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

Gospel text

(Jn 14:6-14): 

Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

“I am the way and the truth and the life. If you know me, then you will also know my Father”

Fr. Joan SOLÀ i Triadú

(Girona, Spain)

Today, we celebrate the feast of Philip and James, Apostles. The Gospel refers to those conversations Jesus used to have just with the Apostles, with the purpose of giving them a clear idea about himself and his mission on Earth. This was necessary because the Apostles were very much imbued with the ideas the Jews maintained about the Messiah: they expected a worldly and political liberator, whereas Jesus' person did not match up at all with any of those preconceived images.

The first words we read in today's Gospel are in reply to a question by the Apostle Thomas. “I am the way and the truth and the life. If you know me, then you will also know my Father.” This reply to Thomas gives way to Philip's request: “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus' answer is —in fact— a reprimand: “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip?”

The Apostles could not quite understand the unity between the Father and Jesus; they did not quite realize Jesus is God and Man in one person. But He does not limit himself to proving his equality with the Father; He also reminds them they are to keep on carrying out his saving work: He confers upon them the power to do miracles, He promises them that He will forever be with them and that everything they ask in his name, He will do.

But Jesus' answers to the Apostles are also intended for all of us. Saint Josemaria Escrivá says, when commenting on this text: “‘I am the way, the truth and the life’. With these unmistakable words the Lord has shown us, which is the path that leads to eternal happiness … He points it out for all men and women, but especially He emphasizes it for those who, as you and I, have told him we have decided seriously to take up our Christian vocation.”

Texte de l'Évangile

(Jn 14,6-14): 

Jésus lui répond: «Moi, je suis le Chemin, la Vérité et la Vie; personne ne va vers le Père sans passer par moi. Puisque vous me connaissez, vous connaîtrez aussi mon Père. Dès maintenant vous le connaissez, et vous l'avez vu». Philippe lui dit: «Seigneur, montre-nous le Père; cela nous suffit». Jésus lui répond: «Il y a si longtemps que je suis avec vous, et tu ne me connais pas, Philippe! Celui qui m'a vu a vu le Père. Comment peux-tu dire: ‘Montre-nous le Père’? Tu ne crois donc pas que je suis dans le Père et que le Père est en moi!

»Les paroles que je vous dis, je ne les dis pas de moi-même; mais c'est le Père qui demeure en moi, et qui accomplit ses propres oeuvres. Croyez ce que je vous dis: je suis dans le Père, et le Père est en moi; si vous ne croyez pas ma parole, croyez au moins à cause des oeuvres. Amen, amen, je vous le dis: celui qui croit en moi accomplira les mêmes oeuvres que moi. Il en accomplira même de plus grandes, puisque je pars vers le Père. Tout ce que vous demanderez en invoquant mon nom, je le ferai, afin que le Père soit glorifié dans le Fils. Si vous me demandez quelque chose en invoquant mon nom, moi, je le ferai».

«Moi, je suis le Chemin, la Vérité et la Vie. Puisque vous me connaissez, vous connaîtrez aussi mon Père»

Abbé Joan SOLÀ i Triadú

(Girona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui nous célébrons la fête des apôtres Philippe et Jacques. L'Évangile fait référence aux conversations que Jésus avait avec les seuls Apôtres, pour les former en leur offrant des idées claires sur Sa personne et Sa mission. Car les Apôtres étaient fortement influencés par les idées que les Juifs avaient sur la personne du Messie: ils s'attendaient à un libérateur terrestre et politique alors que la personne de Jésus ne correspondait pas du tout à ces images préconçues.

Les premières paroles que nous pouvons lire dans l'Évangile d'aujourd'hui sont la réponse à une question de l'Apôtre Thomas. «Moi, je suis le Chemin, la Vérité et la Vie; personne ne va vers le Père sans passer par moi» (Jn 14,6). Cette réponse à Thomas provoque la demande de Philippe: «Seigneur, montre-nous le Père; cela nous suffit» (Jn 14,8). La réponse de Jésus est —en réalité— une reproche: «Il y a si longtemps que je suis avec vous, et tu ne me connais pas, Philippe?» (Jn 14,9).

Les Apôtres ne comprenaient pas l'unité entre le Père et le Fils, ils n'arrivaient pas à voir le Dieu et l'Homme dans la personne de Jésus. Mais Il ne se contente pas de prouver son égalité avec le Père, il leur rappelle aussi qu'ils devront continuer son œuvre salvifique: Il leur concède le pouvoir de faire des miracles, leur promet d'être toujours à leurs côtés, et que ce qu'ils demanderont en son nom Il le leur accordera.

Ces réponses de Jésus aux Apôtres, c'est à nous aussi qu'Il les adresse. Saint Josemaría, en commentant ce texte, nous dit: «‘Je suis le chemin, la vérité et la vie’. Par ces mots sans équivoque, le Seigneur nous a montré le vrai sentier qui mène au bonheur éternel (...). Il le déclare à tous les hommes. Mais Il le rappelle spécialement à ceux qui, comme toi et moi, Lui ont dit qu'ils sont décidés à prendre au sérieux leur vocation de chrétiens».

Gospel text

(Jn 6:22-29):

 After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea. The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.


And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”

«Work (…) for the food that endures for eternal life»

Abbé Jacques FORTIN

(Alma (Quebec), Canada)

Today, after the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, the people went looking for Jesus as far as Capernaum. Then as now, people are seeking the divine. Isn't the proliferation of religious sects and esotericism proof of this thirst for all things divine?

However, some people would like to adapt this divinity to their own needs. History tells us that sometimes, there have been attempts to use the divine for political or other purposes. Today the crowd went looking for Jesus. Why? It is the question that Jesus asks when he says: «Truly, I say to you, you look for me, not because you have seen through the signs, but because you ate bread and were satisfied» (Jn 6:26). Jesus was not fooled. He knows that they were not able to read the signs for the multiplication of the loaves. He announced that what nourishes man is a spiritual food which gives us eternal life (cf. Jn 6:27). God is the one who gives us this food and he gives it to us through his Son. Anything that increases our faith in Him is the kind of food in which we should invest all our energies.

We understand why the Pope encourages us to work on a re-evangelization of our world, which often does not come to God for the good reasons. The Fathers of the Vatican Council II, in the constitution "Gaudium et Spes" ("The Church in the Modern World") remind us that: «The Church truly knows that only God, Whom she serves, meets the deepest longings of the human heart, which is never fully satisfied by what this world has to offer». And why do we continue to follow Jesus? What does the church bring to us? We must remember what Vatican II tells us! Are we convinced that the well-being this nourishment provides can be given to the world?

Texte de l'Évangile

(Jn 6,22-29): 

Le lendemain, la foule restée sur l'autre rive du lac se rendit compte qu'il n'y avait eu là qu'une seule barque, et que Jésus n'y était pas monté avec ses disciples, qui étaient partis sans lui. Cependant, d'autres barques, venant de Tibériade, étaient arrivées près de l'endroit où l'on avait mangé le pain après que le Seigneur eut rendu grâce. La foule s'était aperçue que Jésus n'était pas là, ni ses disciples non plus. Alors les gens prirent les barques et se dirigèrent vers Capharnaüm à la recherche de Jésus.

L'ayant trouvé sur l'autre rive, ils lui dirent: «Rabbi, quand es-tu arrivé ici?». Jésus leur répondit: «Amen, amen, je vous le dis: vous me cherchez, non parce que vous avez vu des signes, mais parce que vous avez mangé du pain et que vous avez été rassasiés. Ne travaillez pas pour la nourriture qui se perd, mais pour la nourriture qui se garde jusque dans la vie éternelle, celle que vous donnera le Fils de l'homme, lui que Dieu, le Père, a marqué de son empreinte». Ils lui dirent alors: «Que faut-il faire pour travailler aux oeuvres de Dieu?». Jésus leur répondit: «L'oeuvre de Dieu, c'est que vous croyiez en celui qu'il a envoyé».

«Travaillez (…) pour la nourriture qui se garde jusque dans la vie éternelle»

Abbé Jacques FORTIN(Alma

(Quebec), Canada)

Aujourd'hui après la multiplication des pains, la foule se met à la recherche de Jésus et dans leur quête ils se rendent jusqu’à Capharnaüm. D’hier comme aujourd’hui, les humains sont à la recherche du divin. La multiplication des sectes religieuses, l’ésotérisme ne sont-elles pas manifestation de cette soif du divin?

Mais certains voudraient assujettir ce divin à leurs besoins tout humains. D’ailleurs l’histoire nous révèle que parfois, il y a des tentatives pour utiliser le divin à des fins politiques ou autres. Aujourd’hui la foule s’est déplacée vers Jésus. Pourquoi? C’est la question que Jésus pose en affirmant: «Vous me cherchez, non parce que vous avez vu à travers les signes, mais parce que vous avez eu du pain et que vous avez été rassasiés» (Jn 6,26). Jésus n’est pas dupe. Il sait qu’ils n’ont pas été capables de lire le signe du pain multiplié. Il annonce que ce qui nourrit l’homme est une nourriture spirituelle qui nous permet de vivre éternellement (cf. Jn 6,27). Cette nourriture c’est lui qui la donne, il la donne à travers son Fils. Tout ce qui fait grandir la foi en Lui est une nourriture sur laquelle nous devons investir toutes nos énergies.

On comprend alors pourquoi le Pape nous incite à travailler à une ré-évangélisation de notre monde qui souvent n’est pas venu à Dieu pour les bons motifs. Les Pères du Concile Vatican II, dans la constitution "Gaudium et Spes" ("L’Église dans le monde de ce temps") nous rappelle ceci: «L’Église sait parfaitement que Dieu, seul dont elle est la servante, répond aux plus profonds désirs du cœur humain que jamais ne rassasient pleinement les nourritures terrestres». Et nous pourquoi continuons-nous à suivre ce Jésus? Que nous apporte l’Église? Rappelons-nous ce que dit le Concile Vatican II! Sommes-nous convaincus du bien-être qu’apporte cette nourriture, que nous pouvons donner au monde?

Today's readings invite us to re-establish our relationship with God, through our obedience, obedience to God's will. When Peter denied the Lord three times, he did not seek God's will, nor today when he decided to start over, like the disciples of Emmaus, who left Jerusalem for a safer place.  They will understand the divine will later, once strengthened by the Holy Spirit. As we heard in the first reading, "We must obey God rather than men", the disciples of the Lord say.

Moments of desolation and emptiness are a part of life, and we must learn to deal with them in such a way that this emptiness becomes a source of God's grace.  Through listening and obedience Peter casts the net in the direction oriented by the Lord and thanks to the disciple who loved the Lord, they discover the presence of God, in this exceptional encounter. Obedience transforms emptiness into abundance.  Love helps us to go beyond visible dependence.

Every encounter is providence, for we already see the fire lit and the fish ready. God has already prepared this encounter, to go beyond breaking of the bread, which will lead Peter to martyrdom. For that, Peter is invited to participate in the meal, adding with his share all that he has received through divine providence. God asks us to give that which we have already received from the Lord. If a request is made, God knew that we can do it well. God does not ask anything beyond our capacity.

I also invite you to discover in this dialogue, another part that is essential for the Lord, especially for Peter, after having denied him three times.  Does the Lord still love me? And the Lord will answer him with certainty, inviting him to participate in his passion, by putting himself at the service of his sheep.  In this immense love that you have for me, you will participate in my passion, the most beautiful gift that God can offer to his beloved.

Gospel text

(Jn 6:16-21): 

When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading.

The Application

Night and darkness, sea and high tide of today's gospel, are the visible signs of our desolations. Many of us don’t wish to live these moments of desolations, because they trouble us and sometime break us into pieces. The disciples of the Lord make us to discover that our path towards the Lord, the path of faith, must travel, like them, those paths up and down, the path of night and day, the path on the ground and also in the deep water, etc. On this path, God will come to meet us, through men, the men of our days, not the way we expect him to, but in His own way. He chooses the right moment and place to make us to discover something new or teach us something exceptional. All that we need is patience and confidence.

Today, Jesus chose the night and the troubled water at the same time, so that his disciples could discover their Master, his power, his power on earth. When man goes through these moments of night and darkness, God will come to assure us of peace, "it is I. Do not be afraid." The peace that Jesus grants us, helps us to have a look of faith, a look that makes us discover the invisible elements of our life, or the moments of life, where the truth is hidden, the truth of life. In the first reading we discovered that God has chosen this moment of conflict and dispute to help us discover the ministry of the diaconate, the service that is necessary for the salvation of men. Let us trust in God, everything is providence, including our desolations.

Action of the day: Embrace courageously and joyfully the desolations of life.

“It is I. Do not be afraid.”

Fr. Vicenç GUINOT i Gómez

(Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Spain)

Today, Jesus disconcerts us. We were used to a Redeemer who, attentive to all kinds of human destitution, would not doubt to have recourse to his divine power. In fact, this happens just after the multiplication of the loaves and fishes to feed a large hungry crowd. But now, instead, He disconcerts us with a miracle —to walk over the waters— that looks very much like Jesus was just playing to the gallery. Certainly not! Jesus had already discarded using his divine power to look for personal sparkle or profit when, at the beginning of his mission, He refused to be tempted by the Evil one.

By walking over the waters, Jesus Christ is showing his mastery of all things created. We might, however, also see a dramatization of his dominion over the Evil one, represented by the dark and stormy sea.

“Do not be afraid.” (Jn 6:20), Jesus told them on that occasion. “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33), He will tell them after the Last Supper. Lastly, it is Jesus who, that Paschal morning, told the women after He rose from the tomb: “Do not be afraid.” Through the testimony of the Apostles, we are aware of Jesus' victories over man's enemies, sin and death. This is why, today, his words resound in our heart with special strength, as they are the words of Someone who is alive.

The same words Jesus addressed Peter and the Apostles, were repeated by Saint John Paul II, Peter's successor, at the beginning of his papacy: “Do not be afraid.” It was a call to open our hearts, our own existence, to the Redeemer so that with him we are not afraid to face the attacks of Christ's enemies.

Before our personal frailness to successfully carry out the missions the Lord has asked us to do (a vocation, an apostolic project, a service...), we may console ourselves just knowing that the Virgin Mary —after all a creature like ourselves— also heard the same words from the angel before facing the mission which the Lord had entrusted her with. Let us learn from her to accept Jesus' invitation every day, in every circumstance.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Jn 6,16-21): 

Le soir venu, les disciples de Jésus descendirent au bord du lac. Ils s'embarquèrent pour gagner Capharnaüm, sur l'autre rive. Déjà il faisait nuit, et Jésus ne les avait pas encore rejoints. Un grand vent se mit à souffler, et le lac devint houleux. Les disciples avaient ramé pendant cinq mille mètres environ, lorsqu'ils virent Jésus qui marchait sur la mer et se rapprochait de la barque. Alors, ils furent saisis de crainte. Mais il leur dit: «C'est moi. Soyez sans crainte». Les disciples voulaient le prendre dans la barque, mais aussitôt, la barque atteignit le rivage à l'endroit où ils se rendaient.

L’Application

Les disciples du Seigneur nous font découvrir que notre chemin vers le Seigneur, le chemin de la foi, doit parcourir, comme eux, ces chemins de haut en bas, le chemin de la nuit et du jour, le chemin sur la terre et aussi dans l'eau profonde, etc. Sur ce chemin, Dieu viendra à notre rencontre, à travers les hommes, les hommes de notre temps, non pas comme nous l'attendons, mais à sa manière. 

Aujourd'hui, Jésus a choisi la nuit et l'eau en même temps, pour que ses disciples puissent découvrir leur Maître, sa puissance, son pouvoir sur la terre. Lorsque l'homme traversera ces moments de nuit et d'obscurité, il viendra nous assurer de la paix, "c'est moi, n'ayez pas peur". La paix que Jésus nous accorde, nous aide à avoir un regard de foi, un regard qui nous fait découvrir les éléments invisibles de notre vie, ou les moments de la vie, où se cache la vérité, la vérité de la vie. Dans la première lecture, nous avons découvert que Dieu a choisi ce moment de conflit et de dispute pour nous faire découvrir le ministère du diaconat, le service nécessaire au salut des hommes. Ayons confiance en Dieu, tout est providence, y compris nos désolations.

«C'est moi. Soyez sans crainte»

Abbé Vicenç GUINOT i Gómez

(Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui Jésus nous déconcerte. Nous étions habitués à un Rédempteur qui, prêt à s'occuper de n'importe quel type d'indigence humaine, n'hésitait pas a avoir recours à son pouvoir divin. Dans les faits, l'action se déroule juste après la multiplication des pains et des poissons pour nourrir la foule affamée. Alors que, maintenant, au contraire, le miracle nous déconcerte. Marcher sur la mer ressemble, plutôt, une action faite pour épater la galerie. Mais, certainement pas! Jésus avait déjà écarté l'emploi de son pouvoir divin pour chercher un éclat ou un profit personnel lorsque, au commencement de sa mission Il avait refusé les tentations du Malin.

En marchant sur les eaux, Jésus-Christ nous montre son pouvoir sur les choses crées. Mais nous pouvons aussi y voir une mise en scène de son pouvoir sur le Malin, représenté par un lac houleux, dans la nuit.

«Soyez sans crainte» (Jn 6,20), leur disait-Il à ce moment-là. «Mais ayez confiance: moi, je suis vainqueur du monde» (Jn 16,33), leur dira-t-il plus tard, dans le Cénacle. Finalement, c'est Jésus qui dit aux femmes le matin du Pâques, après s'être relevé du sépulcre: «N’ayez pas peur». Par le témoignage des Apôtres, nous connaissons sa victoire sur les ennemis de l'homme, le péché et la mort. C'est pourquoi, aujourd'hui, ses paroles résonnent dans nos cœurs avec une force spéciale, car ce sont les paroles de Quelqu'un qui est vivant.

Les mêmes paroles que Jésus adressait à Pierre et aux Apôtres, Jean Paul II, le successeur de Pierre, les répétait au commencement de son Pontificat: «N'ayez pas peur». C'était un appel à ouvrir le cœur, notre existence même, au Rédempteur afin qu'avec Lui nous n'ayons plus peur devant les coups de tabac des ennemis du Christ.

Devant notre fragilité personnelle pour mener à bien les missions que le Seigneur nous confie (une vocation, un projet apostolique, un service...), nous sommes rassurés en apprenant que Marie aussi —créature comme nous— a entendu ces mêmes paroles, dites par l'ange avant de s'affronter à la mission que le Seigneur lui réservait. Apprenons d'elle à accueillir l'invitation de Jésus chaque jour, en chaque circonstance.

Gospel text

(Jn 6:1-15): 

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”

Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

The Application

The multiplication of bread reminds us the establishment of Eucharist, where Jesus took the bread, blessed them and gave to his disciples. Though simple it looks like for our memory, it’s exactly what wished for the humanity. That everything be simple, humble and comprehensible, so that the divine mysteries be well accepted, and be part of our own history. We are called to do in memory of this, which will be culminated, on the Cross, and will be accepted and understood by the disciples, in later days. It’s a pleasure to participate in the pascal mystery, particularly in the passion of Christ.

Be receiving the bread from the people, God insists the importance of our participation in the accomplishment of the salvific plan of God, God counts on us even today. It’s here God wishes to establish an intimate relationship with us. The table sharing was one of important places where God has chosen to teach the pascal mysteries to his disciples. The perfect communion is easily established, while sharing the meal with our brothers and sisters. It’s important that we underline, the disappearance of the disciples after the event, and the centre place that they have accorded to their Master. It should be the same, even today, in our own activities, including, social, professional and spiritual relationship. Let God takes the centre place, and the glory and honour be reserved to God.

Action of the day: Be ready to share with God.

“He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do”

Fr. Jordi POU i Sabater

(Sant Jordi Desvalls, Girona, Spain)

Today, we read in the Gospel the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves: “Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted” (Jn 6:11). The utter devastation of the Apostles facing so many hungry people makes us think of today's crowds, not on hunger, but much worse: far away from God, with a “spiritual anorexia”, preventing any participation in Easter and the possibility to meet Jesus. We do not know how to reach so many people... In today's reading, a message of hope is fluttering: lack of means does not matter; supernatural resources do; let us not be “realistic”, but “full of trust” in God. Thus, when Jesus asks Philip where could they buy some bread for all those people “He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do” (Jn 6:5-6). The Lord expects us to trust Him.

When looking at these “signs of the times”, we are not expecting passivity (laziness, languor for lack of fighting...), but hope: to work a miracle, the Lord wants the Apostles courage and dedication and the generosity of the boy who is willing to give some barley loaves and the two fish. Jesus also multiplies our faith, obedience and boldness, even though we cannot see right away the fruit of our efforts, just as the farmer cannot see the stalk already appearing after sowing. Saint Josemaria Escrivá said: “We must, then, have faith and not be dispirited. We must not be stopped by any kind of human calculation. To overcome the obstacles we have to throw ourselves into the task so that the very effort we make will open up new paths”… that will pop up unexpectedly.

Let us not wait for the right moment to place whatever we have at our disposal: but as soon as possible! for Jesus is awaiting us to work the miracle. Saint John Paul II wrote: “The troubles the world scene presents at the beginning of the new millennium lead us to think that only an intercession from above may allow us to expect a less darker future.” Let us, therefore, turn to the Virgin Mary with the Rosary, for her mediation has always been felt in so many frail moments Mankind has gone throughout history.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mt 11,25-30): 

En ce temps-là, Jésus prit la parole et dit : « Père, Seigneur du ciel et de la terre, je proclame ta louange : ce que tu as caché aux sages et aux savants, tu l’as révélé aux tout-petits. Oui, Père, tu l’as voulu ainsi dans ta bienveillance. Tout m’a été remis par mon Père ; personne ne connaît le Fils, sinon le Père, et personne ne connaît le Père, sinon le Fils, et celui à qui le Fils veut le révéler. « Venez à moi, vous tous qui peinez sous le poids du fardeau, et moi, je vous procurerai le repos. Prenez sur vous mon joug, devenez mes disciples, car je suis doux et humble de cœur, et vous trouverez le repos pour votre âme. Oui, mon joug est facile à porter, et mon fardeau, léger. »

 

«Tu as caché aux sages et aux savants, tu l’as révélé aux tout-petits»

Abbé Antoni CAROL i Hostench

(Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, l’Eglise fête avec joie et avec reconnaissance Sainte Catherine de Sienne (1347-1380). Dans la joie, car en elle les paroles du Christ sont devenues réalité: “tu as caché ces choses aux sages et aux intelligents, et tu les as révélées aux petits enfants” (Mt 11, 25). C’est une forte impression que nous cause le degré de maturité intérieure et l’union amoureuse en Jésus-Christ - jusqu’aux épousailles mystiques mêmes- d’une fille aussi jeune comme Catherine.

Dieu même porte dans son “ADN” la simplicité et la discrétion. Ainsi avaient été les actes du Messie: il est né dans une étable et ressuscita sans aucun triomphalisme. Il était le Roi annoncé et attendu depuis les temps de David, seulement sa couronne royale était faite d’épines et son trône était la Croix. Lors d’une de ses visions mystiques, Catherine vit que Jésus lui présentait deux couronnes, l’une en or, l’autre d’épines. Elle répondit que son repos résidait dans la douleur du Seigneur et choisit la couronne d’épines… “Venez à moi, vous tous qui êtes fatigués et chargés, et je vous donnerai du repos” (Mt 11,28): Catherine s’appuie et repose dans la souffrance du Christ; Jésus s’appuie et repose dans la simplicité de la jeune sainte.

Catherine, connaît bien son Aimé, elle avait une conscience vive et fine de la grandeur de l’homme, car Dieu lui-même est épris de chacun d’entre nous. “Quelle raison T’a fait constituer l’homme en si grande dignité? L’amour inestimable par lequel Tu as regardé en Toi-même Ta créature, et Tu T’es épris d’elle; car c’est par amour que Tu l’as créée, c’est par amour que Tu lui as donné un être capable de goûter Ton Bien éternel”.

Enfin, l’Eglise porte une immense reconnaissance envers l’œuvre conciliante de Catherine; car en ces temps-là, l’Eglise traversa une sombre période de divisions internes et externes. La plus regrettable fût “l’exil d’Avignon”, où depuis 1305 pas moins de sept papes s’y étaient succédés. Les prières et les démarches de Sainte Catherine - et d’autres personnalités, comme Sainte Brigitte- parvinrent à obtenir le retour du Pape Urbain V à la Ville Eternelle en 1367. Grâces leur soient rendues à toutes ces saintes femmes qui ont tant fait - et très souvent bien plus que ce que nous savons- pour l’Eglise!

Gospel text

(Jn 3,31-36): 

He who comes from above is above all; he who comes from the earth belongs to the earth and his words, too, are earthly. The One who comes from heaven speaks of the things he has seen and heard; he bears witness to this but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does receive his testimony acknowledges the truthfulness of God. The one sent by God speaks God's words and gives the Spirit without measure. For the Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything into his hands. Whoever believes in the Son lives with eternal life, but he who will not believe in the Son will never know life and always faces the justice of God.

The Application

Many of us are not very much far away from the then Jewish contemporaries of Jesus, including of the Apostles. We feel that we know everything and we wish to master even God, if possible. Jesus is inviting us to be humble and accept the divine will, as a way of beatitude. Believing in Jesus is, believing the way of the cross, as an imperative towards resurrection.

Jesus shows us two different worlds. He would have us, as God's children, to act divinely, recognising in Him the divine elements, the cross as the divine will for the salvation of the world. Cross is the essential part of this salvific plan. The people of this world cannot recognise the cross as the elements of heaven, because their thoughts are so limited by sensual or intellectual pleasure, that they do not believe anything other than what is palpable and visible or intelligible to human approach.

We already know that faith is a gift from God, yet we must know how to welcome it. By welcoming the spiritual elements that are in the hearts of men, we feel that we belong to God and we recognise his works in men. Divinely people see divine things, even in earthly elements. Are you divine in your approach?

Action of the day: Be humble.

«Whoever believes in the Son lives with eternal life»

Fr. Melcior QUEROL i Solà

(Ribes de Freser, Girona, Spain)

Today, the Gospel invites us to cease being so “worldly”, to stop being men who can only speak about mundane things, to speak and behave instead as «he who comes from above» (Jn 3:31), who is Jesus. In this text we see —once more— that in evangelic radicalism there is no happy medium. We must always strive to follow God's thinking, endeavor to share Christ's feelings and aim at seeing men and their circumstances with the same spirit of the Word made flesh. If we behave as “he who comes from above” we shall discover the multitude of positive things happening all the time around us, for God's love is a continued action in favor of man. If we come from above we shall love everybody without exception, and our life will be an open invitation for others to do the same.

«He who comes from above is above all» (Jn 3:31). This is why He can be so helpful to every man and woman where they need help; furthermore «the One who comes from heaven speaks of the things he has seen and heard» (Jn 3:32). And his service costs nothing. This attitude of service without expecting anything in return, without needing a reply from the others, creates a profoundly human and respectful ambiance towards each person's free will; this is a contagious attitude that freely impels others to respond and behave in very much the same way.

Service and testimony go always together, they identify one another. Our world needs authenticity: and what can be more authentic than God's words? what is there more authentic than He who «gives the Spirit without measure» (Jn 3:34)? This is why «whoever does receive his testimony acknowledges the truthfulness of God» (Jn 3:33).

“Believing in the Son” means to have eternal life; it also means that Judgement day is not hanging over believers because they have already been judged and received a favorable sentence; on the other hand, «he who will not believe in the Son will never know life and always faces the justice of God» (Jn 3:36)... until he believes.