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

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mt 9,32-38): 

On présenta à Jésus un possédé qui était muet. Lorsque le démon eut été expulsé, le muet se mit à parler. La foule fut dans l'admiration, et elle disait: «Jamais rien de pareil ne s'est vu en Israël!». Mais les pharisiens disaient: «C'est par le chef des démons qu'il expulse les démons». 

Jésus parcourait toutes les villes et tous les villages, enseignant dans leurs synagogues, proclamant la Bonne Nouvelle du Royaume et guérissant toute maladie et toute infirmité. Voyant les foules, il eut pitié d'elles parce qu'elles étaient fatiguées et abattues comme des brebis sans berger. Il dit alors à ses disciples: «La moisson est abondante, et les ouvriers sont peu nombreux. Priez donc le maître de la moisson d'envoyer des ouvriers pour sa moisson».

L’application

Chaque appel est un signe de la présence de Dieu qui rend visible l’œuvre divine. Nous ne pouvons pas approprier la mission et elle est toujours confiée. Pour l’application quotidienne, je vous proposerai d’identifier la mission confiée et demander au Seigneur sa grâce pour que nous puissions l’accomplir.

Le deuxième point que j’aimerai aborder, c’est le regard du peuple. Un homme de foi identifiera l’œuvre de Dieu. Notre regard nous aide à découvrir tout ce qui habite en nous. Jésus a choisis d’ignorer ces regards, car ils n’aident personne à grandir.  Veillons notre propre regard et commentaire, car ils sont révélateurs de notre propre intériorité.

Aujourd’hui je vous invite à prier pour la vocation et que l’homme sache à répondre positivement à l’appel divin.

«Priez donc le maître de la moisson d'envoyer des ouvriers pour sa moisson»

Abbé Joan SOLÀ i Triadú 
(Girona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, l'Évangile nous parle de la guérison d'un possédé qui provoque des réactions différentes chez les Pharisiens et dans la foule. Alors que les Pharisiens, devant l'évidence indéniable de ce prodige, ils l'attribuent à des pouvoirs maléfiques —«C'est par le chef des démons qu'il expulse les démons» (Mt 9,34)—, la foule fut dans l'admiration: «Jamais rien de pareil ne s'est vu en Israël!» (Mt 9,33).

En commentant ce passage de l'Évangile, Saint Jean Chrysostome, nous dit: «Ce qui vraiment gênait les Pharisiens c'était de considérer Jésus supérieur à tous, et non pas seulement a ceux qui existaient à l'époque, mais à tous ceux qui avaient existé auparavant».

Or, Jésus ne se préoccupe guère de l'animadversion des Pharisiens, car Il continue fidèle à sa mission. Mieux encore, devant l'évidence que les guides d'Israël, au lieu de soigner et faire pâturer leur troupeau ne font que contribuer à l'égarer, à la vue des foules Jésus en eu pitié, car ces gens étaient las et prostrés comme des brebis qui n'ont pas de berger. 

Que les foules souhaitent et remercient un bon guide a été vérifié par les visites pastorales du Pape Jean Paul II à tant de pays du monde. Que de foules s'entassaient autour de lui! Et comment elles écoutaient ses paroles, surtout les jeunes! Et cela, malgré que le Pape n'affaiblissait pas l'Évangile, mais il le prêchait avec toutes ses exigences.

Nous tous, «si nous étions conséquents avec notre foi, —nous dit saint Josemarie Escrivá— en regardant autour de nous, en contemplant le spectacle de l'histoire et du monde, nous ressentirions en notre cœur ces sentiments de Jésus», ce qui nous mènerait à une généreuse tâche apostolique. 

Mais il est évident la disproportion existante entre les foules qui espèrent la prédication de la Bonne Nouvelle du Royaume et la manque d'ouvriers. La solution nous est donnée par Jésus à la fin de l'Évangile: «Priez donc le maître de la moisson d'envoyer des ouvriers pour sa moisson» (Mt 9,38).

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mt 9,18-26): 

Tandis que Jésus leur parlait ainsi, voilà qu'un chef s'approcha; il se prosternait devant lui en disant: «Ma fille est morte à l'instant; mais viens lui imposer la main, et elle vivra». Jésus se leva et se mit à le suivre, ainsi que ses disciples. Et voilà qu'une femme souffrant d'hémorragies depuis douze ans s'approcha par derrière et toucha la frange de son vêtement. Car elle se disait en elle-même: «Si je parviens seulement à toucher son vêtement, je serai sauvée». Jésus se retourna, la vit et lui dit: «Confiance, ma fille! Ta foi t'a sauvée». Et la femme fut sauvée à l'heure même. 

Jésus, arrivé à la maison du chef, dit, en voyant les joueurs de flûte et l'agitation de la foule: «Retirez-vous. La jeune fille n'est pas morte: elle dort». Mais on se moquait de lui. Quand il eut mis la foule dehors, il entra et saisit la main de la jeune fille, qui se leva. Et la nouvelle se répandit dans tout ce pays.

The application

Nous avons deux événements devant nous qui rentent témoignage à la foi. Dans cet évangile, devant la mort d’une jeune fille, le Père se trouve avec le Seigneur, un comportement inconnu et cette femme imagine d’une guérison simplement en touchant le vêtement du Seigneur. Devant la foi, le Seigneur nous assure que tout est possible. Dieu ne regarde pas nos actes, ou comment nous le faisons, mais le cœur et son intention. C’est pourquoi il nous le confirme par sa réponse à cette femme, « ta foi t’a sauvée. »

La foi est la source de toute espérance. Elle est capable de réveiller notre sommeille et de nous faire revivre. La grande différence d’entre d’un homme de foi et l’autre, c’est l’espérance et la persévérance.  Dans la bible nous avons beaucoup d’exemple de cette espérance et la persévérance.

Il faut observer aussi la manière dont le Seigneur vit au présent. Il a veillé non seulement tout ce qui se passe à l’intérieur, mais aussi à l’extérieur. L’acte de cette femme n’était pas inaperçu, au contraire le Seigneur met en lumière qui était invisible aux autres. Un homme de foi est capable de mettre en lumière, tout ce qui reste invisible aux hommes. Sommes-nous les hommes de foi ?

«Ta foi t'a sauvée»

Abbé Antoni CAROL i Hostench 
(Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, la liturgie de la Parole nous invite à admirer deux magnifiques manifestations de foi. Si magnifiques qu'elles méritèrent d'émouvoir le cœur de Jésus-Christ et de provoquer sa réponse immédiate. Le Seigneur ne se laisse pas gagner en générosité!

«Ma fille est morte à l'instant; mais viens lui imposer la main, et elle vivra» (Mt 9,18). Nous pourrions presque dire qu'une foi ferme “oblige” Dieu. Ce genre d'obligation est particulièrement de Son goût. L'autre témoignage de foi dans l'Évangile d'aujourd'hui est aussi impressionnant. «Si je parviens seulement à toucher son vêtement, je serai sauvée» (Mt 9,22).

L'on pourrait même dire que Dieu se laisse “manipuler” de bon gré par notre bonne foi. Ce qu'il n'admet pas, c'est que nous le tentions par manque de foi. Ce fut le cas de Zacharie, qui demanda une preuve à l'archange Gabriel: «Zacharie dit à l'ange: ‘A quoi connaîtrai-je cela?’» (Lc 1,18). L'archange ne recula pas d'un poil: «Moi je suis Gabriel, qui me tiens devant Dieu (…). Et voici que tu vas être réduit au silence et sans pouvoir parler jusqu'au jour où ces choses arriveront, parce que tu n'as pas cru à mes paroles, lesquelles s'accompliront en leur temps» (Lc 1,19-20). Et c'est ce qu'il advint.

C'est Lui-même qui veut “s'obliger” et “se lier” par notre foi: «Et moi je vous dis: demandez et vous recevrez, cherchez et vous trouverez, frappez et l'on vous ouvrira» (Lc 11,9). Il est notre Père et ne veut rien refuser de ce qui convient à ses enfants.

Mais il faut lui manifester nos demandes avec simplicité; la confiance et le naturel avec Dieu exigent de Le fréquenter: pour confier en quelqu'un nous devons le connaître; et pour le connaître, il faut le fréquenter. De la sorte, «la foi fait jaillir la prière, et la prière, dès qu'elle jaillit, atteint la fermeté de la foi» (Saint Augustin). N'oublions pas la louange que mérita sainte Marie: «Heureuse celle qui a cru à l'accomplissement des choses qui lui ont été dites de la part du Seigneur!» (Lc 1,45).

Gospel text

(Mt 9,18-26): 

While Jesus was speaking to them, an official of the synagogue came up to him, bowed before him and said, «My daughter has just died, but come and place your hands on her, and she will live». Jesus stood up and followed him with his disciples. Then a woman who had suffered from a severe bleeding for twelve years came up from behind and touched the edge of his cloak. For she thought, «If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed». Jesus turned, saw her and said, «Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you». And from that moment the woman was cured.

When Jesus arrived at the official's house and saw the flute players and the excited crowd, He said, «Get out of here! The girl is not dead. She is only sleeping!». And they laughed at him. But once the crowd had been turned out, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up. The news of this spread through the whole area.

The application

The faith is the source of all hope. This faith can push us to expect something extraordinary in an ordinary situation. Once the life is fully rooted in the faith, we can still march with hope even though there is no visible sign of any hope of advancing. Faith has this special quality of identifying even the lost means of hope, though remain invisible to our intelligence.

Both the father and this lady in today’s gospel had this hope, which pushed them to do something unimaginable.  They approached Jesus with the hope of new life. Jesus who long to give us this second chance of life, will certainly be happy to offer this to us. The question is, do we approach Jesus very often with the certitude of hope or chose to remain incredible. 

For our daily application i would propose to watch the way the Lord remained watchful of the small gesture of the lady, even in a busy day. He will be always watchful and we too should imitate this quality in our daily life. Why not start to be watchful and be present fully today itself?

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: 

Daughter, your faith has made you well, by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)

"So what did Messiah do? He did not let her go unnoticed but led her into the center of attention and made her visible. He had many reasons for doing this. Some might imagine that 'he did this merely for love of glory - otherwise why would he not allow her to remain concealed?' But what are they proposing who might say this? That he should keep her silent, that he should ignore her need, and thereby pass up miracles too numerous to mention, all because he is in love with glory? What an unholy thought, inspired by the most unholy one of all."

"What then is his intention in bringing her forward? First, Jesus puts an end to her fear. He does not want her to remain trapped in dread. He gives no cause for her conscience to be harmed, as if she had stolen the gift. Second, he corrects her assumption that she has no right to be seen. Third, he makes her faith an exhibit to all. He encourages the others to emulate her faith. Fourth, his subduing the fountains of her hemorrhage was another sign of his knowledge of all things. And finally, do you remember the ruler of the synagogue? He was at the point of despair, of utter ruin. Jesus is indirectly admonishing him by what he says to the woman." (excerpt from the  THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 31.2)

«Your faith has saved you»

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

Today, the liturgy of the Word invites us to admire two splendid manifestations of faith. So splendid were they that they deserved to move Jesus Christ's heart —immediately!— provoking his reaction. Our Lord does not allow himself to be won over in generosity!

«My daughter has just died, but come and place your hands on her, and she will live» (Mt 9:18). We could almost say that a strong faith as such can “oblige” God. But, He likes that kind of obligation. The other testimony of faith of today's Gospel is also equally impressive: «If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed» (Mt 9:21). Both Jesus' reaction and the end result of this dialogue of faith are quite radical: «Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you» (Mt 9:22).

We could even affirm that God gladly lets our good faith to “manipulate” him. What, instead, He does not admit is that we try to tempt him with our mistrust. This was the case with Zechariah, who asked evidence from Gabriel, the archangel: «Then Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this?’» (Lk 1:18). The Archangel did not shrink an inch: «And the angel said to him in reply, ‘I am Gabriel, who stand before God (...). But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time’» (Lk 1:19-20). And so it was.

It is He who wants to “oblige and commit himself” with our faith: «So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened» (Lk 11:9). He is our Father and He does not want to refuse anything that is convenient for his children.

But we must entrust our petitions to him with confidence; confidence and naturalness with God require treatment: to trust somebody we must know him; and to know him we must treat him. Thus, «faith provokes prayer, and when prayer arises it makes faith strong» (St. Augustine). Let us not forget the praise the Virgin Mary deserved: «Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!» (Lk 1:45).

Gospel text

(Mt 9,14-17): 

John's disciples came to Jesus and said, «How is it that we and the Pharisees fast on many occasions, but not your disciples?». Jesus answered them, «How can you expect wedding guests to mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? Time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, then they will fast. No one patches an old coat with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for the patch will shrink and tear an even bigger hole in the coat. Besides you don't put new wine in old wineskins. If you do, the wineskins will burst and the wine be spilt. No, you put new wine in fresh skins; then both are preserved».

The application

For me personally this gospel reading reminds me the quality of relationship that we are called to live. The slave and master relationship is to follow the tradition and all that the master demands. Many of us like to have such kind of relationship with the Father. God says and we do. If we look very deep into the teachings of Jesus, it is not this kind of relationship that Jesus desires for us. He reminds us that we are children of God and have to act like God’s children. We are called to immerge in this divine love and this love will pushes us to accomplish His will. We are not slaves, rather His beloved children. Thus, we are not expected to dance to the tune of the existing social norms, rather called to re-establish the Kingdom of God, make this world filled with divine love and mercy.

«Time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them»

Fr. Joaquim FORTUNY i Vizcarro 
(Cunit, Tarragona, Spain)

Today, we see how Jesus brought new times with him and a new doctrine, which He taught with authority; and we also realize how, as usual with new things, they clash with prevailing praxis and environment. Thus, in the pages preceding today's Gospel, we see Jesus forgiving the paralytic of his sins and healing his disease while the scribes are shocked; or, Jesus telling Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him, and eating with him and other publicans and sinners, while the Pharisees were “going up the walls”; and, in today's Gospel, John's disciples are the ones to approach Jesus, because they do not understand that He and his disciples do not fast.

Jesus, who never leaves anyone without an answer, replies: «How can you expect wedding guests to mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? Time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, then they will fast» (Mt 9:15). Fasting was, and still is, a penitential practice «which prepares us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart» (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2043) and requests the Divine Mercy. But in those moments, God's infinite mercy and love was amidst them with Jesus' presence, the Incarnated Verb. How could they fast? There was only one possible attitude: joy, while enjoying the presence of God made man. How could they fast when Jesus had discovered for them a new way to relate to God, a new spirit that was breaking all those old manners and customs?

Today Jesus is here: «And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age» (Mt 28:20), and He is not because He went back to his Father, and thus, we cry out: Come, O Lord Jesus!. 

We are living times of expectation. This is why it is convenient to renew ourselves every day with the new spirit of Jesus, to give up our old routines, to abstain from what may prevent us from advancing towards a full identification of Christ, towards sanctity. «Fair is our crying —our fasting— if we have a burning desire to see him» (St. Augustine).

We pray the Virgin Mother to grant us the grace we need to live the joy of knowing we are her beloved children.

Texte de l'Évangile (Mt 9,14-17): 

Les disciples de Jean Baptiste s'approchent de Jésus en disant: «Pourquoi tes disciples ne jeûnent-ils pas, alors que nous et les pharisiens nous jeûnons?». Jésus leur répondit: «Les invités de la noce pourraient-ils donc faire pénitence pendant le temps où l'Époux est avec eux? Mais un temps viendra où l'Époux leur sera enlevé, et alors ils jeûneront. Et personne ne coud une pièce d'étoffe neuve sur un vieux vêtement; car le morceau ajouté tire sur le vêtement et le déchire davantage. Et on ne met pas du vin nouveau dans de vieilles outres; autrement les outres éclatent, le vin se répand, et les outres sont perdues. Mais on met le vin nouveau dans des outres neuves, et le tout se conserve».

«Un temps viendra où l'Époux leur sera enlevé»

Abbé Joaquim FORTUNY i Vizcarro 
(Cunit, Tarragona, Espagne)

Gospel text

(Mt 9,9-13): 

As Jesus moved on from there, He saw a man named Matthew at his seat in the custom-house, and he said to him, «Follow me». And Matthew got up and followed him. Now it happened, while Jesus was at table in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and other sinners joined Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, «Why is it that your master eats with those sinners and tax collectors?». When Jesus heard this he said, «Healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do. Go and find out what this means: ‘What I want is mercy, not sacrifice’. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners».

The application

We all wish to be happy. As Christian, our happiness depends upon our capacity to identify the will of God and the way we engage to accomplish this will in our daily life. The more we engage and accomplish, the more we will be able to cherish the eternal happiness.

Certainly, we will be asked to empty something which are blocking us to cherish this happiness. For Mathew, it was his power and possession which were a stumbling block for this happiness. The moment he realised his call and responded positively to this call, he has already entered into this eternal happiness.

Many of us find difficult to do away or to empty ourselves, because we don’t know the mission and we fill ourselves with many good things which doesn’t serve us. It is here Jesus comes to help us to identify this mission by calling each and every one of us to follow him. Without identifying this mission, it is very difficult to follow Jesus and all the more to empty something good and pleasing to us.

In spite our weakness and sinfulness, if we dare to follow Jesus, we will certainly find Him filled with mercy and compassion. It is in this divine mercy that we are called to participate and make others to participate in this divine love. Just like Abraham, we should remain watchful that we don’t fall back to the old way of living.

«Follow me»

+ Fr. Pere CAMPANYÀ i Ribó 
(Barcelona, Spain)

Today, the Gospel speaks to us of a vocation, that of Matthew the publican. Jesus is preparing a small group of disciples that would continue his work of Salvation. And He chooses whom He wants: whether fishermen or from humble professions. He even calls to follow him, a tax collector, a highly abhorred role by the Jews —who considered themselves as perfect Law-abiding citizens—, because they saw it as tantamount to having a sinful life, as they collected taxes in the name of the roman governor, whom they did not want to submit to.

It suffices with Jesus beckoning him to his service: «Follow me» (Mt 9:9). A single word by the Master, and Matthew leaves his profession and, happily, invites him to his home to celebrate with a joyous dinner. It was only natural that Matthew had a group of good friends, of the same “professional guild”, to join him at his table. But, according to the Pharisees, all that kind of people were confirmed sinners publicly recognized as such.

The Pharisees could not therefore silence it and they comment with some of Jesus' disciples: «Why is it that your master eats with those sinners and tax collectors?» (Mt 9:10). Jesus' answer is immediate: «Healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do» (Mt 9:12). The comparison is perfect: «I did not come to call the righteous but sinners» (Mt 9:13).

These words of the Gospel are topical. Jesus keeps on inviting us to follow him, each one of us according to his condition and profession. And, more often than not, to follow Jesus means to leave behind some messy passions, or some poor family relationships, or just a waste of time, to allot some moments to prayer, to the Eucharist feast or to some missionary pastoral care. In other words «no Christian ought to think of him as his own master, for he is submitted to God's service» (St. Ignatius of Antioch).

Jesus is, indeed, asking me to change my life, so I wonder: which group do I belong to, to the perfect persons or to those who sincerely accept they can dramatically improve? For I can improve, can't I?

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mt 9,9-13): 

Jésus, sortant de Capharnaüm, vit un homme, du nom de Matthieu, assis à son bureau de publicain (collecteur d'impôts). Il lui dit: «Suis-moi». L'homme se leva et le suivit. Comme Jésus était à table à la maison, voici que beaucoup de publicains et de pécheurs vinrent prendre place avec lui et ses disciples. Voyant cela, les pharisiens disaient aux disciples: «Pourquoi votre maître mange-t-il avec les publicains et les pécheurs?». Jésus, qui avait entendu, déclara: «Ce ne sont pas les gens bien portants qui ont besoin du médecin, mais les malades. Allez apprendre ce que veut dire cette parole: C'est la miséricorde que je désire, et non les sacrifices. Car je suis venu appeler non pas les justes, mais les pécheurs».

L’application

Notre Seigneur n’est seulement le Seigneur des Seigneurs, mais aussi le Seigneur de miséricorde. Aujourd’hui Il nous invite à le suivre. Suivre le Seigneur, c’est d’être prêt de se libérer de tout ce qui nous enchaine. Autrement dire, accepter Jésus comme notre maître et modèle de vie.

Mathieu était capable de se libéré de son bureau, de sa richesse, de ses entourages, etc. Aujourd’hui le Seigneur ne nous demande pas tout cela, peut-être de notre incrédulité, de note égoïsme, d’individualise, etc. Comme Abraham, il faut veiller que nous n’y détournions pas.  

«Suis-moi»

+ Abbé Pere CAMPANYÀ i Ribó 
(Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, l'Évangile nous parle d'une vocation, celle du publicain Mathieu. Jésus prépare le petit groupe des disciples qui devront continuer sa mission de salut. Il prend ceux qu'Il veut: des pêcheurs ou des gens d'un métier humble. Ainsi Il appelle un publicain à le suivre, profession qui était mal vue par les juifs, qui se considéraient eux comme étant les parfaits témoins de la loi, et qui se disaient que cette profession se rapprochait un peu trop d'une vie de péché car ils percevaient les impôts au nom du gouverneur romain auquel ils ne voulaient pas se soumettre.

L'invitation de Jésus est suffisante: «Suis-moi» (Mt 9,9). Avec un seul mot du Maître, Mathieu abandonne sa profession et dans sa joie il l'invite chez lui pour un festin pour le remercier. Il va de soi que Mathieu avait de bons amis qui exerçaient le même métier que lui et qui étaient à ses cotés pour fêter cet événement. D'après les pharisiens, ils étaient tous des pécheurs reconnus par tout le monde comme tels.

Les pharisiens ne peuvent pas se taire et font des commentaires aux disciples: «Pourquoi votre maître mange-t-il avec les publicains et les pécheurs» (Mt 9,10). La réponse de Jésus ne se fait pas attendre: «Ce ne sont pas les gens bien portants qui ont besoin du médecin, mais les malades» (Mt 9,12). L'analogie est parfaite: «Je suis venu appeler non pas les justes, mais les pécheurs» (Mt 9,13).

Les paroles de cet Évangile sont toujours d'actualité. Jésus continue à nous inviter à le suivre, chacun selon sa condition et sa profession. Suivre Jésus, veut dire très souvent, abandonner nos passions désordonnées, nos mauvais comportements familiaux, le gaspillage du temps pour consacrer du temps à la prière, au banquet eucharistique, à l'évangélisation. Enfin, tout cela veut dire «qu'un chrétien n'est pas son propre maître, mais qu'il s'offre au service de Dieu» (Saint Ignace d'Antioche)

Certainement, Jésus me demande des changements dans ma vie, et je me demande à quel groupe de personnes j'appartiens, à ceux qui se sentent parfaits ou bien à ceux qui se reconnaissent sincèrement comme étant imparfaits? Je peux vraiment m'améliorer, n'est-ce pas?

Gospel text (Mt 9,1-8): 

Jesus got back into the boat, crossed the lake again, and came to his hometown. Here they brought a paralyzed man to him, lying on a bed. Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralytic, «Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven». Then some teachers of the Law said to themselves, «This man insults God». Jesus was aware of what they were thinking, and said, «Why have you such evil thoughts? Which is easier to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? You must know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins». He then said to the paralyzed man, «Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home». The man got up, and went home. When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and praised God for giving such power to human beings.

«Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home»

Fr. Francesc NICOLAU i Pous 
(Barcelona, Spain)

Today, we find one of the many evangelic manifestations evidencing the merciful goodness of the Lord. They all show many aspects, rich in details. Jesus' compassion, mercifully exerted, goes from resurrecting the dead or healing a leper to forgive a public woman sinner and going through the healing of many ailments and acceptance of repented sinners. The latter can also be found in parables, as the lost sheep, the lost drachma or the prodigal son.

Today's Gospel is another instance of the Saviour's mercy, in two different aspects at the same time: the illness of the body and the sickness of the soul. And, the soul being more important Jesus starts with it. He knows the sick man has repented of his faults, He sees his faith and that of those bringing him, and says: «Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven» (Mt 9:2).

Why does He start like this without his having been asked to do so? He is, of course, aware of what the paralytic is thinking and He knows this is what he will appreciate the most, for when facing the sanctity of Jesus, the paralytic might feel confused and ashamed of his own faults and scared that they may hamper his healing. So the Lord wants to calm him first. Jesus does not care whether some teachers of the law murmur in their hearts. Not only, but a part of his message is to prove He has come to show his mercy towards sinners, and He now proclaims it.

And so, it happens that, while those blinded by their pride, think of themselves as if they were the only just ones and cannot accept Jesus' claim, those that sincerely consider themselves as sinners, do take Him in. It is towards those God condescends to forgive them. As St. Augustine says: «Great misery is a proud man, but a humble God's mercy is even greater». And, in this case, the divine mercy goes even further: as an additional complement of his forgiveness He heals the paralytic too: «Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home» (Mt 9:6). Jesus wants the sinner's joy to be complete.

We must reaffirm our confidence in him. But, we should remember we are also sinners, so let us not close ourselves to his Grace.

Gospel text (Mt 9,1-8): 

Jesus got back into the boat, crossed the lake again, and came to his hometown. Here they brought a paralyzed man to him, lying on a bed. Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralytic, «Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven». Then some teachers of the Law said to themselves, «This man insults God». Jesus was aware of what they were thinking, and said, «Why have you such evil thoughts? Which is easier to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? You must know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins». He then said to the paralyzed man, «Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home». The man got up, and went home. When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and praised God for giving such power to human beings.

«Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home»

Fr. Francesc NICOLAU i Pous 
(Barcelona, Spain)

Today, we find one of the many evangelic manifestations evidencing the merciful goodness of the Lord. They all show many aspects, rich in details. Jesus' compassion, mercifully exerted, goes from resurrecting the dead or healing a leper to forgive a public woman sinner and going through the healing of many ailments and acceptance of repented sinners. The latter can also be found in parables, as the lost sheep, the lost drachma or the prodigal son.

Today's Gospel is another instance of the Saviour's mercy, in two different aspects at the same time: the illness of the body and the sickness of the soul. And, the soul being more important Jesus starts with it. He knows the sick man has repented of his faults, He sees his faith and that of those bringing him, and says: «Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven» (Mt 9:2).

Why does He start like this without his having been asked to do so? He is, of course, aware of what the paralytic is thinking and He knows this is what he will appreciate the most, for when facing the sanctity of Jesus, the paralytic might feel confused and ashamed of his own faults and scared that they may hamper his healing. So the Lord wants to calm him first. Jesus does not care whether some teachers of the law murmur in their hearts. Not only, but a part of his message is to prove He has come to show his mercy towards sinners, and He now proclaims it.

And so, it happens that, while those blinded by their pride, think of themselves as if they were the only just ones and cannot accept Jesus' claim, those that sincerely consider themselves as sinners, do take Him in. It is towards those God condescends to forgive them. As St. Augustine says: «Great misery is a proud man, but a humble God's mercy is even greater». And, in this case, the divine mercy goes even further: as an additional complement of his forgiveness He heals the paralytic too: «Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home» (Mt 9:6). Jesus wants the sinner's joy to be complete.

We must reaffirm our confidence in him. But, we should remember we are also sinners, so let us not close ourselves to his Grace.

Gospel text

(Mt 8,28-34): 

When Jesus reached Gadara on the other side, He was met by two demoniacs who came out from the tombs. They were so fierce that no one dared to pass that way. Suddenly they shouted, «What do you want with us, you, Son of God? Have you come to torture us before the time?». At some distance away there was a large herd of pigs feeding. So the demons begged him, «If you drive us out, send us into that herd of pigs». Jesus ordered them, «Go». So they left and went into the pigs. The whole herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and drowned. The men in charge of them ran off to the town, where they told the whole story, also what had happened to the men possessed with the demons. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their area.

The application

Every divine encounter is basically for the salvation. It may be especially for the one who receives or for the other through this individual. To profit from this divine encounter, we should receive this gift gracefully.

The divine presence removes all kinds of darkness in our lives, including sin and all the works of the author of darkness. It is here that we are called to be vigilant and conscious. Devil can put into our heart evil thoughts in the name of good. In today’s gospel, we find explicitly the work of devil in the request of the people of this village.

In our discernment, we should be aware and ready to lose something for a greater glory of God and for our own goodness.  If we don’t learn to empty ourselves, God can’t fill it without our will. In this story there is another inside story of incarnation. God listens to all and wishes that all be saved. He gives this wonderful opportunity to be converted and to be saved, to all, even to the worst sinner.

«They begged him to leave their area»

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

Today, we are given to contemplate a sad contrast. “Contrast” because we admire the power and divine majesty of Jesus Christ, whom the demons submit voluntarily to (a signal that the Kingdom of the Heavens has reached us). But, at the same time, we deplore the narrowness and stinginess which the human heart is capable of, when refusing the bearer of Good News: «The whole town went out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their area» (Mt 8:34). And “sad” because «He himself, who is the true light (...) came to his own, and his own did not receive him» (Jn 1:9-11).

More contrast and more confusion when we pay attention to the fact that man is free and this freedom has the “power to halt” God's infinite power. Or we can put it another way: the infinite divine powers reach as far as our “powerful” freedom allows it. And this is so because God mainly loves us with a Father's love. As a Father, we should not be surprised that He is so respectful of our freedom: He does not impose his love upon us, He just proposes it to us.

God, with infinite wisdom and goodness, providentially rules the Universe while respecting our freedom; even when this freedom turns its back on him and does not want to accept his will. Contrary to what it may seem, He does not let the world out of his hands: God always brings everything to a good conclusion, despite all hindrances we can raise against him. In fact, these hindrances are, first of all, turning against us.

However, we can affirm, «in the face of human freedom God has wanted to become “impotent”. And it can be said God pays for the great gift [our freedom] given to a being created in his image and likeness [man]» (John Paul II). God pays!: if we throw him out, He obeys and goes away. He pays, but we lose. On the other hand, we do well when we respond like the Virgin Mary: «I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said» (Lk 1:38).