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

We are celebrating the forth Advent Sunday and we have Mary who will help us to discover Christ in this Child who will be born, as her cousin Elizabeth recognized in Mary, the mother of God. Looking at Mary very close, we will understand the way she advanced, which made her to burst with joy as she sang the magnificat.

Mary listened to the Word and she believed. According to this Announced Word she engaged positively, concretely and eagerly. This little young girl was moving as quickly as possible so that Elizabeth would have the joy of welcoming the mother of God. This displacement provoked an encounter and this meeting gives rise to joy. The gospel of the day tells us that they are both animated by the Holy Spirit. From Jerusalem, from temple, from Zachariah God Himself made a move in giving greater importance to a small house of Galilee. In this annunciation the angel told her that she was gracious, full of grace, and she will hear the same message from Elizabeth’s salutation.

Mary represents for us in this displacement the true displacement of the ark of covenant 'the house of God' in Jerusalem and she will stay there like the ark of other times, three months in the house of her hosts. Mary is the true home of God. God will no longer live in a temple of stones, but living people. We the Christians are called to be aware of this dwelling of God in us. Saint Paul will tell us that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are sent into this world as missionaries who announce by our witnessing life, the Good News of the divine presence.

Mary, who carries Jesus in her, becomes de facto for us the Eucharist, the dwelling place of God. Mary's greeting has given birth in John the joy that Elizabeth will feel strongly. This encounter bears a resemblance to our Sunday gathering. We are here together to celebrate the Eucharist and this Eucharist must start with a salutary greeting that must make the other leap into joy.

In these greeting exchanges we will feel the presence of the Holy Spirit who gathers us together and like Elizabeth, we will recognize the mother of God in our brothers and sisters, the envoys of the Father who are before us and with us. We are already in a feasting mood, the pink Sunday which mixes purple and white. My friends that this visitation does not stop here in the church. Let's make it come alive in every human encounter, at home, in the hospital and in the street, etc., for example. Let all our brothers and sisters may have the same JOY.

pray,

On this Sunday, we turn to you God our Father. You made us happy to visit us in your Son received in this Eucharist. Fill us with the Holy Spirit so that with the Virgin and Elizabeth, we may give you thanks through our words and our whole life. Amen.

Nous entrons dans le quatrième dimanche d’Avent et nous avons Marie qui va nous aider à découvrir le Christ dans cet Enfant qui va naître, comme sa cousine Elizabeth a reconnu en Marie, la mère de Dieu. En regardant Marie, nous comprendrons ses marches quotidiennes  qui lui ont fait éclater de joie lorsqu’elle chantait le magnificat.

Marie a écouté la Parole, elle a cru à cette Parole Annoncée et s’engageait positivement, concrètement et empressement. Cette jeune fille se déplaçait le plus vite possible pour qu’Elizabeth ai la joie d’accueillir la mère de Dieu. Ce déplacement provoquait une rencontre et cette rencontre fait naître la joie. L’évangile du jour nous dit qu’elles sont toute les deux était animées par l’Esprit Saint. De Jérusalem, de temple, d’Zacharie  Dieu Lui-même a fait un déplacement en accordant une importance plus élevée à une petite maison de Galilée. Dans cette annonciation l’ange lui a dit qu’elle était gracieuse, pleine de grâce et elle l’entendra le même message de la buche d’Elizabeth.

Marie représente pour nous dans ce déplacement le véritable déplacement de l’arche d’alliance ‘la demeure de Dieu’ à Jérusalem et elle y restera comme l’arche d’autre fois, trois mois dans la maison de ses hôtes. Marie est la véritable demeure de Dieu. Dieu n’habitera plus un temple de pierre, mais des personnes vivantes. Nous sommes en tant que chrétiens appelés à prendre connaissance de cette demeure de Dieu en nous. Saint Paul nous dira que nous sommes le temple de l’Esprit Saint. Nous sommes envoyés dans ce monde comme les missionnaires qui annoncent par notre vie de témoignage, la Bonne Nouvelle de la présence divine.

Marie qui porte Jésus en elle, devient de facto pour nous l’Eucharistie, la demeure de Dieu. La salutation de Marie à fait naître en Jean la joie qu’Elizabeth ressentira fortement.  Cette rencontre a une ressemblance à notre rassemblement dominical. Nous sommes là ensembles pour célébrer l’Eucharistie et cette Eucharistie doit démarrer obligatoirement par une salutation salutaire qui doit faire bondir l’autre en joie.

Dans ces échanges de salutation nous ressentirons la présence de l’Esprit Saint qui nous rassemble et comme Elizabeth, nous reconnaitrons la mère de Dieu dans nos frères et sœurs, les envoyés du Père qui sont devant nous et avec nous. Nous sommes déjà dans la fête, le dimanche de rose qui mélange violet et blanc. Mes amis que cette visitation ne s’arrête pas ici dans l’église. Faisons-là revivre dans chaque rencontre humaine, à la maison, dans l’hôpital et dans la rue, etc par exemple.

Prions,

En ce dimanche, nous nous tournons vers toi Dieu notre Père. Tu nous fias de bonheur de nous visiter en ton Fils reçu dans cette Eucharistie. Rempli-nous de l’Esprit Saint pour qu’avec la Vierge et Elisabeth, nous puissions te rendre grâce par nos paroles et toute notre vie. Amen.

Gospel text

(Lc 1,46-56): 

Mary said: «My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit exults in God my savior! He has looked upon his servant in her lowliness, and people forever will call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, Holy is his Name! From age to age his mercy extends to those who live in his presence. He has acted with power and done wonders, and scattered the proud with their plans. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up those who are downtrodden. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He held out his hand to Israel, his servant, for he remembered his mercy, even as he promised our fathers, Abraham and his descendants forever».

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned home.

The Application

Every child is the new hope to the family. When the family understands this as a gift, we value not only the gift, but importantly the giver of this gift. We have today Mary, Elizabeth and Anne giving thanks to God for the gift of life.

In Mary this gift is not to her or to a single community or time, it is for the eternity and to the whole universe. Once we realise the greatness of the gift, we discover, through this visible gift, the greatness of the Giver, God.

Through Mary and with her, we are called to discover the great Gift that God has given to us. Through this gift, God has decided to give Himself to us. It is up to us to receive God in us.

By imitating the way Mary did,  let us learn to discover in this little Child, the Creator. Just like Mary, let us be open to the newness of life events. In this openness, let us be available to the need of others. In these events, though small or little, they may appear to us, let us not fail to see the great work that God wishes to accomplish in and through us. It is by doing these that we will be able to realise His desire to enter into our hearts and be ready to welcome Him.

«My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit exults in God my savior!»

Fr. Francesc PERARNAU i Cañellas 
(Girona, Spain)

Today's Gospel presents for our consideration the Magnificat Canticle, with which the Virgin Mary, full of joy, greets Elizabeth, her relative, mother of John the Baptist, in her home. Mary's words remind us of other Biblical canticles and songs She knew quite well and had so often, recited and contemplated. Now. however, those very words, on her lips, have a much deeper meaning: behind them, God's Mother spirit shows through while also evincing the purity of her heart. Every day, at the Liturgy of the Hours, the Church makes these words hers when, with the Vespers, the Church addresses to Heaven the same song with which Mary rejoiced, blessed and thanked God for all His graciousness and sheer kindness.

Mary has benefited of the most extraordinary Grace any woman has ever received or will ever receive: amongst all other women in History, she has been chosen by God, to become the Mother of the Redeemer Messiah, whom Mankind had been awaiting for so many centuries. It is the highest honor ever granted any human person, and She accepts it with total restraint and humility, by realizing it all is Grace and a gift, and her own lowliness before the immensity of God's power and greatness, which has done wonders on Her (cf. Lk 1:49). This is a great lesson of humility for all of us, Adam's sons, and heirs of a human nature deeply stained by Original Sin which, day after day, would try to drag us down.

We are getting close to the end of Advent, a time of conversion and purification. To day, it is the Virgin Mary who is showing us the best way. Mulling over our Mother's prayer —by wishing to make it ours— will help us to become more humble. Mother Mary will help us if we truly ask her.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Lc 1,46-56): 

Marie dit: «Mon âme exalte le Seigneur, et mon esprit se réjouit en Dieu, mon Sauveur, parce qu'il a jeté les yeux sur la bassesse de sa servante. Car voici, désormais toutes les générations me diront bienheureuse, parce que le Tout Puissant a fait pour moi de grandes choses. Son nom est saint, et sa miséricorde s'étend d'âge en âge Sur ceux qui le craignent. Il a déployé la force de son bras; Il a dispersé ceux qui avaient dans le coeur des pensées orgueilleuses. Il a renversé les puissants de leurs trônes, et il a élevé les humbles. Il a rassasié de biens les affamés, et il a renvoyé les riches à vide. Il a secouru Israël, son serviteur, et il s'est souvenu de sa miséricorde, —comme il l'avait dit à nos pères— envers Abraham et sa postérité pour toujours». 

Marie demeura avec Élisabeth environ trois mois. Puis elle retourna chez elle.

L’Application

Marie nous raconte son expérience personnelle et dans cette expérience se trouve notre propre histoire de salut, les merveilles que Dieu a faites, tout ce qu’Il fait et tout ce qu’Il ferra pour l’humanité.

L’incarnation est un commencement de la révélation dans sa totalité. Marie va nous aider (petit-à-petit) avec sa propre incompréhension et disponibilité, à comprendre les mystères qui Dieu nous a déjà révélé dans son Fils.

Avec Marie nous sommes invités à découvrir les merveilles de Dieu dans cet enfant qui va naître.

«Mon âme exalte le Seigneur, et mon esprit se réjouit en Dieu»

Abbé Francesc PERARNAU i Cañellas 
(Girona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, l'Evangile de la Messe nous présente à notre considération le Magnificat, que Marie, pleine de joie, entonne dans la maison de sa parente Elisabeth, mère de Jean Baptiste. Les paroles de Marie nous apportent une réminiscence d'autres chants bibliques qu'elle connaissait très bien et qu'elle avait récités et contemplés à tant d'occasions. Mais, maintenant dans ses lèvres, ces mêmes paroles ont un sentiment beaucoup plus profond: l'esprit de la Mère de Dieu se transparaît à travers elles et nous montre la pureté de son cœur. Chaque jour, l'Église le fait sien dans la Liturgie des Heures quand, priant les veilles, elle dirige vers le ciel ce même chant avec lequel Marie se réjouissait, bénissait et rendait grâce à Dieu pour toutes ses bontés.

Marie s'est bénéficiée de la grâce la plus extraordinaire que jamais une autre femme n'a reçu et recevra: elle a été élue de Dieu, parmi toutes les femmes de l'histoire, pour être la Mère du Messie Rédempteur que l'Humanité attendait depuis des siècles. C'est l'honneur le plus haut jamais connue pour une personne humaine, et elle le reçoit avec une total simplicité et humilité, se rendant compte que tout est grâce, offre, et qu'elle n'ait rien devant l'immensité du pouvoir et de la grandeur de Dieu, qui a fait des merveilles en elle (cf. Lc 1,49). Une grande leçon d'humilité pour nous tous, fils d'Adam et héritiers d'une nature humaine marquée profondément par le péché originel duquel, jour après jour, nous entraînons les conséquences.

Nous arrivons au final du temps de l'Avent, un temps de conversion et de purification. Aujourd'hui c'est Marie qui nous enseigne le meilleur chemin. Méditer la prière de notre Mère —en voulant la faire nôtre— nous aidera a être plus humbles. Sainte Marie nous aidera si on lui demande avec confiance.

Gospel text

(Lc 1,39-45): 

Mary then set out for a town in the Hills of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, «You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord's word would come true!».

The Application

The more we get closer to Christmas, the better we understand the divine mystery of incarnation. Thus, it is important that we observe all the human encounters closely, because it is in and through them God reveals Himself to the humanity.

In this particular encounter, we certainly find in Mary a special kind of hurriedness. The gospel gives us the source of this energy: Holy Spirit. In every these human encounters, we will find how closely these people are animated by God and how much they are faithful in their engagements.

Once we are inspired by the Holy Spirit, every human encounters will be ‘de facto’ transformed into a divine encounter, because God will be centre of these encounters. It is here we learn to see the invisible elements of life. Elisabeth and John Baptist could see already the saviours, though invisible to the eyes, but very much the centre of this meeting. Very often God works like this and we are invited slowly to discover these divine mysteries, which are the essential part of our life.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers:

John prophecies from the womb, 

by Maximus of Turin (died between 408-423 AD)

"Not yet born, already John prophesies and, while still in the enclosure of his mother's womb, confesses the coming of Christ with movements of joy - since he could not do so with his voice. As Elizabeth says to holy Mary, 'As soon as you greeted me, the child in my womb exulted for joy.' John exults, then, before he is born. Before his eyes can see what the world looks like, he can recognize the Lord of the world with his spirit. In this regard, I think that the prophetic phrase is appropriate: 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you came forth from the womb I sanctified you' (Jeremiah 1:5). Thus we ought not to marvel that after Herod put him in prison, he continued to announce Christ to his disciples from his confinement, when even confined in the womb he preached the same Lord by his movements." (excerpt from SERMON 5.4)

Texte de l'Évangile

(Lc 1,39-45): 

En ces jours-là, Marie se mit en route rapidement vers une ville de la montagne de Judée. Elle entra dans la maison de Zacharie et salua Élisabeth. Or, quand Élisabeth entendit la salutation de Marie, l'enfant tressaillit en elle. Alors, Élisabeth fut remplie de l'Esprit Saint, et s'écria d'une voix forte: «Tu es bénie entre toutes les femmes, et le fruit de tes entrailles est béni. Comment ai-je ce bonheur que la mère de mon Seigneur vienne jusqu'à moi? Car, lorsque j'ai entendu tes paroles de salutation, l'enfant a tressailli d'allégresse au-dedans de moi. Heureuse celle qui a cru à l'accomplissement des paroles qui lui furent dites de la part du Seigneur».

L’Application

La visitation de Marie et les rencontres visibles et invisibles nous aide à comprendre les œuvres de Dieu. Dieu fait tout pour que l’humanité accueilli la source de salut d’une manière digne. Heureusement Marie représente cette humanité et en elle nous voyons déjà le signe de salut.

Dans ces rencontres nous voyons clairement  l’Esprit Saint qui est en œuvre et tous sont animés par Lui. Aujourd’hui nous sommes invités à regarder non seulement les hommes qui agissent, mais aussi l’Esprit Saint qui fait bouger tout.

Nous pouvons encore savourer cette joie, si nous sommes capables de voire Celui qui est invisible dans  les éléments, ou dans les actes visibles.  

«Heureuse celle qui a cru»

Abbé Àngel CALDAS i Bosch 
(Salt, Girona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, le texte de l'Évangile correspond au 2ème mystère joyeux: «La visitation de Marie à sa cousine Elisabeth». Il s'agit d'un vrai mystère! Une explosion de joie profonde comme jamais l'histoire ne nous l'avait jamais raconté auparavant! La joie de Marie qui vient de devenir mère, par la grâce et l'action de l'Esprit Saint! Le mot “gaudium” exprime une joie profonde, intime qui ne se dévoile pas à l'extérieur. Pourtant, les montagnes de Judée se sont remplies de joie. Marie exulte comme une mère qui vient d'apprendre qu'elle attend un enfant… et quel Enfant! Un fils pèlerin, avant même la naissance, qui se rend par des sentiers rocheux à Ain Karen, enveloppé dans le cœur et les bras de Marie.

Joie dans l'âme et le visage d'Elisabeth, et l'enfant qui tressaille d'allégresse dans son ventre. Les paroles même de la cousine de Marie se transmettront dans les âges: «Tu es bénie entre toutes les femmes, et le fruit de tes entrailles est béni» (Lc 1,42). La prière du rosaire comme source de joie, est une des nouvelles perspectives dévoilées par Jean Paul II dans sa lettre apostolique "Le rosaire de la Vierge Marie".

L'allégresse est inséparable de la foi. «Comment ai-je ce bonheur que la mère de mon Seigneur vienne jusqu'à moi?» (Lc 1,43). La joie de Dieu et de Marie s'est dispersée dans le monde. Pour la laisser passer, il suffit de nous ouvrir par la foi à l'action constante de Dieu dans notre vie, devenir pèlerins avec l'Enfant, avec Celle qui a cru, et se tenir à la main forte et amoureuse de saint Joseph. Par les chemins de la terre, par les routes, sentiers ou chemins boueux, un chrétien porte en lui, toujours, deux dimensions de la foi: l'union avec Dieu et le service aux autres. Le tout bien rassemblé: avec une unité de vie qui empêche qu'il ait une solution de continuité entre une chose et l'autre.

Gospel text

(Mt 1,18-24): 

This is how Jesus Christ was born. Mary his mother had been given to Joseph in marriage but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to discredit her.

While he was pondering over this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, «Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a son. You shall call him “Jesus” for he will save his people from their sins». All this happened in order to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: «The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and he will be called Emmanuel which means: “God-with-us”». When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do and he took his wife to his home.

The Application

Yesterday I have said that through the humanity of Jesus God has given to the humanity as gift the humanity pure and elevated. Today the Church is presenting St Joseph as the perfect model to receive this divine gift.

If we wish to receive this gift then, we should have the same quality of Joseph: just before God. How can we be just before God? If we do our Christian duties and accomplish the human obligation and omission then God will find us just.

God has chosen in Mary and Joseph the ideal parents for Jesus. We should make our heart as pure as possible so that Jesus may find His home in us. He has found the humanity as the best way of world salvation and if we are sincere in our engagements and our hearts filled with love and compassion, and then He will certainly find us worthy.

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

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

Today, the liturgy of the Word invites us to think of the wonderful example St. Joseph gives us. He was extremely sensitive towards Mary, his betrothed.

There is no doubt that both were excellent people, in love with each other like no other couple. However, it is plain to see that the Almighty wanted their love to go through some very demanding circumstances.

The Pope saint John Paul II has written that «Christianity is a surprise from a God who has taken sides with his creature». As a matter of fact, He has taken the initiative: To come to this world He has not waited for us to deserve it. He proposes His initiative; He does not impose it upon us: It is as though God asked us for “permission”. To Mary He proposed —never imposed anything!— the vocation of being the Mother of God: «He, who had the power to create everything from nothing, had refused to rebuild what had been desecrated if Mary had not agreed to it» (Saint Anselm).

But God, not only is asking us for permission, He also wants us to take part in His plans, to make a heroic contribution. And so it was for Mary and Joseph. In fact the Christ-child needed parents. Even more so: He needed his parent's heroism, for they had to go to extremes to defend the life of the “little Redeemer”.

What is really beautiful is that Mary revealed only a few details of her childbearing: Such an important fact is reported in just two verses (cf. Lk 2:6-7). On the other hand, she was more explicit when speaking of Joseph's thoughtfulness towards her. The fact was that «before they lived together, she was found to be preg­nant through the Holy Spirit» (Mt 1:19), and in order not to risk discrediting her, he would have preferred to disappear discretely and to renounce her love (something that was socially unfavorable to him). Thus, before the law of charity had been proclaimed, Saint Joseph was already practicing it: Mary (and his loving attentions with her) was his law.