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

Gospel text (Mc 12,35-37): 

As Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he said, «The teachers of the Law say that the Messiah is the son of David. How can that be? For David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit declared: ‘The Lord said to my Lord: sit at my right until I put your enemies under your feet’. If David himself calls him Lord, in what way can he be his son?». Many people came to Jesus and listened to him gladly.

«David himself calls him [the Messiah] Lord»

Fr. Josep LAPLANA OSB Monk of Montserrat 
(Montserrat, Barcelona, Spain)

Gospel text

(Mc 12,28-34):

One of the scribes came up to Jesus and put a question to him, «Which commandment is the first of all?». Jesus answered, «The first is: ‘Hear, Israel! The Lord, our God, is One Lord; and you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength’. And after this comes another one: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’. There is no commandment greater than these two».

The teacher of the Law said to him, «Well spoken, Master; you are right when you say that he is one and there is no other. To love him with all our heart, with all our understanding and with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves is more important than any burnt offering or sacrifice».

Jesus approved this answer and said, «You are not far from the kingdom of God». But after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

The application

We all love each other in our own way and in our contemporary world this word is very much vulgarised that we use it for everything, to person to animal to food and practically to everything under the earth. I would like to share with you all my philosophy of ‘love’ and it may help you to translate this love in act.

We all say that God is love and love is an act. Let us see how God loves us and how this love is an act.

It all begins with a simple feeling or a sensation or an emotion with a desire to have closeness to the other, which bridges the two ends and a proximity is created. In God, by the incarnation Jesus is very close to the humanity and through the Holy Spirit God lives in each and every one of us. When we say that God is love, we mean that He is close to us and we are close to Him.

In this proximity we see and know the other person. God is so close to us that He see everything happening in us and thus He knows as we are.

In this knowing He accepts us and allows us to know Him. Once we know God as He is, we allow Him to enter into us and He starts to live us and we become aware of this presence. It is here we engage and try to do the will of God. Thus our love for God is doing His will in our lives and this love is an act.

We have to verify according this philosophy, do we really love God? And without loving Him we can’t love another person, still difficult to love ourselves, because God lives in us.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers:

Love God with one's whole self, by Gregory of Nyssa, 330-395 AD

"Human life consists in a threefold unity. We are taught similarly by the apostle in what he says to the Ephesians, praying for them that the complete grace of their 'body and soul and spirit' may be preserved at the coming of the Lord. We use the word 'body,' for the nutritive part, the word for the vital, 'soul,' and the word 'spirit' for the intellective dimension. In just this way the Lord instructs the writer of the Gospel that he should set before every commandment that love to God which is exercised with all the heart and soul and mind (Mark 12:30; Matthew 22:37; Luke 10:27). This single phrase embraces the human whole: the corporeal heart, the mind as the higher intellectual and mental nature, and the soul as their mediator." (excerpt from ON THE MAKING OF MAN 8.5.10)

«There is no commandment greater than these two»

Fr, Rodolf PUIGDOLLERS i Noblom SchP
(La Roca del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, in Mark's Gospel, we see how one of the scribes asks Jesus: «Which commandment is the first of all?» (Mk 12:28). The question is somewhat cunning. In the first place, because he is trying to establish some sort of ranking amongst the different commandments; and, secondly, because his question is centered in the Law. This is logical, bearing in mind that the question comes from a master of the Law.

The Lord's answer takes to pieces the spirituality of that «master of the Law» And the attitude of the disciple of Jesus with respect to God can be summed up in two points: «You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart» (Mk 12:30) and «You shall love your neighbor as yourself» (Mk 12:31). The religious behavior is defined in his relationship with God and with his neighbor; and the human behavior, in his relationship with the others and with God. St. Augustine says the same with other words: «Love God, and do whatever you please». Love God and love the others, and all the rest will just be a consequence of this plenitude of love.

The teacher of the Law understands it perfectly well. And he adds that to love God with all one’s heart, and one’s neighbor as oneself, «is more important than any burnt offering and sacrifice» (Mk 12:33). God is awaiting our reply, our total deliverance, «with all our heart, with all our understanding and with all our strength» (Mk 12:30), for God means Truth, Goodness, and generous dedication to others. «Offerings and sacrifices» have a meaning only insofar they will be the true expression of this double love. And to think that, at times, we use the “little commandments” and «the offerings and sacrifices» as stumbling-block to criticize or wound others!

Jesus approves the reply of the master of the Law with «You are not far from the kingdom of God» (Mk 12:34). For Jesus, whoever loves his neighbor over everything else is not far from God.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mc 12,28-34):

Un scribe qui avait entendu la discussion, et remarqué que Jésus avait bien répondu, s'avança pour lui demander: «Quel est le premier de tous les commandements?». Jésus lui fit cette réponse: «Voici le premier: ‘Écoute, Israël: le Seigneur notre Dieu est l'unique Seigneur. Tu aimeras le Seigneur ton Dieu de tout ton coeur, de toute ton âme, de tout ton esprit et de toute ta force. Voici le second: Tu aimeras ton prochain comme toi-même’. Il n'y a pas de commandement plus grand que ceux-là».

Le scribe reprit: «Fort bien, Maître, tu as raison de dire que Dieu est l'Unique et qu'il n'y en a pas d'autre que lui. L'aimer de tout son coeur, de toute son intelligence, de toute sa force, et aimer son prochain comme soi-même, vaut mieux que toutes les offrandes et tous les sacrifices».

Jésus, voyant qu'il avait fait une remarque judicieuse, lui dit: «Tu n'es pas loin du royaume de Dieu». Et personne n'osait plus l'interroger.

L’application

L’amour est un acte qui rend visible tout ce qui était invisible dans la relation interpersonnelle d’entre deux personnes. Regardons comment l’amour est un acte en Dieu et découvrons dans cet acte, comment Il nous aime. Voilà une philosophie de Terry, sur l’amour comme un acte.

Il y a une proximité, (Dieu est avec nous),

il y a un sentiment ou feeling, (Dieu souffre avec nous),

il y a une ouverture de soi et une connaissance de l’autre sans jugement (Dieu nous connait)

je laisse l’autre personne de me connaitre et je le laisse de m’accepter tel que je suis, (Dieu se révèle et il nous laisse à le découvrir et Il nous accepte tels que nous sommes).

C’est dans cette connaissance je me donne (Dieu se donne en Jésus Christ).

Voilà le parcours d’un acte d’amour.

Lorsque nous disons que nous aimons Dieu, il faut appliquer cette philosophie d’amour et vérifier nous-mêmes la profondeur de notre amour.

«Il n'y a pas de commandement plus grand que ceux-là»

Abbé Rodolf PUIGDOLLERS i Noblom SchP
(La Roca del Vallès, Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, un maître de la Loi demande à Jésus: «Quel est le premier de tous les commandements?» (Mc 12,28). La question est captieuse. Premièrement parce qu'elle tente d'établir un ordre parmi les divers commandements; et deuxièmement parce que sa question se centre dans la Loi. Il est clair qu'il s'agit de la question d'un maître de la Loi.

La réponse du Seigneur démontre la spiritualité de ce «maître de la Loi». L'attitude du disciple de Jésus-Christ par rapport à Dieu se résume en deux dimensions: «Tu aimeras le Seigneur ton Dieu de tout ton coeur» et «tu aimeras ton prochain comme toi-même» (Mc 12,31). Le comportement religieux est défini dans sa relation avec Dieu et avec le prochain; et le comportement humain, dans sa relation avec les autres et avec Dieu. Saint Augustin le dit en autres mots: «Aime et fait tout ce que tu veux». Aime Dieux et les autres, et le reste sera conséquence de cet amour en plénitude.

Le maître de la Loi comprend parfaitement. Et il affirme qu'aimer Dieu de tout son cœur et les autres comme soi-même «vaut mieux que toutes les offrandes et tous les sacrifices» (Mc 12,33). Dieu attend la réponse de chaque personne, le don de soi-même «de tout ton coeur, de toute ton âme, de tout ton esprit et de toute ta force» (Mc 12,30) à Lui, qui est Vérité et Bonté, et le don généreux de soi-même aux autres. Les «sacrifices et les offrandes» n'ont du sens que dans la mesure où ils sont l'expression véridique de ce double amour. Et lorsqu'on pense que quelques fois nous utilisons les «petits commandements» et «les offrandes et les sacrifices» comme une pierre pour critiquer ou blesser les autres!

Jésus complète la réponse du maître de la Loi en lui disant «tu n'es pas loin du royaume de Dieu» (Mc 12,34). Pour Jésus-Christ, quiconque aime son prochain au dessus de toute chose n'est pas loin du royaume de Dieu.

Gospel text (Mc 12,18-27): 

The Sadducees came to Jesus. Since they claim that there is no resurrection, they questioned him in this way, «Master, in the Scriptures Moses gave us this law: ‘If anyone dies and leaves a wife but no children, his brother must take the wife and give her a child who will be considered the child of his deceased brother’. Now, there were seven brothers. The first married a wife, but he died without leaving any children. The second took the wife and he, too, died leaving no children. The same thing happened to the third. Finally the seven died leaving no children. Last of all the woman died. Now, in the resurrection, to which of them will she be wife? For the seven had her as wife».

Jesus replied, «You could be wrong in this regard because you understand neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. When they rise from the dead, men and women do not marry but are like the angels in heaven. Now, about the resurrection of the dead, have you never reflected on the chapter of the burning bush in the book of Moses? God said to him: ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob’. Now, He is the God, not of the dead but of the living. You are totally wrong».

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: 

No marriage in the resurrection, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"What did the Lord say to the Sadducees? He said, 'You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures or the power of God. For in the resurrection they marry neither husbands nor wives; for neither do they start dying again, but they will be equal to the angels of God' (Mark 12:24-25; Matthew 22:29-30). The power of God is great. Why do they not marry husbands or wives? They will not start dying again. When one generation departs, another is required to succeed it. There will not be such liability to decay in that place. The Lord passed through the usual stages of growth, from infancy to adult manhood, because he was bearing the substance of flesh that still was mortal. After he had risen again at the age at which he was buried, are we to imagine that he is growing old in heaven? He says, 'They will be equal to the angels of God.' He eliminated the assumption of the Jews and refuted the objection of the Sadducees, because the Jews did indeed believe the dead would rise again, but they had crude, fleshly ideas about the state of humanity after resurrection. He said, 'They will be equal to the angels of God.' ... It has already been stated that we are to rise again. We have heard from the Lord that we rise again to the life of the angels. In his own resurrection, he has shown us in what specific form we are to rise again." (excerpt from SERMON 362.18–19.30)

«He is the God, not of the dead but of the living»

Fr. Federico Elías ALCAMÁN Riffo 
(Puchuncaví - Valparaíso, Chile)

Texte de l'Évangile (Mc 12,18-27):

Des sadducéens -ceux qui affirment qu'il n'y a pas de résurrection- viennent trouver Jésus, et ils l'interrogeaient: «Maître, Moïse nous a donné cette loi: Si un homme a un frère qui meurt en laissant une femme, mais aucun enfant, qu'il épouse la veuve pour donner une descendance à son frère. Il y avait sept frères; le premier se maria, et mourut sans laisser de descendance. Le deuxième épousa la veuve, et mourut sans laisser de descendance. Le troisième pareillement. Et aucun des sept ne laissa de descendance. Et finalement, la femme mourut aussi. A la résurrection, quand ils ressusciteront, de qui sera-t-elle l'épouse, puisque les sept l'ont eue pour femme?».

Jésus leur dit: «N'êtes-vous pas dans l'erreur, en méconnaissant les Écritures, et la puissance de Dieu? Lorsqu'on ressuscite d'entre les morts, on ne se marie pas, mais on est comme les anges dans les cieux. Quant à dire que les morts doivent ressusciter, n'avez-vous pas lu dans le livre de Moïse, au récit du buisson ardent, comment Dieu lui a dit: Moi, je suis le Dieu d'Abraham, le Dieu d'Isaac, le Dieu de Jacob? Il n'est pas le Dieu des morts, mais des vivants. Vous êtes complètement dans l'erreur».

«Il n'est pas le Dieu des morts, mais des vivants»

Abbé Federico Elías ALCAMÁN Riffo
(Puchuncaví - Valparaíso, Chili)

Aujourd'hui, la Sainte Eglise, par le biais de la parole du Christ, nous met face à la réalité de la résurrection ainsi qu'aux propriétés des corps ressuscités. En effet, l'Évangile nous raconte la rencontre de Jésus avec les saducéens, qui ne croyaient pas à la résurrection et qui en évoquant l'hypothèse d'un fait très recherché, lui exposent un problème concernant la résurrection des morts.

Ils font allusion à une femme veuve sept fois de suite, et lui demandent «de qui sera-t-elle l'épouse, puisque les sept l'ont eue pour femme?» (Mc 12,23). Ils cherchent ainsi à mettre Jésus et sa doctrine dans l'embarras. Mais le Seigneur rejette cette notion en leur disant que «Lorsqu'on ressuscite d'entre les morts, on ne se marie pas, mais on est comme les anges dans les cieux» (Mc 12,25).

Et saisissant l'occasion Jésus confirme l'existence de la résurrection en leur citant les paroles de Dieu à Moïse dans le récit du buisson ardent: «Moi, je suis le Dieu d'Abraham, le Dieu d'Isaac, le Dieu de Jacob», et ajoute «Il n'est pas le Dieu des morts, mais des vivants» (Mc 12,26-27). Là Jésus leur reproche leur erreur, car ils ne comprennent ni les écritures ni la puissance divine, en effet, cette vérité avait été révélée dans l'ancien testament: les anciens Isaïe, la mère des Macabées, Job et les autres anciens l'avaient déjà enseignée.

Saint Augustin décrivait ainsi la vie d'éternelle et amoureuse communion: «Là-bas tu ne seras ni limité ni réduit car tu posséderas tout, tu auras tout et ton prochain aura tout également, car toi et lui ne serez qu'un, et ce tout unique aura aussi Celui à qui vous appartenez tous les deux».

Nous, loin de douter de la parole des écritures et de la puissance miséricordieuse de Dieu, nous adhérons à cette vérité d'espérance avec tous nos esprits et nos cœurs, nous sommes heureux de ne pas rester frustrés par notre soif de vie entière et éternelle, de dont nous sommes assurés en Dieu lui-même, dans sa gloire et dans sa joie. Face à cette invitation divine il ne nous reste qu'à faire accroître notre désir de voir Dieu, et espérer vivement d'être avec Lui pour régner avec Lui éternellement.

Gospel text

(Mc 12,13-17):

Jewish leaders sent to Jesus some Pharisees with members of Herod's party, with the purpose of trapping him in his own words. They came and said to Jesus, «Master, we know that you are true; you are not influenced by any-one, and your answers do not vary according to who is listening to you, but you truly teach God's way. Tell us, is it against the Law to pay taxes to Caesar? Should we pay them or not?».

But Jesus saw through their trick and answered, «Why are you testing me? Bring me a silver coin and let me see it». They brought him one and Jesus asked, «Whose head is this, and whose name?». They answered, «Caesar's». Then Jesus said, «Return to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's». And they were greatly astonished.

The application

The gospel reading is very difficult to apply in our daily lives, because we don’t have such deep wisdom and the capacity of discernment. Jesus was able to discern their mentality and answers rightly to the intentions behind than the questions posed. It is important in our own relationship, not to jump to give answer, before analysing the intentions behind such question. It is equally right and agreeable in a complicated situation, to return the question to the author of the question, than trying to respond with affirmation or negation.

For our spiritual nourishment, Jesus affirms that the image can be a visible sign of the invisible reality. Since God has created us in His image, we should identify this image in our interpersonal relationship. Once we realise this invisible image of God, we will never sin.

The third affirmation is the ownership of the worldly and material things. Everything belongs to God, including Caesar. The more we remind ourselves of this truth, we will be very sensitive to the needs of others and will become less possessive. Have a wonderful day.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers:

Put off the earthly image and put on the heavenly one, by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)

"Some people think that the Savior spoke on a single level when he said, 'Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar' - that is, 'pay the tax that you owe.' Who among us disagrees about paying taxes to Caesar? The passage therefore has a mystical and secret meaning. There are two images in humanity. One he received from God when he was made, in the beginning, as Scripture says in the book of Genesis, 'according to the image and likeness of God' (Genesis 1:27). The other image is of the earth (1 Corinthians 15:49). Man received this second image later. He was expelled from Paradise because of disobedience and sin after the 'prince of this world' (John 12:31) had tempted him with his enticements. Just as the coin, or denarius, has an image of the emperor of this world, so he who does the works of 'the ruler of the darkness' (Ephesians 6:12) bears the image of him whose works he does. Jesus commanded that that image should be handed over and thrown away from our face. He wills us to take on that image, according to which we were made from the beginning, according to God's likeness. It then happens that we give 'to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what is God's.' Jesus said, 'Show me a coin.' For 'coin,' Matthew wrote 'denarius' ( Matthew 22:19). When Jesus had taken it, he said, 'Whose inscription does it have?' They answered and said, 'Caesar's.' And he said to them in turn, 'Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.'" (excerpt from HOMILY ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 39.4-6)

«Return to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's»

Fr. Manuel SÁNCHEZ Sánchez
(Sevilla, Spain)

Today, we marvel again at Christ's wit and wisdom. With his masterly response, He directly points out to the fair autonomy of the worldly realities: «Return to Caesar what is Caesar's» (Mk 12:17).

Today's Word, however, is something more than knowing how to successfully get out of a conflict; it is something utterly relevant to all aspects of our life: what am I giving God?; is it really what I prize more in my life? Where did I place my heart? Because... «where your treasure is, there will your heart be also» (Lk 12:34).

Yes, indeed, according to St. Jerome, «you must necessarily render unto Caesar the coin in his image; but you willingly give your best to God, because it is his image, not Caesar's, that is on us». Throughout his life, Jesus Christ constantly poses the matter of choice. It is up to us to choose, and our options are clear: either we choose the worldly values to live by or we decide to live by the Gospel's values.

It is always a time for choice before us, a time for conversion, a time to “replace” our life again in the dynamics of God. Our prayer, and specially the prayer made by God's Word, will gradually be discovering us what God expects of us. He who opts for God becomes God's dwelling place, for «if a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him» (Jn 14:23). And prayer becomes the true school where, as Tertulian says, «Christ teaches us which was the Father's purpose which He was carrying out in this world, and what a man's ethical behavior should be so that it is in agreement with this very purpose». If only we would succeed in choosing the right way that suits us!

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mc 12,13-17):

On envoya à Jésus des pharisiens et des hérodiens pour le prendre au piège en le faisant parler, et ceux-ci viennent lui dire: «Maître, nous le savons: tu es toujours vrai; tu ne te laisses influencer par personne, car tu ne fais pas de différence entre les gens, mais tu enseignes le vrai chemin de Dieu. Est-il permis, oui ou non, de payer l'impôt à l'empereur? Devons-nous payer, oui ou non?». Mais lui, sachant leur hypocrisie, leur dit: «Pourquoi voulez-vous me mettre à l'épreuve? Faites-moi voir une pièce d'argent». Ils le firent, et Jésus leur dit: «Cette effigie et cette légende, de qui sont-elles?». «De l'empereur César», répondent-ils. Jésus leur dit: «A César, rendez ce qui est à César, et à Dieu, ce qui est à Dieu». Et ils étaient remplis d'étonnement à son sujet».

L’application

Comment appliquer cet évangile dans notre vie quotidienne ? Nous tous aimerions avoir la même sagesse divine par laquelle le Seigneur a répondu. Comment pouvons-nous avoir la même sagesse ? La sagesse est un don de l’Esprit Saint. Nous ne pouvons que supplier au Seigneur.

En écoutant la réponse du Seigneur, nous apprendrons à ne pas répondre à leur question. Il faut savoir retourner la question vers l’autres et demander leur à nous répondre. La réponse peut être une simple interrogation. Qui nous a dit que notre réponse doit être toujours affirmative ou négative ?

Troisièmes, Jésus nous affirme que tout est appartient au Seigneur, y compris le gouverneur ou l’empereur.  Très souvent, nous ne comprenons pas cette vérité de la vie. C’est pourquoi certains d’entre nous trouvent difficile de partager. S’il y a une règle, juste, accepté et commune, il faut la respecter, voilà la proposition divine.

«A César, rendez ce qui est à César, et à Dieu, ce qui est à Dieu»

Abbé Manuel SÁNCHEZ Sánchez
(Sevilla, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, nous nous émerveillons à nouveau de l'ingéniosité et de l'initiative du Christ. Avec sa réponse magistrale, Il souligne directement la juste autonomie des réalités temporelles: «A César, rendez ce qui est à César» (Mc 12,17).

Mais, aujourd'hui, la Parole n'a pas seulement pour objet de se tirer d'embarras; elle agite une question d'actualité pour tous les moments de notre existence: qu'est ce que je suis en train de donner à Jésus? Est-ce réellement le plus important de ma vie? Dans quoi ai-je mis mon cœur? Parce que... «Là où est votre trésor, là aussi sera votre cœur» (Lc 12,34).

En effet, d'après saint Jérôme, «vous devez forcement rendre à César la monnaie où son image est gravée; mais livrez avec plaisir votre être tout entier à Dieu, parce que c'est son image qui est gravée en nous et non celle de César». Tout au long de sa vie, Jésus-Christ présente constamment des choix. C'est à nous de choisir et les termes de l'option sont très clairs: vivre selon les valeurs de notre monde, ou, ou contraire, vivre selon les valeurs de l'Évangile.

Il est toujours temps de choisir, de se convertir, temps de “mettre à nouveau” notre vie dans la dynamique de Dieu. Ce sera la prière, très spécialement celle que nous faisons avec la Parole de Dieu, qui nous montrera ce que Dieu nous demande. Celui qui sait choisir Dieu devient la demeure de Dieu, car «Si quelqu'un m'aime, il restera fidèle à ma parole; mon Père l'aimera, nous viendrons chez lui, nous irons demeurer auprès de lui» (Jn 14,23). C'est la prière qui devient l'authentique école où, comme Tertullien l'affirme, «le Christ nous apprend quel est le dessein du Père qu'Il réalise dans le monde, et quel est le comportement de l'homme, afin qu'il se conforme à ce même dessein». Sachons, donc, choisir ce qui nous convient le mieux!

Gospel text (Mc 12,1-12): 

Jesus began to speak to the chief priests, the scribes and the elders in parables. «A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press and built a watch tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenants and went abroad. 

»In due time he sent a servant to receive from the tenants his share of the fruit. But they seized the servant, struck him and sent him back empty-handed. Again the man sent another servant. They also struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. He sent another and they killed him. In the same way they treated many others; some they struck and others they killed. One was still left, his beloved son. And so, last of all, he sent him to the tenants, for he said: ‘They will respect my son’. But those tenants said to one another: ‘This is the one who is to inherit the vineyard. Let's kill him and the property will be ours’. So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. 

»Now, what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others». And Jesus added, «Have you not read this text of the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the keystone. This was the Lord's doing; and we marvel at it’».

They wanted to arrest him for they realized that Jesus meant this parable for them, but they were afraid of the crowd. So they left him and went away.

«Sent a servant to receive from the tenants his share of the fruit»

Fr. Alphonse DIAZ 
(Nairobi, Kenya)

Texte de l'Évangile (Mc 12,1-12): 

Jésus se mit à leur parler en paraboles : «Un homme planta une vigne, il l'entoura d'une clôture, y creusa un pressoir et y bâtit une tour de garde. Puis il la donna en fermage à des vignerons, et partit en voyage. 

»Le moment venu, il envoya son serviteur auprès des vignerons pour se faire remettre par ceux-ci ce qui lui revenait du produit de la vigne. Mais les vignerons se saisirent du serviteur, le frappèrent, et le renvoyèrent sans rien lui donner. De nouveau, il leur envoya un autre serviteur; et celui-là, ils l'assommèrent et l'insultèrent. Il en envoya encore un autre, et celui-là, ils le tuèrent; puis beaucoup d'autres serviteurs: ils frappèrent les uns et tuèrent les autres. Il lui restait encore quelqu'un: son fils bien-aimé. Il l'envoya vers eux en dernier. Il se disait: ‘Ils respecteront mon fils’. Mais ces vignerons-là se dirent entre eux: ‘Voici l'héritier: allons-y! tuons-le, et l'héritage va être à nous!’. Ils se saisirent de lui, le tuèrent, et le jetèrent hors de la vigne. 

»Que fera le maître de la vigne? Il viendra, fera périr les vignerons, et donnera la vigne à d'autres. N'avez-vous pas lu ce passage de l'Écriture? La pierre qu'ont rejetée les bâtisseurs est devenue la pierre angulaire. C'est là l'oeuvre du Seigneur, une merveille sous nos yeux!». 

Les chefs des Juifs cherchaient à arrêter Jésus, mais ils eurent peur de la foule. (Ils avaient bien compris que c'était pour eux qu'il avait dit cette parabole.) Ils le laissèrent donc et s'en allèrent.

«Il envoya son serviteur auprès des vignerons pour se faire remettre par ceux-ci ce qui lui revenait du produit de la vigne»

Abbé Alphonse DIAZ 
(Nairobi, Kenya)

The feast of Pentecost brings us towards the disciples of the Lord in the upper house,  with Mary who accompanies them in prayer and contemplation. All were in the true contemplation of the resurrection and the fear did block them inside. The fire of heaven has taken away this darkness and illuminated them with divine wisdom, filled with courage and strength to address all the people of Jerusalem. All have understood in their mother tongue and this fire has unified the people of Babel, accepting the diversity of te society, inviting us to discover in this diversity, the unity of the people of God.

The Gospel tells us, "He poured out his breath on them and he said to them," Receive the Holy Spirit. "Biblically it is not the first time that God is breathing his Spirit to men. By blowing again, Jesus shows us a new creation, a new man, by the power of the Spirit from the risen Christ. A new world begins and a new Israel is inaugurated by the mission of its disciples in the world.

Turning the pages of our newspapers, we have the bad news, coming from London, with several attacks that sow panic not only in this country, but in Europe and the world as a whole. The situations in African countries are worrying. Disarray in everyday life, difficulties, persecution in our Christian life, division and violence in our society, may discourage us, yet for all those who believe in Jesus Christ, these difficult moments are capable to become a moment of grace. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were gathered together in prayer. We are called to live our lives together, in prayer, contemplation and also in action. It is a sign of unity and friendship.

The gospel of the day brings the Peace of Christ to the disciples. I would like to remind you of the movements and people who are constantly working for peace and reconciliation. On this Pentecost day, we will be keen to invite our Christian communities to join these initiatives. May the Spirit of Pentecost support the efforts of the "friends of peace."

In rereading the gospel of the day we learn that there is a mission, "I send you" but not alone, accompanied by the Holy Spirit. What is this mission? Forgiveness of sin and especially 'reconciliation'. The young people of our parishes will receive these days  the sacrament of confirmation. Let us pray that they keep this word of the Lord in their hearts. "God sent his only begotten Son, not to judge us, but by Him that the world be saved. "

The Holy Spirit purifies and renews the heart of man. Pentecost is a feast of the Covenant with this new people of God, the Church of God, where God renews the face of the earth. The Church is universal with the diversity of languages, cultures and peoples, yet it is one people. Jesus is his head and we are members of this body of Christ. This Church is on mission, sent by Jesus into this world to proclaim the Good News, forgiveness of sin.

On this day, we thank you, Lord, for the gift of the Holy Spirit that you renew at every Mass. Teach us to open our minds and our hearts to his breath. Let him be with us to help us better understand the message of the Gospel. With him we shall be able to love our brothers better; And will be able to announce the Good News to them with a zeal that nothing can intimidate.