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

Texte de l'Évangile (Jn 16,12-15): 

«J'aurais encore beaucoup de choses à vous dire, mais pour l'instant vous n'avez pas la force de les porter. Quand il viendra, lui, l'Esprit de vérité, il vous guidera vers la vérité tout entière. En effet, ce qu'il dira ne viendra pas de lui-même: il redira tout ce qu'il aura entendu; et ce qui va venir, il vous le fera connaître. Il me glorifiera, car il reprendra ce qui vient de moi pour vous le faire connaître. Tout ce qui appartient au Père est à moi; voilà pourquoi je vous ai dit: Il reprend ce qui vient de moi pour vous le faire connaître».

«Quand il viendra, lui, l'Esprit de vérité, il vous guidera vers la vérité tout entière»

Abbé Santi COLLELL i Aguirre 
(La Garriga, Barcelona, Espagne)

Gospel text

(Jn 16,5-11):

Jesus said to his disciples, «But now I am going to the One who sent me and none of you asks me where I am going; instead you are overcome with grief because of what I have said. Indeed believe me: It is better for you that I go away, because as long as I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go away, it is to send him to you, and when He comes, He will vindicate the truth in face of the world with regard to sin, to the way of righteousness, and to the Judgment. What has been the sin? They did not believe in me. What is the way of righteousness? I am on the way to the Father, meanwhile you will not see me. What Judgment? The Ruler of this world has himself been condemned».

The application

Yesterday I have insisted while sharing the gospel, the importance of identifying the work of the Holy Spirit and his presence in our midst. If we are not able to identify, it will be very difficult to profit its fruits, particularly to believe.

Jesus knows our human difficult to go beyond the visible realities and thus promises to send the teacher of divine righteousness amidst us. To profit of this divine wisdom, we should remain open to the Spirit of the Lord and allow Him to guide us.  

The human temptation is to remain locked with our own behaviours and where we feel at-ease. Clicking on only to Jesus may block us to get integrated to the mystery of the Trinity, and to reach to the Father.  Holy Spirit will help us to identify not only our weakness and particularly our sins which are a stumbling block, and will also teach us to be configured to Christ and through Christ to the Father.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers:

Whatever is not of faith is sin, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"When the Lord said of the Holy Spirit, 'He shall convict the world of sin,' he meant unbelief. For this is what he meant when he said, “Of sin because they believed not on me.' And he means the same when he says, 'If I had not come and spoken to them, they should not have sin.' (John 15:22). He was not talking about [a time] before they had no sin. Rather, he wanted to indicate that very lack of faith by which they did not believe him even when he was present to them and speaking to them. These were the people who belonged to 'the prince of the power of the air, who now works in the children of unbelief' (Ephesians 2:2). Therefore those in whom there is no faith are the children of the devil because they have nothing in their inner being that would cause them to be forgiven for whatever is committed either by human infirmity, ignorance or any evil will whatever. But the children of God are those who certainly, if they should 'say that they have no sin, deceive themselves, and the truth is not in them,' but immediately (as it continues) 'when they confess their sins' (which the children of the devil do not do, or do not do according to the faith which is peculiar to the children of God), 'he is faithful and just to forgive them their sins and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness'" (1 John 1:9). (excerpt from AGAINST TWO LETTERS OF THE PELAGIANS 3.4)

«It is better for you that I go away»

+ Fr. Lluís ROQUÉ i Roqué
(Manresa, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, we contemplate another farewell by Jesus, necessary for the setting up of his Kingdom. There is, however, a promise included therein: «As long as I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go away, it is to send him to you» (Jn 16:7).

A promise come true in a most striking way in Whitsun Day, ten days after Jesus ascended into Heaven. In addition to remove all sadness from the Apostles' hearts and from those gathered around the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus (cf. Acts 1:13-14) that day, so much confirms and strengthens their faith, that «they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim» (Acts 2:4).

A fact that, throughout centuries, “becomes present” through the only one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, inasmuch as, by the action of the same promised Spirit, it is announced, everywhere and to everybody, that Jesus of Nazareth —God's Son, born of the Virgin Mary, who was crucified, suffered, died and was buried— truly resurrected and is seated in glory at the right hand of the Father (cf. Creed) and is living among ourselves. His Spirit lives in us through our Baptism, constituting us to be the Son's children, and reaffirming his presence in each one of us through the sacrament of Confirmation. All this, to carry out our vocation towards sanctity and to reinforce our mission to bring others closer to God, too.

Thus, thanks to the Father's will, to the Son's redemption and to the constant action of the Holy Spirit, we can all react in faithfulness to that call, by becoming saints; and, with a bold apostolic charity, without any exclusivity, to carry out the mission to a good end, to propose and help others towards sanctity, too.

And as the first ones did —as the ever faithful ones did— with Mary, we pray, and trusting that the Helper will come again in glory and that there will be a new Pentecost, we say: «Send forth your Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your Love» (Pentecost Alleluia).

Texte de l'Évangile

(Jn 16,5-11):

«Je m'en vais maintenant auprès de celui qui m'a envoyé, et aucun de vous ne me demande: ‘Où vas-tu?’. Mais, parce que je vous ai parlé ainsi, votre cœur est plein de tristesse. Pourtant, je vous dis la vérité: c'est votre intérêt que je m'en aille, car, si je ne m'en vais pas, le Défenseur ne viendra pas à vous; mais si je pars, je vous l'enverrai. Quand il viendra, il dénoncera l'erreur du monde sur le péché, sur le bon droit, et sur la condamnation. Il montrera où est le péché, car l'on ne croit pas en moi. Il montrera où est le bon droit, car je m'en vais auprès du Père, et vous ne me verrez plus. Il montrera où est la condamnation, car le prince de ce monde est déjà condamné».

L’application

L’Eglise universelle nous prépare à recevoir l’Esprit Saint, l’esprit de Vérité. Hier lors de la messe j’ai dit, il faut savoir identifier la présence de l’Esprit Saint. Tant qu’on n’ait pas reconnu sa présence, nous ne pouvons pas profiter ses fruits. C’est pourquoi beaucoup d’entre nous, même avec une foi fervente ressentons seuls et isolés.

Chacun dans con côté justement cherche tous ceux qui sont biens and bons pour nous, sans prendre conscience que l’avenir n’est pas dans notre main. Nous ne voulons pas perdre tout ce que nous avons. Jésus raisonne avec nous, en disant, il faut tout laisser tomber à la main du Seigneur. Puisqu’Il est plein de bonté, et puisqu’Il nous aime, son départ, même s’il est  momentanément paraît  désavantageux, grâce à l’Esprit Saint, le Consolateur, nous fera bien.

«C'est votre intérêt que je m'en aille»

Abbé Joseph A. PELLEGRINO
(Tarpon Springs, Florida, Etats-Unis)

Aujourd'hui, l'Évangile nous présente une conception profonde de la réalité de l'Ascension du Seigneur. Dans la lecture de l'Evangile de Jean du Dimanche de Pâques, Jésus dit à Marie Madeleine de “cesser s'accrocher à Lui” car «Je ne suis pas encore monté vers le Père» (Jn 20,17). Dans l'Évangile d'aujourd'hui Jésus se rend compte que «parce que je vous ai parlé ainsi, votre coeur est plein de tristesse» mais que «c'est dans votre intérêt que Je m'en aille» (Jn 16,6-7). Jésus doit monter vers le Père. Néanmoins, Il est toujours présent parmi nous.

Comment peut-il partir et rester en même temps? Ce mystère nous a été expliqué par notre saint Père Benoît XVI: «Etant donné que Dieu renferme l'univers tout entier, l'Ascension du Seigneur signifie que le Christ ne s'est pas éloigné de nous mais qu'au contraire, en demeurant avec le Père, Il est désormais à côté de chacun de nous pour toujours».

Notre espérance se trouve dans le Seigneur. Par sa victoire sur la mort Il nous a donné une vie que la mort ne pourra jamais détruire: Sa Vie. Sa résurrection veut dire que ce qui était spirituel devient réel. Rien ne peut nous séparer de l'amour de Dieu. Rien ne peut diminuer notre espérance. Les négations du monde ne peuvent rien contre les affirmations de Jésus.

Le monde imparfait dans lequel nous vivons, où nous voyons souffrir les innocents, pourrait nous rendre pessimistes. Mais Jésus nous a transformé en éternels optimistes.

La présence vivante de Jésus dans notre communauté, dans notre famille, et dans tous les aspects de notre société, que nous pouvons sans erreur appeler “chrétiens”, nous donne une raison d'avoir l'espérance. La présence vivante de Jésus dans chacun de nous, nous a rempli de joie. Peu importe la quantité de mauvaises nouvelles que les médias se réjouissent de nous présenter, les bonnes choses qu'il y a dans le monde surpassent les mauvaises parce que Jésus est monté vers le Père.

En effet, Il est monté au ciel, mais Il ne nous a pas abandonnés.

Gospel text (Jn 15,18-21): 

Jesus said to his disciples, «If the world hates you, remember that the world hated me before you. This would not be so if you belonged to the world, because the world loves its own. But you are not of the world since I have chosen you from the world; because of this the world hates you. Remember what I told you: the servant is not greater than his master; if they persecuted me, they will persecute you, too. Have they kept my teaching? Will they then keep yours? All this they will do to you for the sake of my name because they do not know the One who sent me».

«All this they will do to you for the sake of my name because they do not know the One who sent me»

Fr. Ferran JARABO i Carbonell 
(Agullana, Girona, Spain)

Texte de l'Évangile (Jn 15,18-21):

 «Si le monde a de la haine contre vous, sachez qu'il en a eu d'abord contre moi. Si vous apparteniez au monde, le monde vous aimerait, car vous seriez à lui. Mais vous n'appartenez pas au monde, puisque je vous ai choisis en vous prenant dans le monde; voilà pourquoi le monde a de la haine contre vous. Rappelez-vous la parole que je vous ai dite: Le serviteur n'est pas plus grand que son maître. Si l'on m'a persécuté, on vous persécutera, vous aussi. Si l'on a observé ma parole, on observera aussi la vôtre. Les gens vous traiteront ainsi à cause de moi, parce qu'ils ne connaissent pas celui qui m'a envoyé».

«Les gens vous traiteront ainsi à cause de moi, parce qu'ils ne connaissent pas celui qui m'a envoyé»

Abbé Ferran JARABO i Carbonell 
(Agullana, Girona, Espagne)

Gospel text

(Jn 15,12-17):

Jesus said to his disciples, «This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than this, to give one's life for one's friends; and you are my friends if you do what I command you. I shall not call you servants any more, because servants do not know what their master is about. Instead I have called you friends, since I have made known to you everything I learned from my Father. You did not choose me; it was I who chose you and sent you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. And everything you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. This is my command, that you love one another».

The application

I have said yesterday that the word ‘love’ is so vulgarised that it is very often misunderstood in ordinary human relationship. Today I would like to share with you all, how I understand the love of Jesus.

First Jesus takes the initiative and comes closer to me, so that I may know Him and love Him. Thus through His diverse little revelations He helps me to discover Him and He becomes close to Him. All human relationship is built by this proximity and accessibility.

Second aspect is knowing him and allowing Him to be known. He has facilitated this process and makes me to feel that He accepts me ‘as I am’ and wishes that I too known Him and accept Him as He is.

In this relationship I am configured in Christ in such a manner that for others I become the veritable Christ. It is no more I, but Christ lives in me, says Saint Paul. My relationship with Christ transforms me and through me every human encounter becomes ‘de facto’ a divine encounter.  

Naturally this kind of relationship will give much fruit, and certainly they will be perceived as a divine fruit. It is no more a human work, but a divine marvel to be discovered and cherished. It is a long process that Jesus has initiated in us and we are called with His grace to continue this divine mission entrusted to us.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers:

Love encompasses the other commandments, by Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD)

"This is my commandment." Have you then only one precept? This is sufficient, even if it is unique and so great. Nevertheless he also said, "Do not kill" (Matthew 19:18) because the one who loves does not kill. He said, "Do not steal," because the one who loves does even more—he gives. He said, "Do not lie," for the one who loves speaks the truth, against falsehood. "I give you a new commandment" (John 13:14). If you have not understood what "This is my commandment" means, let the apostle be summoned as interpreter and say, "The goal of his commandment is love" (1 Timothy 1:5). What is its binding force? It is that of which [the Lord] spoke, "Whatever you want others to do to you, you should do also" (Matthew 7:12)."Love one another" in accordance with this measure, "as I have loved you." That is not possible, for you are our Lord who loves your servants. But we who are equals, how can we love one another as you have loved us? Nevertheless, he has said it... His love is that he has called us his friends. If we were to give our life for you, would our love be equal to yours?... How then can what he said be explained, "As I have loved you"? "Let us die for each other," he said. As for us, we do not even want to live for one another! "If I, who am your Lord and God, die for you, how much more should you die for one another." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 19.13)

«This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you»

Fr. Carles ELÍAS i Cao
(Barcelona, Spain)

Today, our Lord exhorts us to fraternal love: «Love one another as I have loved you» (Jn 15:12), that is to say, as you have seen me loving and you will still see me love. Jesus speaks to you as a friend, for He has told you that his Father calls you, that He wants you to become an apostle, and that He expects you to bear fruit, a fruit that is manifested through love. St. John Crysostom affirms: «If love would be spread all over, an infinite goodness would be born out of it».

To give love amounts to create life. Spouses know it well, for they love each other, they make a reciprocal donation and they assume the responsibility of becoming parents by accepting, at the same time, the abnegation and self-denial of their time and their own being in favour of those they must take care of, must protect, must educate and, in short, must form as persons. Missionaries know it too, when they offer their life for the Gospel, with the same Christian spirit of sacrifice and abnegation. And friars, priests and bishops also know it, and with them all of Jesus' disciples who commit themselves to our Savior.

A little before, Jesus already told you which the requirements for love and bearing fruit are: «Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit» (Jn 12:24). Jesus invites you to lose your life, to deliver it to Him without any fear, to willingly die, if need be, to be able to love your brother with Christ's love, with supernatural love. Jesus invites you to attain an operative, benefactor and concrete love; this is how apostle James understood it when he said: «Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed’, but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead» (2:15-17).

Texte de l'Évangile

(Jn 15,12-17):

«Mon commandement, le voici: Aimez-vous les uns les autres comme je vous ai aimés. Il n'y a pas de plus grand amour que de donner sa vie pour ses amis. Vous êtes mes amis si vous faites ce que je vous commande. Je ne vous appelle plus serviteurs, car le serviteur ignore ce que veut faire son maître; maintenant, je vous appelle mes amis, car tout ce que j'ai appris de mon Père, je vous l'ai fait connaître. Ce n'est pas vous qui m'avez choisi, c'est moi qui vous ai choisis et établis afin que vous partiez, que vous donniez du fruit, et que votre fruit demeure. Alors, tout ce que vous demanderez au Père en mon nom, il vous l'accordera. Ce que je vous commande, c'est de vous aimer les uns les autres».

L’application

Comment je vous avais dit déjà, l’amour’ est un vocabulaire très vulgarisé dans le monde contemporain. Je ne veux pas y enter ou donner une philosophie de l’amour. Pourtant je voudrais partager avec vous, comment je comprends l’amour divin.

Puisque Jésus nous a dit, ‘aimez-vous les uns les autres, comme je vous ai aimés’, je cherche en Jésus et apprends de Lui à m’aimer les uns et les autres. Premièrement Jésus a établis une proximité avec moi pour que je puisse avoir une relation personnelle avec Lui. Cette proximité m’aide à découvrir non seulement son amour, mais aussi ‘la Personne’. Dans cette découverte, je laisse toute porte ouverte pour que Jésus  me découvre. Ici, je me ressens non seulement l’ouverture divine vers moi  mais aussi comment il se révèle pour que je puisse me configurer en Jésus. Dans cette configuration je suis transformé par sa grâce.

C’est dans cette grâce que je recommence à revivre ma vie, une nouvelle vie en Dieu. C’est ainsi toute relation humaine devient comme une rencontre divine, car nous devenons un modèle par excellence de l’union et œuvre Trinitaire ; en Jésus Dieu œuvre, Jésus œuvre en nous et nous sommes aimé par l’Esprit Saint.

«Mon commandement, le voici: Aimez-vous les uns les autres comme je vous ai aimés»

Abbé Carles ELÍAS i Cao
(Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, le Seigneur nous invite à l'amour fraternel: «Aimez-vous les uns les autres comme je vous ai aimés» (Jn 15,12), c'est-à-dire, comme vous me l'avez vu faire et comme vous me verrez encore le faire. Jésus te parle comme à un ami, car Il t'a dit que le Père t'appelle, qu'il te veut apôtre et qu'il t'envoie pour donner du fruit, un fruit qui se manifeste dans l'amour. Selon saint Jean-Chrysostome, «si l'amour était répandu partout, il en naîtrait une infinité de biens».

Aimer, c'est donner sa vie. Les époux le savent qui, par amour, font donation réciproque de leur vie et assument la responsabilité d'être parents, acceptant aussi l'abnégation et le sacrifice de leur temps et de leur être en faveur de ceux qu'ils doivent soigner, protéger, éduquer et former comme des personnes. Les missionnaires le savent, qui donnent leur vie pour l'Évangile, avec ce même esprit chrétien de sacrifice et d'abnégation. Et les religieux, les prêtres et les évêques le savent, tout disciple de Jésus qui s'engage auprès du Sauveur le sait.

Jésus t'a dit un moment avant quelle est la condition de l'amour, donner du fruit: «Si le grain de blé ne tombe en terre et ne meurt, il reste seul; mais s'il meurt, il donne beaucoup de fruit» (Jn 12,24). Jésus t'invite à perdre ta vie, à la Lui donner sans crainte, à mourir à toi-même pour pouvoir aimer ton frère de l'amour du Christ, d'un amour surnaturel. Jésus t'invite à parvenir à un amour agissant, bienfaisant et concret; l'apôtre Jacques l'avait compris quand il disait: «Si un frère ou une sœur sont nus, s'ils manquent de leur nourriture quotidienne, et que l'un d'entre vous leur dit: ‘allez en paix, chauffez-vous, rassasiez-vous’, et sans leur donner ce qui est nécessaire à leur corps, à quoi cela sert-il? Ainsi en est-il de la foi: si elle n'a pas les œuvres, elle est tout à fait morte» (2,15-17).

Gospel text

(Jn 15,9-11):

Jesus said to his disciples, «As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; remain in my love. You will remain in my love if you keep my commandments, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you all this, that my own joy may be in you and your joy may be complete».

The application

The word ‘love’ is so vulgarised in the contemporary world, that many of us find difficult to use it in our ordinary communication. Without entering into the details and meanings, I would like to invite you all to look at the essential of today’s gospel reading. ‘That my own joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.’  

Many of us search this joy in our life, where the eternal peace remain deeply anchored. How to have this joy, particularly the ‘joy’ of Christ? To know this, we should look into Jesus and He says to us that He kept faithfully the commandment of the His Father, or rather tried to fulfil the Will of the Father.

It is here that we can try to accomplish in a simple way. Just ask the Lord, what he would do in a particular given time and how will He act in a given situation. Jesus always did, though sometime He found it difficult. It is in this total surrender to the divine will, even though we may not understand it now (like Mary and the disciples), that we will find the joy and His joy in its perfection. Since God is filled with goodness, our total surrender to this goodness, will give us in return the goodness with multiplications.  

Daily Quote from the early church fathers:

Joy in rejoicing over us, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"And what else is Christ's joy in us except that he is pleased to rejoice over us? And what is this joy of ours that he says is to be made full, but our having fellowship with him?... His joy, therefore, in us is the grace he has bestowed on us, and that is also our joy. But he rejoiced over this joy even from eternity when he chose us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). Nor can we rightly say that his joy was not full. For God's joy was never at any time imperfect. But that joy of his was not in us. For we, in whom that joy could exist, had as yet no existence. And even when our existence commenced, it began not to be in him. But in him it always was, who in the infallible truth of his own foreknowledge rejoiced that we should yet be his own. Accordingly, he had a joy over us that was already full when he rejoiced in foreknowing and foreordaining us. And there could hardly be any fear intermingling in that joy of his that might imply a possible failure in what he foreknew would be done by himself." (excerpt from TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 83.1)

«As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you»

Fr. Lluís RAVENTÓS i Artés
(Tarragona, Spain)

Today, we hear again the intimate confidence Jesus made last Holy Thursday: «As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you» (Jn 15:9). The Father's love for the Son is immense, tender, dear. We can read it in the Book of Proverbs, when He affirms that long before initiating his deeds «Then was I beside him as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, playing before him all the while» (Pr 8:30). This is how He loves us and, prophetically announcing it in the same book, He adds: «Playing on the surface of his earth; and I found delight in the sons of men» (Pr 8:31).

The Father loves the Son, and Jesus tells us so: «And He that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him» (Jn 8:29). The Father loudly proclaimed it in the Jordan, when He says: «You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased» (Mk 1:11) and, later on, in Mount Tabor: «This is my beloved Son. Listen to him» (Mk 9:7).

Jesus has replied, «Abbà», Pater! Now He reveals us, «As the Father has loved me, so I love you». And what shall we do? To stay indeed by his love, to abide by his commandments, to love His Father's Will. Is not this the example He gives us? «I always keep my Father's commandments and remain in his love».

But we, who are weak, fickle, cowards and —why not just admit it— even wicked at times, shall we then lose his friendship forever? No, He will not allow us to be tempted well over our own forces! And, if we ever fail to abide by his commandments, let us ask him the grace of quickly coming back to him, as the prodigal son to the Father's house. And of being able to receive the Sacrament of Penance and be forgiven our sins. «I love you —Jesus tells us—. I have told you all this, that my own joy may be in you and your joy may be complete» (Jn 15:9-11).

Texte de l'Évangile

 (Jn 15,9-11):

«Comme le Père m'a aimé, moi aussi je vous ai aimés. Demeurez dans mon amour. Si vous êtes fidèles à mes commandements, vous demeurerez dans mon amour, comme moi, j'ai gardé fidèlement les commandements de mon Père, et je demeure dans son amour. Je vous ai dit cela pour que ma joie soit en vous, et que vous soyez comblés de joie».

L’application

Aujourd’hui, je vous inviterais à contempler, ‘demeurer dans l’amour.’ Comment pouvons-nous demeurer dans l’amour ? Comme dans notre vie quotidienne, il faut regarder notre comportement envers celui ou celle que nous aimons. C’est dans ce regard que nous apprendrons à comment nous devions nous comporter devant Dieu et répondre à son amour.

Je voudrais tirer certains mots qu’il me semble importants. Connaitre la volonté (son commandement), fidélité à cette volonté, et engagement positive. Si nous les pratiquons systématiquement, nous pouvons nous assurer que nous demeurons dans son amour.

Si nous n’arrivons pas à comprendre l’amour humain, comment pouvons-nous comprendre l’amour divin. Il faut donc apprendre à s’aimer, et savoir répondre positivement à l’amour humain avant qu’on cherche l’amour divin. N’oublions pas la finalité de la fidélité : que nous soyons comblés de sa joie et que cette joie demeure en nous.

«Comme le Père m'a aimé, moi aussi je vous ai aimés»

Abbé Lluís RAVENTÓS i Artés
(Tarragona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui nous écoutons à nouveau la confidence intime que Jésus nous fait le Jeudi Saint: «Comme le Père m'a aimé, moi aussi je vous ai aimés» (Jn 15,9). L'amour du Père pour le Fils est immense, tendre, profond. Nous pouvons le constater dans le livre des Proverbes, lorsque Il affirme que, bien avant le commencement de ses oeuvres, «j'étais à ses côtés comme un maître d'oeuvre. J'y trouvais mes délices jour après jour en jouant devant lui à tout instant» (Pr 8,30). C'est bien ainsi qu'Il nous aime et, en l'annonçant prophétiquement dans le même livre, Il ajoute «jouant sur toute la terre, et trouvant mes délices avec les fils des hommes» (Pr 8,31).

Le Père aime le Fils, et Jésus ne cesse pas un instant de nous le rappeler: «Celui qui m'a envoyé est avec moi; il ne m'a pas laissé seul parce que je fais toujours ce qui Lui plaît» (Jn 8,29). Le Père l'a bien proclamé quand du ciel une voix se fît entendre sur le Jourdain: «C'est toi mon Fils bien-aimé; en toi j'ai mis tout mon amour» (Mc 1,11) et, plus tard au mont Thabor: «Celui-ci est mon Fils bien-aimé. Écoutez-le» (Mc 9,7).

Jésus a répondu, «Abbá», Papa! Maintenant, Il nous dit, «Comme le Père m'a aimé, moi aussi je vous ai aimés». Et, que faisons-nous? Nous maintenir dans son amour, obéir à ses commandements, aimer la Volonté du Père. N'est-ce pas là l'exemple qu'Il nous donne? «Je fais toujours ce qui Lui plaît».

Mais nous, qui sommes faibles, inconstants, lâches et —pourquoi ne pas l'avouer— même méchants, allons-nous perdre à jamais Son amitié? Certes, non! Car Il ne permettra pas que nous soyons tentés au-delà de nos forces! Mais si jamais nous nous éloignions de ses commandements, demandons Lui la grâce de revenir en courant comme le fils prodigue, vers la maison du Père et de nous tourner vers le sacrement de la Pénitence afin de recevoir le pardon de nos péchés. «Moi, aussi, je vous ai aimés —nous dit Jésus—. Je vous ai dit cela pour que ma joie soit en vous, et que vous soyez comblés de joie» (Jn 15,9.11).

Gospel text (Jn 15,1-8):

Jesus said to his disciples, «I am the true vine and my Father is the winegrower. If any of my branches doesn't bear fruit, he breaks it off; and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, that it may bear even more fruit. You are already made clean by the word I have spoken to you; live in me as I live in you. The branch cannot bear fruit by itself but has to remain part of the vine; so neither can you if you don't remain in me. I am the vine and you are the branches. As long as you remain in me and I in you, you bear much fruit; but apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not remain in me is thrown away as they do with branches and they wither. Then they are gathered and thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words in you, you may ask whatever you want and it will be given to you. My Father is glorified when you bear much fruit: it is then that you become my disciples».

The application

The story or vine and the branch is one of the best for my personal life. For a perfect Christological configuration this image can be applied in letter and spirit. However, our daily duties and obligations point to us our inability to remain always faithful to this configuration.

I would like to invite you to look this necessity in two ways. The first and the best is to know the heart of Jesus and how much He desires that we remain in Him. Living in Him is the best a Christian can desire for. The send one may be little more practical, which is from our view point. That is to say, if I remain with Him, I have lot of advantages and why to remain detached?

I do everything in a very simple way. First, before deciding on anything I put Jesus before me and ask Him His opinion. Or, I imagine, if the Lord is there, how will He act upon? I give to myself little silence and wait for the response. Indirectly waiting to discern the divine will in this particular act.

It is quite possible in some of my acts, I do fail very drastically. In this failure, I forgive myself by telling that I may not have discerned it well, or God wanted it another way. In all things I glorify the Lord for given me a wonderful opportunity.

Today’s first reading can be a good model for our daily life.

«Live in me as I live in you»

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

Today, once more, we may see Jesus surrounded by the Apostles in an atmosphere of especial intimacy. He is giving them what we could consider as his final recommendations: what is normally said in the last moment, in the last farewell; that which has an especial force, as if it would be the last will.

We imagine them in the cenacle. Jesus has washed their feet there, has announced them again He must go, has transmitted them his command of fraternal love and has consoled them with the gift of the Eucharistic and the promise of the Holy Spirit (cf. Jn 14). And, well ahead this 15th chapter of John's Gospel we now find the exhortation to unity within charity.

Our Lord does not hide to his disciples all the dangers and difficulties they will have to face in the near future: «If they persecuted Me they will persecute you...» (Jn 15:20). But they should not be intimidated nor overwhelmed by all the hate they will find in this world: Jesus renews his promise of the arrival of the Protector, while assuring them they may ask and they will be given. Finally, the Lord prays for them —for all of us— to the Holy Father during his priestly prayer (cf. Jn 17).

But our danger does not come from outside, though: the worst menace may arise within ourselves when we fail to respect the fraternal love among the members of Christ's Mystic Body or the unity with the Head of that Body. The recommendation is clear: «I am the vine and you are the branches. As long as you remain in me and I in you, you bear much fruit; but apart from me you can do nothing» (Jn 15:5).

The first generations of Christians managed to keep a very clear conscience of the importance of remaining united through charity. Here is the testimony of one the Fathers of the Church, saint Ignatius of Antioch: «Do you therefore all run together as into one temple of God, as to one altar, as to one Jesus Christ, who came forth from one Father». And here is also an indication from the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Christians: «Whatsoever he said unto you, do [it]» (Jn 2:5).