; la pathétique situation de Lazare, avec les chiens qui viennent lécher ses ulcères (cf. Lc 16,19-21). Tout cela a un grand réalisme qui nous met en scène.

Nous pouvons songer, où serais-je si j'étais une des deux protagonistes de la parabole? Notre société nous incite à toute heure à bien vivre. Avec du confort et bien-être, en jouissant et sans préoccupations. Vivre pour soi-même, sans s'occuper d'autrui, ou tout au plus, en ne nous préoccupant que le nécessaire pour tranquilliser notre conscience, mais pas par un sens de justice, amour ou solidarité.

Aujourd'hui on nous présente la nécessité d'écouter Dieu dans notre vie, de nous y convertir et d'en profiter du temps qu'Il nous a accordé. Dans cette vie nous jouons la vie.

Jésus clarifie l'existence de l'enfer et nous décrit quelques unes de ses caractéristiques: la peine qui souffrent nos sens —«qu'il trempe le bout de son doigt dans l'eau et me rafraîchisse la langue; car je souffre cruellement dans cette flamme» (Lc 16,24) — et l'éternité —«il y a entre nous et vous un grand abîme» (Lc 16,26).

Saint Grégoire le Grand nous dit que «on dit toutes ces choses afin que personne ne puisse prétexter l'ignorance». Il faut se dépouiller du vieil homme et devenir libre pour aimer son prochain. Il faut répondre aux souffrances des pauvres, des malades ou de ceux qui ont été abandonnés. Il serait bon de nous souvenir souvent de cette parabole pour qu'elle puisse nous faire devenir plus responsables de notre vie. Nous devons tous mourir. Et il faut y être toujours prêt, parce qu'un jour nous serons certainement jugés.

Gospel text

(Mt 20,17-28): 

When Jesus was going to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve aside and said to them on the way, «See, we are going to Jerusalem. There the Son of Man will be given over to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law who will condemn him to death. They will hand him over to the foreigners who will mock him, scourge him and crucify him. But he will be raised to life on the third day».

Then the mother of James and John came to Jesus with her sons, and she knelt down to ask a favor. Jesus said to her, «What do you want?». And she answered, «Here you have my two sons. Grant that they may sit, one at your right and one at your left, when you are in your kingdom». Jesus said to the brothers, «You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink?». They answered, «We can». Jesus replied, «You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right or at my left is not for me to grant. That will be for those for whom the Father has prepared it».

The other ten heard all this and were angry with the two brothers. Then Jesus called them to him and said, «You know that the rulers of the nations act as tyrants, and the powerful oppress them. It shall not be so among you; whoever wants to be more important in your group shall make himself your servant. And if you want to be first, make yourself the servant of all. Be like the Son of Man who has come, not to be served but to serve and to give his life to redeem many».

The Application

The situation of prophet Jeremiah hasn’t changed. The desire of the disciples of Jesus, still continues, before our eyes. What is important to note is the availability of God and His attention towards the faithful, hasn’t changed. God remains till today the same merciful and loving.

It is in this divine goodness that Jesus has accepted the Cross for the remission of the sins and the Father has promised the resurrection. Though the Cross remains to the contemporary world, a big huddle on the way to the Father, with the grace and divine accompaniment, everything is possible.

The disciples didn’t understand the message of cross and the resurrection of the Lord. However, they didn’t fail to understand the bitter cup, the baptism in the blood, as part of their own mission, because Jesus has already said that they will be judges for the twelve tribes of Israel. In our life too, we may not understand things very clearly, however, if we put our trust in the Lord, the present cross and the future cross, though painful they will be, easier to cross over. Whatever may be our desire, the service to the people of God, the beloved ones of the Father, should be the first among other priorities and Jesus came preciously for it.

«Whoever wants to be more important in your group shall make himself your servant»

Fr. Francesc JORDANA i Soler 
(Mirasol, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, the Church, in this Lenten time —inspired by the Holy Spirit— proposes a text where Jesus suggests to his disciples —and, accordingly, to all of us— a change in mentality. Today, Jesus changes the human and earthly mentality of his disciples and opens up a new horizon of understanding concerning a new style of life for his followers.

We have a natural tendency towards a desire to dominate or subjugate things and people, to command and to order, to have things done as per our wishes, to have others accept our status, our position. But, now, Jesus is proposing to us just the opposite: «Whoever wants to be more important in your group shall make himself your servant» (Mt 20:26-27). “Servant”, “slave”: we cannot just take these words at their face value!; we have heard them hundreds of times, sure, but now we must be able to assimilate the reality of what they actually mean, and confront it with our attitude and behavior.

The II Vatican Council asserts «that man achieves his prime of life through dedication and commitment to others». We may be under the impression we are giving away life, but, in fact, we are retrieving it. He who does not live to serve does not serve to live. And, in this attitude Christ should be our perfect model —Jesus is fully man—, inasmuch as «the Son of man has come, not to be served but to serve and to give his life to redeem many» (Mt 20:28).

To become a servant, a slave, as Jesus calls us upon, is something almost impossible for us. It falls short of our weak will: so we are to implore, to hope for and to profoundly wish these gifts are granted to us. Lent and its Lenten practices —fasting, charity and prayer— remind us that to receive these gifts we have to prepare ourselves adequately.