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

Ash wednesday begins today and once again we get another opportunity of 40 days to pary and act, as the children of the loving and merciful God, to feel in the deepest part of our being the very divine presence which animates the whole world, and to engage ourselves to make the life of our brothers and sisters easy by living our personal life in a meaningful and witnessing life. Just like another day, these days we will recall the three pillars of the Lenten season: prayer, fasting and charity. This is certainly not to mourn or to be sad, or called to suffer and undertake activities which may give us pain. These are the joyful moments of Christian life, moments of Faith in celebration.

Without ignoring the elements of prayer, fasting and charity, I would love to invite you all to orient our life by fully associating it, with the very life of Jesus, because we are preparing directly to celebrate meaningfully, the Pascal event, the death and the resurrection of the Lord. Thus, the more we are configured in Christ, the more we become capable of accomplishing the divine will, just like Jesus. By consequence, our Christian life will certainly find the meaning of ‘BEING’ and continuously being aware of the pilgrim nature, that is to say ‘already and not yet’.  We are already in Christ by the very nature of our baptism and the fullness is to be achieved gracefully, slowly and steadily. The perseverance and faithfulness in all our daily engagements, is the essential and first important aspect of this season.

Let’s learn to pray, pray with heart not with words. It is important not only to pray, but to verify the quality of our daily prayers. Do I really pray, or simply recite repetitively the prayers presented to me, including the Lord’s Prayer. Do I reduce my prayer as simple supplication and praising? As Christian, every moment of life, every act of love, every engagement of human development, etc., can be called as prayer, with the condition that these are animated by the divine will and we are aware of the our personal participation in the accomplishment of the Kingdom of God. Prayer can be simply an awareness of His presence and feel what He feels for us. Prayer is the best means available for us to feel the presence of the Lord and be nourished by the very presence. It is here that we reborn again and again in the Lord. It is here we discover the ‘new creation’ that Jesus desires for us. It is here we are called and sent by the Lord to protect the creation, evidently protection of every single individual we meet daily.

The best sign of our positive engagement is visible when we engage in a concrete way, particularly in the sacrament of reconciliation. Before entering into this beautiful sacrament, there is a need to feel and be aware of the merciful love of the Lord, who is ready to forgive, the Abel in us, the David in us, the Saul and Peter in us, etc. By taking the same initiative of these people, who have cherished the divine forgiveness, we too in our smallness take the direction towards the reconciliation that pushes us to get reconciled with our brothers and sisters and try to destroy the sin, first in us and then to destroy it in the world. By generously forgiving others, praying for our enemies, we engage directly to fight against the evil power, which is destroying the peace that the Lord has established for us, in us and in our society. Sin is destroying the beautiful humanity in us and remain as an eternal huddle to become divine in our humanity.

Since this time is reserved to ‘home coming’ of the prodigal son, it is important that we anticipate the JOY of the Father. In this anticipation, we joyfully destroy anything which separates us from the Father and cultivate all that help us to build the bridge which will lead us to the Father.

The step by step method can be seen in the story of prodigal son:

• Self-awareness of our status, not only our sins and smallness but also our talents and limits.  
• Engage positively and concretely. I will get up, here and now.
• Take courage and stand up with the certitude of divine forgiveness. God will accept me, as I am.
• March towards the Father and experience by yourself that He has already in action towards you and He has already forgiven you.
• Surrender yourself and all your talents. Tell him how much you have used these talents and given glory to God.
• The most important is, allow God to raise you up and accept the honour that the Lord wishes to accord to you. Though you may feel small, but before God, you are his loving son/daughter. You were dead and alive. Enjoy the feasting and don’t remain outside, as a rebel. Have a wonderful Lenten celebration. 

Do pray for me and I assure you my prayers. Have a meaningful Lent and God bless you all.

Fr.Terry,cmf. 

Neutrality and living a life without prejudice is almost impossible. However, every word that comes from the mouth of the person, does reveal to us his own interiority.  Man has lost the sense of speech that reveals his strength, his vitality, his spirit and his project, so to the most intimate being of man. The speech detects, indeed, the bottom of the heart and betrays it even where one claims to hide. You have to listen to the other, without prejudice and understand the other. Many at time, we don’t listen to the other person. That is why I say it and I repeat it today, that we see everything we have already seen and we hear everything we have heard.

This is how we fall into a routine life, taking the same path every day, and behaving in a repetitive way. If all goes well, as it should, and if our acts are filled with love and charity, for us and for others, this way of life will be good and produce fruits of multicolour, because in each individual, there is a particularity and we will find unity in our diversity. All of us will be like the good trees that produce the good fruits.

Man in his weakness and limit, would like to imitate others, men and women recognized in society or in the Church, without recognizing the goods he already has in his nature and all that he is capable of to bring in society. We are all rich because we are able to bring something to the society. We are all poor because we need others. Jesus invites us to know each other. Self-knowledge is the essential to know others, who surround us. If we are not able to know ourselves, how can we recognize others, let alone the God who loves us?

The gospel of the day reminds us that we are the children of God, the good trees that must give the good fruits. Jesus tells us that He is our Master. The disciples of a good teacher must represent this master and must always learn to live according to the teaching received from their master. Since Jesus is our Master, since His teaching is a commandment of love, we Christians are called to be visible signs of divine love. It is in this divine love where Jesus teaches us to know ourselves, to know our humanity which is incarnate in its divinity. This is how we become the disciples of the Lord and at the same time the teachers who transmit all that we have learned from the Lord.

If the Lord has asked us to be the light and the salt of the earth, because He believes we have the ability to be.  Wednesday will be already the Ash-Wednesday. Let’s purify our conscience and get on the right path. May the Lord be our Shepherd and may we be faithful sheep.

La neutralité et vivre une vie sans préjugé, est presque impossible. L’homme a perdu le sens de parole et elle révèle sa force, sa vitalité, son esprit et son projet, donc à l’être le plus intime de l’homme. La parle décèle, en effet, le fond du cœur et le trahit là même où on prétend le cache. Il faut écouter l’autre, tel qu’il se présente. Ce n’est pas toujours le cas. C’est pourquoi je le dis et je le répète aujourd’hui, que nous voyons tout ce dont nous l’avons déjà vu et nous entendons tout ce dont nous avons déjà entendu.

C’est ainsi nous nous tombons dans une vie routine, en prenant le même chemin tous les jours, et en se comportant d’une manière répétitive. Si tout se passe bien, comme il faut, les actes rempli d’amour et de charité, pour nous et pour les autres, cette manière de vivre fera du bien et produira les fruits multicolore, car dans chaque individu, il y une particularité et nous trouverons l’unité dans nos diversité. Tous nous serons comme les bons arbres qui produisent les bons fruits.

L’homme dans sa faiblesse et dans sa limite, aimerait imiter les autres, les hommes et les femmes reconnus dans la société ou dans l’Eglise, sans reconnaitre les biens qu’il a déjà dans sa nature et tout ce dont il est capable d’apporter dans la société. Nous sommes tous riche, car nous sommes capables d’apporter. Nous sommes tous pauvres, car nous avons besoin des autres. Jésus nous invite à nous connaitre. La connaissance de soi, est l’essential pour connaitre les autres, qui nous entourent. Si nous ne sommes pas capables de nous connaitre, comment pouvons-nous reconnaitre les autres, et encore plus, le Dieu qui nous aime?

L’évangile du jour nous rappelle que nous sommes les enfants de Dieu, les bons arbres qui doivent donner les bons fruits.  Jésus nous dit qu’Il est notre Maître. Les disciples d’un bon maître doivent représenter ce maître et doivent toujours apprendre à vivre selon l’enseignement reçu de leur maître. Puisque Jésus est notre Maître, puisque son enseignement  est un commandement d’amour, nous les chrétiens sont appelés à être les signes visibles de l’amour divin. C’est dans cet amour divin où Jésus nous apprend à se connaitre, connaitre notre humanité qui est incarné dans sa divinité. C’est ainsi nous devenons les disciples du Seigneur et en même temps,  les maîtres qui transmettent tout ce dont nous avons appris du Seigneur.

Si le Seigneur nous a demandé d’être la lumière et le sel de la terre, parce qu’Il croit que nous avons l’habilité de l’être. Ce mercredi nous célébrerons le mercredi des cendres. Donc purifions notre conscience et remettons-nous sur le bon chemin. Que le Seigneur soit notre Berger et que nous soyons les brebis fidèles.

Gospel text

(Mk 10,13-16): 

People were bringing their little children to Jesus to have him touch them, and the disciples rebuked them for this. When Jesus noticed it, He was very angry and said, «Let the children come to me and don't stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it». Then He took the children in his arms and laying his hands on them, blessed them.

The Application

The children have this behavioural aptitude of searching the truth and experience it by themselves. It is here we expect the importance of the role the parents who guide them, particularly in the discernment process, so that their children may choose what is best. If parents fail them, particularly in their discernment process, there is a great danger of misinformed and misguided persons in the society.

Today Jesus is inviting each and every of us to become like the children who search for the truth and at the same time assume our responsibility of leading the children towards the author of the truth. Many of us are rightly informed and acquired sufficient knowledge and are not rightly guided to have a good discernment.

Jesus is asking us not only to become like these children, but also act like a responsible adults, who lead these children towards the Truth, God. Since God has created us in His image, we are already inculcated naturally in us these qualities and we have to believe this. The more we are close to God, the more we are close to the truth. And the knowledge of truth about ourselves, and our positive engagement towards accomplishing the divine will, will certainly make us the real children of God, the blessed ones of the Lord.

«Let the children come to me»

Fr. Josep Lluís SOCÍAS i Bruguera 
(Badalona, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, children are news. More than ever before, children have a lot to say, even the word “infant” means “he who does not speak”. We can better appreciate that in electronic devices: they know how to switch them on and off, how to use them properly and, even how to teach us, adults, to correctly use them. A noted reporter used to say that, «even if infants do not speak it does not mean they do not think».

In this fragment of Mark's Gospel we find several considerations: «People were bringing their little children to Jesus to have him touch them, and the disciples rebuked them for this» (Mk 10:13). But the Lord, who did not mind relating to everybody, did connect with infants even more so. This is why, «when Jesus noticed it, He was very angry and said, ‘Let the children come to me and don't stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these’» (Mk 10:14).

Charity must follow priorities: it begins with the most needy. And, if everybody has the right to approach Jesus, infants are the first ones to enjoy this privilege: «Let the children come to me and don't stop them» (Mk 10:14).

We should realize, however, that when helping the more needy, we happen to be the first ones to benefit of it. This is why the Master warns us: «Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it» (Mk 10:15). And, in correspondence to the simplicity and openness of those children «He took them in his arms and laying his hands on them, blessed them» (Mk 10:16). 

We must learn the art of receiving the Kingdom of God. He who is like a child can easily perceive that everything is a gift, a grace. From our smallness we should be open to receive. And, “to receive” God's favour, we must listen and contemplate with “receptive silence”. After St. Ignatius of Antioch, to the Ephesians « It is better for a man to be silent and be [a Christian], than to talk and not to be one. (...) He who possesses the word of Jesus, is truly able to hear even His very silence, that he may be perfect, and may both act as he speaks, and be recognized by his silence».

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mc 10,13-16): 

On présentait à Jésus des enfants pour les lui faire toucher ; mais les disciples les écartèrent vivement. Voyant cela, Jésus se fâcha et leur dit: «Laissez les enfants venir à moi. Ne les empêchez pas, car le royaume de Dieu est à ceux qui leur ressemblent. Amen, je vous le dis: celui qui n'accueille pas le royaume de Dieu à la manière d'un enfant n'y entrera pas». Il les embrassait et les bénissait en leur imposant les mains.

L’Application

Dieu créa l’homme à son image, particulièrement avec l’intelligence de discernement. Cette intelligence va l’aider à découvrir son Créateur, à travers la création. C’est ainsi il apprendra à vivre avec les autres. Un personne qui respect la création, doit de facto respecter le Créateur, est plus spécialement l’homme, l’image de ce Créateur.

Nous les chrétiens sont appelés à amener les hommes vers ce Dieu, le Créateur en pleine adoration. Dans le Royaume de Dieu, Dieu est le centre de tout, et sa centralité sera visiblement imposé, sans faire aucune obligation, car tous reconnaitrons sa centralité.  

Nous devons nous habiller avec ce comportement des enfants qui cherchent toujours les parents et reconnaissent en eux cette  centralité de leurs rôle (dans le développement des hommes). Pouvons d’être comme ces enfants (de Dieu) qui L’écoutent et L’obéissent ?

«Laissez les enfants venir à moi»

Abbé Josep Lluís SOCÍAS i Bruguera 
(Badalona, Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, les enfants sont toujours à la une. Plus que jamais, les enfants ont beaucoup à dire, même si être enfant veut dire qu'on ne sait pas parler. Nous le constatons avec les nouvelles technologies, ils sont capables de les faire marcher, de les utiliser y compris d'apprendre aux adultes comment bien les utiliser. Comme le disait un journaliste «ce n'est pas parce que les enfants ne parlent pas qu'ils ne pensent pas».

Dans le passage de l'Évangile de Marc nous rencontrons plusieurs variantes. «On présentait à Jésus des enfants pour les lui faire toucher; mais les disciples les écartèrent vivement» (Mc 10,13). Mais le Seigneur, que nous avons vu dans les évangiles de ces derniers jours se donner à tous, le fera avec plus grande raison avec les enfants. Ainsi, «voyant cela, Jésus se fâcha et leur dit: «Laissez les enfants venir à moi. Ne les empêchez pas, car le royaume de Dieu est à ceux qui leur ressemblent» (Mc 10,14).

La charité est organisée: elle commence par celui qui en a le plus besoin. Qui donc est plus dans le besoin qu'un enfant? Tout le monde a le droit de s'approcher de Jésus l'enfant est donc le premier qui doit jouir de ce droit: «Laissez les enfants venir à moi» (Mc 10,14).

Mais il faut remarquer qu'en accueillant le plus nécessiteux, nous sommes les premiers à en tirer profit. C'est pour cela que le Seigneur nous prévient: «celui qui n'accueille pas le royaume de Dieu à la manière d'un enfant n'y entrera pas» (Mc 10,15). Et répondant à l'humeur simple et ouverte des enfants, «Lui les embrassait et les bénissait en leur imposant les mains» (Mc 10,16).

Il faut apprendre l'art d'accueillir le Royaume des cieux. Celui qui est comme un enfant —comme les anciens "pauvres de Yahvé"— discerne facilement que tout est un don, que tout est une grâce. Et pour "recevoir" les faveurs de Dieu, il faut écouter et contempler avec un "silence réceptif". Selon saint Ignace d'Antioche: «mieux vaut se taire et être que parler et ne pas être (…) Celui qui comprend véritablement la parole de Jésus peut même entendre son silence».

Gospel text

(Mk 10,1-12): 

Jesus went to the province of Judea, beyond the Jordan River. Once more crowds gathered around him and once more He taught them, as He always did. Some (Pharisees came and) put him to the test with this question, «Is it right for a husband to divorce his wife?». He replied, «What law did Moses give you?». They answered, «Moses allowed us to write a certificate of dismissal in order to divorce». Then Jesus said to them, «Moses wrote this law for you, because you are stubborn. But in the beginning of creation God made them male and female, and because of this, man has to leave father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one body. So they are no longer two but one body. Therefore let no one separate what God has joined».

When they were indoors at home, the disciples again asked him about this and He told them, «Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against his wife, and the woman who divorces her husband and marries another also commits adultery».

The Application

I would like to invite you all to look at today’s gospel another way. It’s no more a question of marriage or divorce, but of accomplishing the will of the Father. Jesus came to the world to reveal to us the divine will and the depth of the love of the Father. It is in Jesus we are called to discover this God who loves us.

This love is better revealed in the human relationship and the perfect model of the human love is Trinitarian love. It is because of this, that the Holy Church try to express to the whole world the divine love through the sacrament of marriage and in the family life. Trinitarian union in their diversity of function, helps us to respect the difference and appreciate it. As a baptised Christian, we are called to identify the unity in our diversity.

The first reading can help us to discern and qualify these human relationship. In Jesus we find this qualitative and selective love, though His love remained universal. He has chosen a few among the many and qualified them and trained them as Apostles. Thus, we too are called to choose and qualify every relationship, thus by this qualification and selection process, we will be able to, though in a limited way to master these relationship, which in return will help us to minimise the ruptures and particularly the pain. Sometime, these pains remain for an eternity and some of us carry it, sadly throughout the life. The deeper our relationship with the Lord, the better will be our human, interpersonal relationship. Have a wonderful life.

«Once more He taught them, as He always did»

Fr. Miquel VENQUE i To 
(Barcelona, Spain)

Today, I would like, dear Lord, to say a little prayer to thank you for your teaching. You taught with authority whenever they let you, and you were taking advantage of all occasions; I understand Lord that, as a matter of fact, your basic mission was to transmit the Word of the Father. And you did it. 

—Today, while “connected” to Internet, I tell you: Speak to me for, as a faithful disciple, I want to pray a little. First, I would like to beseech capacity to learn what you are teaching and, secondly, I wish I would know how to teach it myself. I know it is easy to err making you say what you have never said and, with malevolent boldness, I wish you would say what I like. I admit that I am, perhaps, more hard-hearted than those listeners. 

I know your Gospel, the Teachings of the Church, the Catechism, and I remember pope John Paul II's words in his Letter to Families: «The programme of utilitarianism, based on an individualistic understanding of freedom —a freedom without responsibilities— is the opposite of love, even as an expression of human civilization considered as a whole». Lord, break my heart, which longs for a utilitarianism happiness and let me in your Divine Truth I so much need.

—From this vantage point, like on top of the mountain, I can see that You speak of marital love as the love that lasts forever, and that adultery —being a sin, as any other grave offense to You, who are the Lord of Life and Love— is the wrong way to happiness: «Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against his wife» (Mk 10:11). 

—I remember a young man who said: «Father, sin promises a lot, gives nothing and takes everything». Good Jesus, let me understand you, and let me learn how to explain it: «let no one separate what You have joined» (cf. Mk 10:9). Out of here, out of your ways, I shall not be able to find the true happiness. Jesus, teach me again!

—Thanks, Jesus, I'm hard-hearted, but I know you are right.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mc 10,1-12): 

En partant de là, Jésus arrive en Judée et en Transjordanie. De nouveau, la foule s'assemble près de lui, et de nouveau, il les instruisait comme d'habitude. Des pharisiens l'abordèrent et pour le mettre à l'épreuve, ils lui demandaient: «Est-il permis à un mari de renvoyer sa femme?». Jésus dit: «Que vous a prescrit Moïse?». Ils lui répondirent: «Moïse a permis de renvoyer sa femme à condition d'établir un acte de répudiation». Jésus répliqua: «C'est en raison de votre endurcissement qu'il a formulé cette loi. Mais, au commencement de la création, il les fit homme et femme. A cause de cela, l'homme quittera son père et sa mère, il s'attachera à sa femme, et tous deux ne feront plus qu'un. Ainsi, ils ne sont plus deux, mais ils ne font qu'un. Donc, ce que Dieu a uni, que l'homme ne le sépare pas!». 

De retour à la maison, les disciples l'interrogeaient de nouveau sur cette question. Il leur répond: «Celui qui renvoie sa femme pour en épouser une autre est coupable d'adultère envers elle. Si une femme a renvoyé son mari et en épouse un autre, elle est coupable d'adultère».

L’Application

Ce n’est plus une question de mariage ou de divorce, mais une question de la volonté divine. Moïse en mettant la loi du Seigneur à la disposition du peuple n’avait voulu en observant cette loi, que ce peuple accomplisse la volonté divine.

Aujourd’hui Jésus nous invite à discerner cette volonté divine dans notre vie quotidienne, particulièrement la vie relationnelle. Dieu a voulu que l’homme apprenne à vivre ensemble, en imitant la vie Trinitaire. La vie du mariage est un signe visible de l’union Trinitaire et son amour pour son peuple.

La livre de Sagesse nous aide à bien discerner et choisir. Il faut prendre le temps pour connaitre les uns et les autres. C’est dans cette connaitre de soi et de l’autre que nous devons qualifier la relation. Certainement, Dieu prendra la première place, puis les autres. Si nous ne savons pas prioriser les relations, nous ne pouvons jamais les maîtriser.

«Il les instruisait comme d'habitude»

Abbé Miquel VENQUE i To 
(Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, Seigneur, je voudrais prendre un peu de temps pour te faire une prière de remerciement pour tous tes enseignements. Tu enseignais avec autorité et tu le faisais dès qu'on te laissait faire et tu profitais de toutes les occasions: bien sûr, je comprends Seigneur que le but de ta mission était de transmettre la Parole du Père. Et tu l'as fait.

—Aujourd'hui, connecté à internet je te dis: Parle-moi, parce que je veux prendre un petit moment pour prier comme un disciple fidèle. D'abord, je voudrais te demander la capacité d'apprendre ce que tu enseignes et ensuite être capable de l'enseigner aux autres. Je reconnais qu'il est facile de tomber dans l'erreur de te faire dire des choses que tu n'as jamais dites, et avec une audace malveillante, j'essaie de te faire dire ce que j'aimerais que tu dises. Je reconnais que mon cœur est peut-être plus endurci que celui de ceux qui t'écoutaient.

—Je connais ton évangile, le Magistère de l'Église, le catéchisme, et je me souviens des paroles du pape Jean Paul II dans sa "Lettre aux familles": «Le dessein de l'utilitarisme, fondé sur une liberté orientée dans un sens individualiste, c'est-à-dire une liberté sans responsabilité, constitue l'antithèse de l'amour». Seigneur, je te demande de briser mon cœur qui a envie d'un bonheur utilitariste et de me faire entrer dans la vérité divine dont j'ai tant besoin.

—Vu d'ici, comme du sommet d'une montagne, je comprends que tu dises que l'amour du mariage est définitif, que l'adultère —en plus d'être un péché comme toute offense grave envers toi, qui est le Seigneur de la Vie et de l'Amour— est un faux chemin vers le bonheur: «Celui qui renvoie sa femme pour en épouser une autre est coupable d'adultère envers elle» (Mc 10,11). 

Je me rappelle aussi d'un jeune homme qui me disait: «Mon père, le péché promet beaucoup, ne donne rien et enlève tout». Bon Jésus, fais que je puisse te comprendre, et que je puisse l'expliquer aux autres: ce que tu as uni, l'homme ne peut pas le séparer (cf. Mc 10,9). Loin d'ici, en dehors de tes chemins je ne trouverai pas le bonheur véritable. Jésus, apprends moi à nouveau!

Merci Jésus. Mon cœur est dur mais je sais que tu as raison.

Gospel text

(Mk 9,30-37): 

Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; but Jesus did not want people to know where he was because he was teaching his disciples. And He told them, «The Son of Man will be delivered into human hands. They will kill him, but three days after he has been killed, He will rise». The disciples, however, did not understand these words and they were afraid to ask him what He meant.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, Jesus asked them, «What were you discussing on the way?». But they did not answer because they had been arguing about who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve and said to them, «If someone wants to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all». Then He took a little child, placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, «Whoever welcomes a child such as this in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me but the One who sent me».

The Application

We are all sometime ambitious and wish to be greater than others. Thus in our stupidity, we have allowed others to become the masters of our growth and determine the process. Jesus is not against being ambitious in our life, but the way He proposes is the service. Since every leader is at the service of the group, Jesus reminds us this basic responsibility.

It is in this sense that every leader takes the risks in life and undergo many oppositions and sometime rejections. These are the path of human growth. We all feel sometime being rejected and abandoned. The divine wisdom will help us to take these difficult moments of life into our advantage, and turn all the maledictions into benediction.

By presenting the little as a model for every desiring Christian, as the perfect discipleship, Jesus wishes to elevate every disciple from an ordinary being, into an extraordinary person. He Himself has sown us the perfect model in His incarnation. God has taken the great risk of becoming the creation and to the extent of being rejected on the Cross. Just like Him, God wishes to raise every one of us. It is here that we are called to take up our daily crosses as blessing, because they will certainly lead us towards the resurrection.

«The Son of Man will be delivered into human hands»

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

Today, the Gospel teaches us two lessons of Jesus, that are closely linked together. On the one hand, He tells them that «they will kill him, but three days after He has been killed, He will rise» (Mk 9:31). The Father's purpose for His coming to this world, was precisely this: to set us free from sin's slavery and eternal death; thus, we shall become the sons of God. Jesus' greatest form of submission —His death on the cross— shows God's infinite love for humanity: a measureless Love, a Love that does not mind facing the madness and scandal of the Cross. 

On the other hand, it is terrifying, to see the Apostles' reaction. They were just too busy thinking of themselves only and forgetting to learn from their Master: «The disciples, however, did not understand these words» (Mk 9:32), because they had been arguing on the way about who was the greatest, and they were afraid to ask Him anything, lest they could be scolded.

With delicate patience, Jesus adds: let him be last of all and servant of all. We have to look for the simple and small, because the Lord identified Himself with them. We have to receive Jesus in our life; thus, we shall be opening the doors to the very same God. It is like programming our life to keep on going. 

This is how the holy Rector of Ars, John Baptist Mary Vianney explains it: «Each time we put the needs of others above our own, and provided this does not go against God's Law, we are achieving merits God only knows about». Jesus teaches with these words, but mostly He teaches with His deeds. Those Apostles, who were, in principle, supposed to understand him, but did not quite, after the Cross and Resurrection, will follow in the footsteps of their Lord and their God. And, accompanied by the Holy Virgin Mary, they will grow smaller and smaller every day to let Jesus grow in them and in the world.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mc 9,30-37): 

En partant de là, Jésus traversait la Galilée avec ses disciples, et il ne voulait pas qu'on le sache. Car il les instruisait en disant: «Le Fils de l'homme est livré aux mains des hommes; ils le tueront et, trois jours après sa mort, il ressuscitera». Mais les disciples ne comprenaient pas ces paroles et ils avaient peur de l'interroger. 

Ils arrivèrent à Capharnaüm, et, une fois à la maison, Jésus leur demandait: «De quoi discutiez-vous en chemin?». Ils se taisaient, car, sur la route, ils avaient discuté entre eux pour savoir qui était le plus grand. S'étant assis, Jésus appela les Douze et leur dit: «Si quelqu'un veut être le premier, qu'il soit le dernier de tous et le serviteur de tous». Prenant alors un enfant, il le plaça au milieu d'eux, l'embrassa, et leur dit: «Celui qui accueille en mon nom un enfant comme celui-ci, c'est moi qu'il accueille. Et celui qui m'accueille ne m'accueille pas moi, mais Celui qui m'a envoyé».

«Le Fils de l'homme est livré aux mains des hommes»

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

Aujourd'hui, l'Évangile nous apporte deux enseignements de Jésus qui sont étroitement liés. D'une part, le Seigneur nous annonce qu'«ils le tueront et, trois jours après sa mort, il ressuscitera» (Mc 9,31). C'est la volonté du Père à son égard: Il est venu au monde pour cela, Il veut nous libérer ainsi de notre esclavage du péché et de la mort éternelle; pour nous faire ainsi des fils de Dieu. Le dévouement du Seigneur au point de donner sa vie pour nous démontre l'infinité de l'amour de Dieu: un amour sans limite, un amour qui se contrefiche de s'abaisser à la folie et l'indignation de la croix.

C'est terrifiant d'entendre la réaction des apôtres, toujours occupés à se regarder eux-mêmes en négligeant d'apprendre du Maître: ils «ne comprenaient pas ces paroles» (Mc 9,32), car en route ils discutaient toujours qui d'entre eux serait le plus grand et au cas où eux aussi devraient y passer, ils ont peur de lui poser des questions.

Avec une douce patience, le Seigneur ajoute: il faut se faire le dernier et le serviteur de tous. Il faut accueillir le petit et le simple, car le Seigneur a voulu s'identifier à eux. Nous devons accueillir Jésus dans nos vies car c'est ainsi que nous ouvrons les portes à Dieu lui-même. C'est comme un programme de vie pour la route.

Ainsi l'explique le saint Curé d'Ars, Jean Baptiste Marie Vianney: «A chaque fois que nous pouvons renoncer à notre volonté pour faire celle des autres, quand notre conscience n'y est pas compromise, nous obtenons des grandes mérites que Dieu seul connaît». Jésus enseigne par ses paroles, mais surtout par ses œuvres. Ces apôtres, qui au début étaient incapables de comprendre, après la Croix et la Résurrection suivront les mêmes traces que leur Seigneur et leur Dieu. Et accompagnés par la Sainte Vierge, ils deviendront de plus en plus petits pour laisser Jésus grandir en eux et dans le monde.

Gospel text

(Mk 9,14-29): 

When Jesus came to the place where they had left the disciples, they saw many peo­ple around and some teachers of the Law arguing with them. When the people saw Jesus, they were astonished and ran to greet him. He asked, «What are you arguing about with them?». A man answered him from the crowd, «Master, I brought my son to you for he has a dumb spirit. Whenever the spirit seizes him, it throws him down and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth and becomes stiff all over. I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they could not».

Jesus replied, «You faithless people. How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me». And they brought the boy to him. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it shook and convulsed the boy who fell on the ground and began rolling about, foaming at the mouth. Then Jesus asked the father, «How long has this been happening to him?». He replied, «From childhood. And it has often thrown him into the fire and into the water to destroy him. If you can do anything, have pity on us and help us». Jesus said to him, «Why do you say: ‘If you can?’ All things are possible for one who believes». Immediately the father of the boy cried out, «I do believe, but help the little faith I have». 

Jesus saw that the crowd was increasing rapidly, so he ordered the evil spirit, «Dumb and deaf spirit, I command you: Leave the boy and never enter him again». The evil spirit shook and convulsed the boy and with a terrible shriek came out. The boy lay like a corpse and people said, «He is dead». But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him and the boy stood up. After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, «Why couldn't we drive out the spirit?». And he answered, «Only prayer can drive out this kind, nothing else».

The Application

Without entering into the details of this gospel, I would like to invite you all to place ourselves in the place of this sick child and this child is none other than ourselves, who are processed with different ideas and visions, without being associated to the will of the Father.

The first reading invites us to look into ourselves particularly and in the creation at large so that we may be able to discover how the divine wisdom which continues to animate the world. This divine wisdom, though made available to all, only some have the luxury of having them, because this is purely a divine gift.

To have access to this divine gift, we are called to approach the Lord with prayer. It is the only source of divine communion. Without prayer we can never get access to this divine wisdom. Now the question is, how to pray? It’s simply placing ourselves in the presence of the Lord, and by surrendering all that we have before the Lord, so that He may use them to accomplish the establishment of the Kingdom of God. Prayer is simply be with the Lord and listen to Him.

In this encounter, we should be ready to die to our way of thinking, or our way of being. This dying time, we may find our life as fully annihilated, but in the process, we will be resurrected into a totally different person, just like this child, who became totally a different one, and fully liberated from the old life.

Now the question is, are we ready to get closer to God and ready to allow ourselves to die our old way of life, and to be reborn in the Lord?  

«I do believe, but help the little faith I have»

Fr. Antoni CAROL i Hostench 
(Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, we see —once again!— the Lord being approached by people («and they ran to greet him») and, at the same time, we witness his solicitude towards those who need him, always sensible to their needs. In the first place, wondering what is going on, He asks the crowd; then, He gets involved with in the problem. 

A man from the crowd intervenes. He is the father of a boy that is seized by a dumb spirit: «Master, I brought my son to you for he has a dumb spirit. Whenever the spirit seizes him, it throws him down and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth and becomes stiff all over» (Mk 9:17-18). 

It is terrible what the Devil can do!, a creature without charity. —O Lord, we must pray!: «And deliver us from evil». It is hard to understand those who, today, still claim there is no Devil, or even worse, those who render him some type of cult... Nonsense, is not it? We should learn a lesson: it is just too risky to play with fire!

«I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they could not» (Mk 9:18). When Jesus heard these words, He became angry. Angry, mostly, for their lack of faith... Lacking faith because they had to pray more: «Only prayer can drive out this kind (of spirits), nothing else» (Mk 9:29).

Prayer is an “intimist” dialogue with God. John Paul II affirms that «prayer brings always some kind of secluded retreat with Christ in God. The Holy Spirit only acts in such “secluded retreat”». And only in such an intimate atmosphere of retirement can we practice a friendly assiduity with Jesus, which, in turn, increases our confidence in Him, or what is the same, increases our faith.

But this faith, that can move mountains and drives out the evil spirits («All things are possible for one who believes!») is, above all, a gift from God. Our prayer, in any case, prepare us to receive that gift. However, we have to beg for this gift: «I do believe, but help the little faith I have» (Mk 9:24). Christ's response will not take long!