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

Gospel text

(Mt 26:14-25): 

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”’” The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”

The Application

God sees our inner-self in its totality and invites us to purify it. As I wrote to you yesterday, I believe in the possibility of conversion at any time, which God grants us in Judas Iscariot. We can present ourselves as righteous before men, not before God. Judas is called to review his life and to ask Jesus for forgiveness.

In truth, Jesus invites us to celebrate Easter with Him and to feel His pain and suffering within us. The celebrations of Holy Week give us this opportunity to live with Jesus, not as spectators, but as his beloved ones, who actively participate in his passion. In these days, everything is provincial, including the monkeys and gestures.  So let us welcome them with an open and humble heart.

Action of the day: Avoid double life.
 

“Surely it is not I?”

Fr. Higinio Rafael ROSOLEN IVE

(Cobourg, Ontario, Canada)

Today, the Gospel presents us with three scenes: the betrayal of Judas, the preparations to celebrate the Passover and the Supper with the Twelve.

The word “deliver” (“paradidōmi” in Greek) is repeated six times and serves as a link between these three moments: (i) when Judas delivers Jesus; (ii) Passover, which is a figure of the sacrifice of the cross, where Jesus gives His life; and (iii) the Last Supper, in which the delivery of Jesus is manifested, which will be fulfilled on the Cross.

We want to stop here at the Paschal Supper, where Jesus Christ manifests that His body will be given and His blood shed. His words: “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me” (Mt 26:20) invite each of the Twelve, and especially Judas, to an examination of conscience. These words are extended to all of us, who have also been called by Jesus. They are an invitation to reflect on our actions, be they good or bad; our dignity; to ask ourselves what we are doing at this moment with our lives; where we are going and how we have responded to the call of Jesus. We must answer ourselves with sincerity, humility and frankness.

Let us remember that we can hide our sins from other people, but we cannot hide them from God, who sees in secret. Jesus, true God and man, sees and knows everything. He knows what is in our hearts and what we are capable of. Nothing is hidden from His eyes. Let us avoid deceiving ourselves, and it is only after we have been sincere with ourselves that we should look to Christ and ask Him, "Surely it is not I?" (Mt 26:22). Let us bear in mind what Pope Francis says: "Jesus loving us, invites us to allow ourselves to be reconciled with God and to return to Him to rediscover ourselves."

Let us look at Jesus, listen to His words and ask for the grace to deliver ourselves by uniting ourselves to His sacrifice on the Cross.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mt 26,14-25): 

Alors, l'un des Douze, nommé Judas Iscariote, alla trouver les chefs des prêtres et leur dit: «Que voulez-vous me donner, si je vous le livre?». Ils lui proposèrent trente pièces d'argent. Dès lors, Judas cherchait une occasion favorable pour le livrer.

Le premier jour de la fête des pains sans levain, les disciples vinrent dire à Jésus: «Où veux-tu que nous fassions les préparatifs de ton repas pascal?». Il leur dit: «Allez à la ville, chez un tel, et dites-lui: ‘Le Maître te fait dire: Mon temps est proche; c'est chez toi que je veux célébrer la Pâque avec mes disciples’». Les disciples firent ce que Jésus leur avait prescrit et ils préparèrent la Pâque.

Le soir venu, Jésus se trouvait à table avec les Douze. Pendant le repas, il leur déclara: «Amen, je vous le dis: l'un de vous va me livrer». Profondément attristés, ils se mirent à lui demander, l'un après l'autre: «Serait-ce moi, Seigneur?». Il leur répondit: «Celui qui vient de se servir en même temps que moi, celui-là va me livrer. Le Fils de l'homme s'en va, comme il est écrit à son sujet; mais malheureux l'homme par qui le Fils de l'homme est livré! Il vaudrait mieux que cet homme-là ne soit pas né!». Judas, celui qui le livrait, prit la parole: «Rabbi, serait-ce moi?». Jésus lui répond: «C'est toi qui l'as dit!».

L’Application

Dieu voit notre intérieur dans sa totalité et nous invite à le purifier. Comme je vous l'ai écrit hier, je crois à la possibilité d'une conversion à tout moment, que Dieu nous accorde en Judas Iscariote. Nous pouvons nous présenter comme justes devant les hommes, mais pas devant Dieu. Judas est appelé à revoir sa vie et à demander pardon à Jésus.

En vérité, Jésus nous invite à célébrer Pâques avec lui et à sentir en nous sa douleur et sa souffrance. Les célébrations de la Semaine Sainte nous donnent l'occasion de vivre avec Jésus, non pas comme des spectateurs, mais comme ses bien-aimés, qui participent activement à sa passion. En ces jours, tout est provincial, y compris les singes et les gestes.  Accueillons-les donc avec un cœur ouvert et humble.

«Serait-ce moi ?»

Abbé Higinio Rafael ROSOLEN IVE

(Cobourg, Ontario, Canada)

Aujourd'hui, l'Évangile nous présente trois scènes: la trahison de Judas, les préparatifs pour célébrer la Pâque et la Cène avec les Douze.

Le mot «livrer» («paradidōmi» en grec) est répété six fois et sert de lien entre ces trois moments: (I) quand Judas livre Jésus; (II) Pâques, qui est une figure du sacrifice de la croix, où Jésus donne sa vie; et (III) la Dernière Cène, dans laquelle la livraison de Jésus est manifestée, qui s'accomplira sur la Croix.

Nous voulons nous arrêter ici à la Cène pascale, où Jésus-Christ manifeste que son corps sera donné et son sang versé. Ses paroles: «Je vous le dis: l'un de vous va me livrer» (Mt 26, 20) invite chacun des Douze, et surtout Judas, à un examen de conscience. Ces paroles sont étendues à nous tous, qui avons également été appelés par Jésus. Elles sont une invitation à réfléchir sur nos actions, qu'elles soient bonnes ou mauvaises; notre dignité; demandez-nous ce que nous faisons en ce moment de nos vies; où nous allons et comment nous avons répondu à l'appel de Jésus. Nous devons nous répondre avec sincérité, humilité et franchise.

Souvenons-nous que nous pouvons cacher nos péchés aux autres, mais nous ne pouvons pas les cacher à Dieu, qui voit en secret. Jésus, vrai Dieu et homme, voit et sait tout. Il sait ce qu'il y a dans nos cœurs et ce dont nous sommes capables. Rien n'est caché à ses yeux. Évitons de nous tromper, et ce n'est qu'après avoir été sincère avec nous-mêmes que nous devrions nous tourner vers le Christ et lui demander «Serait-ce moi ? (Mt 26,22). Gardons à l'esprit ce que dit le Pape François: «En nous aimant, Jésus nous invite à nous laisser réconcilier avec Dieu et à revenir à lui pour nous redécouvrir».

Regardons Jésus, écoutons ses paroles et demandons la grâce de nous donner en nous joignant à son sacrifice sur la croix.

Gospel text

(Jn 13:21-33.36-38): 

Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.

When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.”

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

The Meditation

Lord, your humanity is in turmoil and I find myself in that turmoil. On the one hand, the cause of this turmoil is my sins and on the other hand, my lack of faithfulness to your commandment of love. Yet, you are not weary, for you invite me to conversion, like Judas, who was called to conversion, by your upheaval, to whom you did not hesitate to give the visible signs. You also give me the necessary signs. Very often, in the crowd and the noise of the day, I do not see your goodness and your generosity. By your silence you protect Judas and give him the time he needs to convert. Help me, Lord, to be able to behave like Peter, to weep bitterly over my sins, and to have the courage to stand before you in humility and gratitude. Amen.

Action of the day: Confess your sins.

“It was night”

Fr. Jean GOTTIGNY

(Bruxelles, Belgium)

Today, Holy Tuesday, the liturgy emphasizes the scene about to be unleashed and that will end with the crucifixion on Good Friday. “So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night” (Jn 13:30). It is always night when we move away from He who is “Light from Light, true God from true God” (Symbol of Faith: Nicene Creed).

The sinner is the one who turns his back on the Lord to gravitate around the created things, without referring them to its Creator. St. Augustine describes sin as “a love of self to the point of despising God.” That is, a betrayal. A prevarication that is the fruit of “the arrogance which makes us want to be liberated from God and left alone to ourselves, the arrogance which makes us think that we do not need his eternal love, but can be the masters of our own lives” (Benedict XVI). We may understand that Jesus felt that night “deeply troubled” (Jn 13:21).

Fortunately, sin is not the last word; the last word is God's mercy. This means, however, a “change” on our part; a reverse of the situation consisting in detach from creatures to become attached to God and find again the true freedom. Nevertheless, to change to God we should not wait to become sick of the false freedom we have been using. In words of the Jesuit Louis Bourdaloue, “we would like to convert when we would get tired of this world or, rather, when the world would get tired of us.” We should know better than that. Let us make up our mind right now. Easter time is the adequate time. In the Cross, Christ opens his arms wide to all of us, nobody is excluded. Every repented thief has his place in Paradise. On condition, however, to change his life and remedy his shortcomings, like the thief in the Gospel: “And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal” (Lk 23:41).

Texte de l'Évangile

(Jn 13,21-33.36-38): 

À l'heure où Jésus passait de ce monde à son Père, au cours du repas qu'il prenait avec ses disciples, il fut bouleversé au plus profond de lui-même, et il attesta: «Amen, amen, je vous le dis: l'un de vous me livrera». Les disciples se regardaient les uns les autres, sans parvenir à comprendre de qui Jésus parlait. Comme il y avait à table, tout contre Jésus, l'un de ses disciples, celui que Jésus aimait, Simon-Pierre lui fait signe de demander à Jésus de qui il veut parler. Le disciple se penche donc sur la poitrine de Jésus et lui dit: «Seigneur, qui est-ce?». Jésus lui répond: «C'est celui à qui j'offrirai la bouchée que je vais tremper dans le plat». Il trempe la bouchée, et la donne à Judas, fils de Simon l'Iscariote. Et, quand Judas eut pris la bouchée, Satan entra en lui. Jésus lui dit alors: «Ce que tu fais, fais-le vite». Mais aucun des convives ne comprit le sens de cette parole. Comme Judas tenait la bourse commune, certains pensèrent que Jésus voulait lui dire d'acheter ce qu'il fallait pour la fête, ou de donner quelque chose aux pauvres. Quand Judas eut pris la bouchée, il sortit aussitôt; il faisait nuit.

Quand il fut sorti, Jésus déclara: «Maintenant le Fils de l'homme est glorifié, et Dieu est glorifié en lui. Si Dieu est glorifié en lui, Dieu en retour lui donnera sa propre gloire; et il la lui donnera bientôt. Mes petits enfants, je suis encore avec vous, mais pour peu de temps, et vous me chercherez. J'ai dit aux Juifs: Là où je m'en vais, vous ne pouvez pas y aller. Je vous le dis maintenant à vous aussi. Simon-Pierre lui dit: «Seigneur, où vas-tu?». Jésus lui répondit: «Là où je m'en vais, tu ne peux pas me suivre pour l'instant; tu me suivras plus tard». Pierre lui dit: «Seigneur, pourquoi ne puis-je pas te suivre maintenant? Je donnerai ma vie pour toi!». Jésus réplique: «Tu donneras ta vie pour moi? Amen, amen, je te le dis: le coq ne chantera pas avant que tu m'aies renié trois fois».

Une méditation

Seigneur, ton humanité est dans la tourmente et je me trouve dans cette tourmente. D'une part, la cause de cette tourmente, ce sont mes péchés et d'autre part, mon manque de fidélité à ton commandement d'amour. Pourtant, tu ne te lasses pas, car tu m'invites à la conversion, comme Judas, qui a été appelé à la conversion, par ton bouleversement, à qui tu n'as pas hésité à donner les signes visibles. Tu me donnes aussi les signes nécessaires. Très souvent, dans la foule et le bruit de la journée, je ne vois pas ta bonté et ta générosité. Par ton silence, tu protèges Judas et tu lui donnes le temps nécessaire pour se convertir. Aide-moi, Seigneur, à être capable de me comporter comme Pierre, à pleurer amèrement sur mes péchés et à avoir le courage de me tenir devant toi avec humilité et reconnaissance. Amen.

«Il faisait nuit»

Abbé Jean GOTTIGNY

(Bruxelles, Belgique)

Aujourd'hui mardi saint, la liturgie met l'accent sur le drame qui se prépare et qui débouchera sur la croix du vendredi saint. «Quand Judas eut pris la bouchée, il sortit aussitôt; il faisait nuit» (Jn 13,30). Il fait toujours nuit quand on s'éloigne de celui qui est «lumière, née de la lumière, vrai Dieu, né du vrai Dieu» (Symbole de Nicée-Constantinople).

Le pécheur est celui qui tourne le dos au Seigneur pour graviter autour des choses créées, sans les référer au Créateur. Saint Augustin décrit le péché comme «l'amour de soi jusqu'au mépris de Dieu». Une trahison, en somme. Une forfaiture, fruit de «l'arrogance avec laquelle nous voulons nous émanciper de Dieu et n'être rien d'autre que nous-mêmes, l'arrogance avec laquelle nous croyons ne pas avoir besoin de l'amour éternel, mais avec laquelle nous voulons maîtriser notre vie tout seuls» (Benoît XVI). On comprend que Jésus, ce soir-là, ait été «bouleversé au plus profond de lui-même» (Jn 13,21).

Heureusement, le péché n'est pas le dernier mot. Le dernier mot, c'est la miséricorde de Dieu. Mais celle-ci suppose de notre part un “retournement”. Un renversement de situation qui consiste à se détacher des créatures pour s'attacher à Dieu et retrouver ainsi la liberté authentique. N'attendons cependant pas pour retourner à Dieu d'être écœurés des fausses libertés que nous avons prises. Selon le mot de Bourdaloue, «nous voulons nous convertir quand nous serons rebutés du monde ou plutôt quand le monde sera rebuté de nous». Soyons plus avisés. Décidons-nous maintenant. La semaine sainte est l'occasion propice. Sur la croix, le Christ tend les bras à tous. Nul n'est exclu. Tout larron repentant a sa place au paradis. À condition de changer de vie et de réparer, comme celui de l'Évangile: «Pour nous, c'est justice, nous payons nos actes; mais lui n'a rien fait de mal» (Lc 23,41).

Gospel text

(Jn 12:1-11): 

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.

The Prayer

Lord, a human gesture, full of love and gratitude, is always accepted by you. How often you have reminded us of the importance of this gesture towards our brothers and sisters! Everyone is looking for what they need. This fraternal love and compassion is the need of our time. 

 Like you, Lazarus also attracts special attention. You give us this grace to be able to witness to the people of this world, the immense love that you share with humanity. As you prepare yourself for the accomplishment of your Father's will, this perfume that is shed, you transform it like the oil of your burial preparation. For me personally, this perfume, this gesture of Mary, the service of Martha, the presence of Lazarus, are all an expression of love. Help me, Lord, in this Holy Week, to multiply these gestures, without moderation and without reserve. Amen.  

“Anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair”

Fr. Jordi POU i Sabater

(Sant Jordi Desvalls, Girona, Spain)

Today, the Gospel summarizes two different attitudes about dealing with God, Jesus-Christ and life itself. We see the attitude of Judas criticizing Mary for anointing Jesus' feet: “Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” (Jn 12:4-5). What Judas said makes sense as it ties in with Jesus' doctrine; but it is easy to criticize what others do, even when there are no hidden intentions, as it was with Judas’ case.

Any complaint must be an act of responsibility: if we complain we have to ask ourselves how we would have handled the situation and what we would be willing to do if we were in that position. Otherwise, we run the risk of unjustly criticizing someone for doing the best they can, according to the circumstances.

On the other hand, Mary anoints Jesus' feet and wipes them with her hair, because she truly believes this is what she must do. This is an act of great benevolence toward Jesus: “Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard” (Jn 12:3). It is an act of love, and like any act of love, it is difficult to understand by those who do not share it. I think that, at that very moment, Mary realized what St. Augustine wrote centuries later: “Perhaps on this earth the Lord’s feet are still in need. For of whom but of His members is He yet to say in the end, “Inasmuch as ye did it to one of the least of mine, ye did it unto me”? Ye spent what was superfluous for yourselves, but ye have done what was grateful to my feet.”

Judas' complaint has no utility whatsoever, and it only led him to treachery. Mary's act, on the other hand, led her to love her Lord even more and, as a consequence, to a greater love for all the “feet” of Christ in world today.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Jn 12,1-11): 

Six jours avant la Pâque, Jésus vint à Béthanie où habitait Lazare, celui qu'il avait ressuscité d'entre les morts. On donna un repas en l'honneur de Jésus. Marthe faisait le service, Lazare était avec Jésus parmi les convives.

Or, Marie avait pris une livre d'un parfum très pur et de très grande valeur; elle versa le parfum sur les pieds de Jésus, qu'elle essuya avec ses cheveux; la maison fut remplie par l'odeur du parfum. Judas Iscariote, l'un des disciples, celui qui allait le livrer, dit alors: «Pourquoi n'a-t-on pas vendu ce parfum pour trois cents pièces d'argent, que l'on aurait données à des pauvres?». Il parla ainsi, non parce qu'il se préoccupait des pauvres, mais parce que c'était un voleur: comme il tenait la bourse commune, il prenait pour lui ce que l'on y mettait. Jésus lui dit: «Laisse-la! Il fallait qu'elle garde ce parfum pour le jour de mon ensevelissement. Des pauvres, vous en aurez toujours avec vous, mais moi, vous ne m'aurez pas toujours».

Or, une grande foule de Juifs apprit que Jésus était là, et ils arrivèrent, non seulement à cause de Jésus, mais aussi pour voir ce Lazare qu'il avait ressuscité d'entre les morts. Les chefs des prêtres décidèrent alors de faire mourir aussi Lazare, parce que beaucoup de Juifs, à cause de lui, s'en allaient, et croyaient en Jésus.

L’Application

Seigneur, un geste humain, plein d'amour et de gratitude, est toujours le bienvenu dans ta maison. Combien de fois tu nous as rappelé l'importance de ce geste envers nos frères et sœurs ! Chacun cherche ce dont il a besoin. Comme toi, Lazare aussi attire une attention particulière. Tu nous fais cette grâce de pouvoir témoigner aux gens de ce monde, de l'immense amour que tu partages avec l'humanité. En te préparant à l'accomplissement de la volonté de ton Père, ce parfum qui se répand, tu le transformes comme l'huile de ta sépulture. Pour moi personnellement, ce parfum, ce geste de Marie, le service de Marthe, la présence de Lazare, sont tous une expression d'amour. Aide-moi, Seigneur, en cette semaine sainte, à multiplier ces gestes, sans modération et sans réserve. Amen.

«Elle versa le parfum sur les pieds de Jésus, qu'elle essuya avec ses cheveux»

Abbé Jordi POU i Sabater

(Sant Jordi Desvalls, Girona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui l'Évangile nous montre deux attitudes envers Dieu, envers Jésus-Christ et à l'égard de la vie elle-même. Devant le parfum que Marie répand sur les pieds de son Seigneur, Judas proteste: «Judas Iscariote, l'un des disciples, celui qui allait le livrer, dit alors: ‘Pourquoi n'a-t-on pas vendu ce parfum pour trois cents pièces d'argent, que l'on aurait données à des pauvres?’» (Jn 12,4-5). Ce n'est pas sot; c'est même en accord avec la doctrine de Jésus. Mais il est facile de critiquer ce que les autres font, même sans intentions cachées, comme c'était le cas de Judas.

N'importe quelle critique doit être un acte de responsabilité: avec la critique nous devons aussi expliquer ce que nous ferions à la place, ce que nous serions prêts à faire. Autrement, la critique n'est —comme ici— que la plainte de ceux qui agissent de mauvaise foi face à ceux qui tâchent de faire de leur mieux.

Marie répand du parfum sur les pieds de Jésus en les essuyant avec ses cheveux, car elle croit que c'est son devoir. Cette action montre une magnanimité splendide: elle le fait en prenant «une livre d'un parfum très pur et de très grande valeur» (Jn 12,3). C'est un acte d'amour et, comme tout acte d'amour, difficile à comprendre pour ceux qui ne le partagent pas. Il me semble qu'à partir de ce moment-là, Marie sut ce que Saint Augustin devait écrire quelques siècles plus tard: «Il se peut que sur la terre les pieds du Seigneur soient dans le besoin. N'est-ce pas de ses membres, en effet, qu'il dira à la fin du monde: ‘Dans la mesure où vous l'avez fait à l'un de ces plus petits de mes frères, c'est à moi que vous l'avez fait? Trouvez un emploi à votre superflu; pour vous, il est inutile, mais il est nécessaire aux pieds du Seigneur’».

La protestation de Judas n'a aucune utilité, elle le mène seulement à la trahison. L'action de Marie la porte à aimer encore plus son Seigneur et, en conséquence, à aimer encore plus les “pieds” du Christ qu'il y a dans notre monde.

We enter Holy Week, celebrating the passion of the Lord. A week filled with signs and symbols, ceremonies with great importance, a strong moment to better express our faith, faith in God who acts in silence, offering us his passion, as a gift offered to his lovers. Wasn't the passion of the Lord a profound expression of Christ’s love,  towards his Father, towards his people that his Father loves so much? Why, Lord, did you choose the passion, to die on the Cross, to make us understand your love? Only if we have a genuine answer to this question that this passion week will have a meaning.

The civil, political and religious authorities mingle to make disappear an Innocent who did only good. It is amazing that before the choice of the majority,  the will of the pitiful minority, remains silent, for their voice has disappeared in a huge crowd. Many of may feel the same today, in this crowded world.

The charges are not serious, yet death is claimed. Who has the truth? Maybe, they all have the truth, but a partial truth, will hurt us. The weak are used as an object to claim friendship, and this friendship is welcomed, for good and for evil. "It is better that one man die for the people and that the whole nation does not perish" prophesied Caiaphas, the high priest. God has His own way of making use of human weakness.

The divine silence, is passively active, because Jesus does not stop assuring his friends. God never stopped to do good. He will meet the women of Jerusalem, and also Simeon, the Cyrenian. The soldiers, the criminals, and even the centurion are invited to discover the economy of salvation, a surprising God. They would later say, "He was truly the Son of God." God welcomed all testimonies, sincere ones. Do we have one such witness?

For a people from Jerusalem, nothing special, as for us today. We know this story perfectly. Yet, there are elements in this story that escape us. Why did the King of the universe choose this donkey? An exceptional humility? We must reread our history and there we will discover that the King of peace always chose this animal. Nothing was by chance. He did not come to judge us, but by Him the world be saved. Everything is providence, and in silence, even the owner of this animal is invited to participate in the passion of the Lord.

By this exceptional entrance in the Holy city of Jerusalem, Jesus saw the world in its totality. The people who shouted with joy, and the people who demanded the release of a criminal and the death of an innocent. He was surrounded by the great, the small, by his disciples, in glorious acclamation., as Son of God.  He will go out of the palace, in accusation alone. He alone chose to carry the Cross. He is welcomed as a King and will go out as a criminal. He has seen all in this journey, the poor, the rich, the innocent, the civil, political, religious authorities, etc. He came to save the whole world.  The passion is offered to us all, no one can say, that he or she is ignorant. You are the only one living in Jerusalem, didn’t know what has happened, said the disciples of Emmaus.

In your hands I entrust my life. Was not easy. Humanly his prayer was, if you can take it away, why have you abandoned me, etc. It is in the same humanity He entrusted His Life to the Father. It is our own humanity, with its ups and downs, cry and joy, hope and despair, all come as a package of life. These convergent transversals, we will have it all our lives. We must know how to hand over everything to the Lord. Let us not be passive spectators, in such moments of life. we must live the passion with Christ, taking a correct and just position before God.

For the visible world, everything came to an end, by the death of Jesus. The disciples of Jesus, were not an exception.  For the believers, there is new beginning. It’s all up to us, how do we look at life. In every end, there is a new beginning. In every death, there is new life. The passion is offered to us, so that the resurrection can be appropriated as our own. Let us appropriate our daily passions and associate them that of Christ. There the promised resurrection will be ours. I wish you all a very Holy Week, a PASSION WEEK, Amen.

Gospel text

(Jn 11:45-56): 

Today's Gospel (Jn 11:45-56) Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to kill him.

So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples.

Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves. They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast? ” For the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should inform them, so that they might arrest him.

The Prayer

Lord, thank you, thank you for the passion, because your passion gives us the hope to live our lives. It is in this passion that you have expressed your love for your Father. It is in this same passion that you invite your beloved ones to express their love for you. Once we understand the inner meaning and the iron like formation or transformation that you desire in us, through our daily passion, the pains of this passion become the very medicine to heal our inner wounds. It helps us to accept our daily crosses easily. You make us learn through these passions, that your Father is always active and nothing happens without Him. It is true that some of our contemporaries are not righteous, yet I know that your Father will bring us out of every kind of wickedness they plan against us. Help us Lord to accept our daily crosses joyfully and courageously. May our crosses gather your people together as a holy nation, Amen.

Action of the day: Cherish your passion, as a special gift from God.

"Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God"

Fr. Xavier ROMERO i Galdeano

(Cervera, Lleida, Spain)

Today, while on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus is aware he is persecuted, harassed, sentenced, because the greatest and newest his revelation has been —the announcement of the Kingdom of God— the greatest and wider has been too the division and the opposition He has found amongst his audience (cf. Jn 11:45-46).

The negative words by Caiaphas, “it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” (Jn 11:50), will be positively assumed by Jesus in the redemption performed for us. Jesus, God's only begotten Son, dies in the Cross for the love of all of us! He dies to make true the Father's plan, that is, “but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God” (Jn 11:52).

And this is the wonder and the creativity of our God! Caiaphas, with his sentence (“It is better to have one man die...”) and out of his hate, does nothing else but to try to eliminate an idealist; God Father, instead, by sending his Son out of his love for us, does something wonderful: to transform that malevolent sentence into a work of redemptive love, because to God Father, each man is worth all the blood shed by Jesus Christ!

One week from today, we shall sing —in solemn vigil— the Easter Proclamation. With this wonderful prayer, the Church praises the original sin. And it does not do it because the Church ignores its gravity, but because God —in his infinite goodness— has done some deeds as a response to man's sin. That is, in the face of the “original disgust”, He has replied with the Incarnation, with his personal immolation and institution of the Eucharist. This is why, next Saturday, our liturgy will sing: “O, admirable condescendence of your goodness! O, immeasurable predilection which you have loved us with! O, lucky guilt, that has deserved us so great a Redeemer!”

If only our sentences, words and actions could be no more a deterrent for the evangelization, since we, too, have been requested by Christ to gather the scattered children of God: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19).

Texte de l'Évangile

(Jn 11,45-56): 

Les nombreux Juifs, qui étaient venus entourer Marie et avaient donc vu ce que faisait Jésus, crurent en lui. Mais quelques-uns allèrent trouver les pharisiens pour leur raconter ce qu'il avait fait. Les chefs des prêtres et les pharisiens convoquèrent donc le grand conseil; ils disaient: «Qu'allons-nous faire? Cet homme accomplit un grand nombre de signes. Si nous continuons à le laisser agir, tout le monde va croire en lui, et les Romains viendront détruire notre Lieu saint et notre nation». Alors, l'un d'entre eux, Caïphe, qui était grand prêtre cette année-là, leur dit: «Vous n'y comprenez rien; vous ne voyez pas quel est votre intérêt: il vaut mieux qu'un seul homme meure pour le peuple, et que l'ensemble de la nation ne périsse pas». Ce qu'il disait là ne venait pas de lui-même; mais, comme il était grand prêtre cette année-là, il fut prophète en révélant que Jésus allait mourir pour la nation. Or, ce n'était pas seulement pour la nation, c'était afin de rassembler dans l'unité les enfants de Dieu dispersés. A partir de ce jour-là, le grand conseil fut décidé à le faire mourir.

C'est pourquoi Jésus ne circulait plus ouvertement parmi les Juifs; il partit pour la région proche du désert, dans la ville d'Éphraïm où il séjourna avec ses disciples. Or, la Pâque des Juifs approchait, et beaucoup montèrent de la campagne à Jérusalem pour se purifier avant la fête. Ils cherchaient Jésus et, dans le Temple, ils se disaient entre eux: «Qu'en pensez-vous? Il ne viendra sûrement pas à la fête!». Les chefs des prêtres et les pharisiens avaient donné des ordres: quiconque saurait où il était devait le dénoncer, pour qu'on puisse l'arrêter.

La prière

Seigneur, merci, merci pour la passion, car ta passion nous donne l'espoir de vivre notre vie. Elle nous aide à accepter facilement nos croix quotidiennes. Tu nous fais apprendre que ton Père est toujours actif et que rien ne se passe sans Lui. Il est vrai que certains de nos contemporains ne sont pas justes, pourtant je sais que ton Père nous sortira de toutes les méchancetés qu'ils préparent contre nous. Aide-nous Seigneur à accepter nos croix quotidiennes avec joie et courage. Que nos croix rassemblent ton peuple comme une nation, sainte, Amen.

«Jésus allait mourir pour la nation. Or, ce n'était pas seulement pour la nation, c'était afin de rassembler dans l'unité les enfants de Dieu dispersés»

Abbé Xavier ROMERO i Galdeano

(Cervera, Lleida, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, alors qu'Il monte vers Jérusalem, Jésus se sait poursuivi, traqué, condamné d'avance, car, plus grande et plus neuve fut sa révélation —l'annonce du Royaume— plus vaste et plus claire fut la division et l'opposition qu'Il trouva chez ceux qui l'écoutaient (cf. Jn 11,45-46).

Les paroles négatives de Caïphe, «il vaut mieux qu'un seul homme meure pour le peuple, et que l'ensemble de la nation ne périsse pas» (Jn 11,50), seront positivement assumées par Jésus dans notre rédemption par Sa mort expiatoire. Jésus, le seul vrai Fils engendré par Dieu, meurt sur la Croix par amour pour chacun de nous! Il meurt pour faire réalité le plan du Père, c'est à dire, «rassembler dans l'unité les enfants de Dieu dispersés» (Jn 11,52).

Et voici l'admirable créativité de notre Dieu. Caïphe, avec sa sentence («il vaut mieux qu'un seul homme meure...») ne fait qu'éliminer, emporté par sa haine, un idéaliste; Dieu le Père, au contraire, en envoyant son Fils par amour pour nous, réalise une chose merveilleuse: convertir cette sentence malveillante en une ouvre d'amour, car, pour Dieu le Père, chaque homme vaut tout le sang versé par Jésus Christ!

Dans une semaine, nous chanterons —lors de la solennelle Veillée Pascale— l'annonce de la Pâque. À travers cette merveilleuse prière, l'Église fait l'éloge du péché originel. Et elle ne le fait pas parce qu'elle ignore sa gravité, mais parce que Dieu —dans sa bonté infinie— fit des prouesses en réponse au péché de l'homme. À son “chagrin originel”, Il a répondu par l'Incarnation, l'immolation personnelle et l'institution de l'Eucharistie. Aussi la liturgie chantera-t-elle samedi prochaine: «Merveilleuse condescendance de ta grâce! Imprévisible choix de ton amour! Heureuse fut la faute qui nous valut un tel Rédempteur!».

Que nos paroles et nos actes ne soient pas des obstacles à l'évangélisation, car nous aussi, nous avons reçu du Christ le mandat de rassembler les fils dispersés de Dieu: «Allez donc! De toutes les nations faites des disciples» (Mt 28,19).

Gospel text

(Jn 10:31-42): 

The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘? If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and Scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power.

He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained. Many came to him and said, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” And many there began to believe in him.

The Application

For me personally, the way we look and observe, plays an important role in our daily life, because it provides the necessary elements for intelligence, for a good discernment that will end with a right decision for execution. If this look is not good, we will make a radical mistake, unfortunately the story will end with an act, in all sincerity, against our own will. Fortunately, faith helps us to look at the world and its people, (with the help of our intelligence and obviously with grace,) the invisible and impalpable elements, where the truth is to be found. Its here we identify the way God works in and through us. A person of faith, will see in everything, a divine project. Thus, he or she has something to contribute, not to judge or accuse others. Even at the point of death, their hope in the Lord doesn’t get diminished.

We can verify this in today's Gospel, especially how Jesus sees the world and how his contemporaries refuse the truth. Yet if they wanted to see the divine works, they were right in front of them. Some of us hold a partial truth and stand firm with that truth, without checking it, with a look of faith, with a spiritual support that God has already granted us in Baptism.  Let us learn to look at the world with compassion and love. Then, we will witness, not only the divine presence, but also the passion of our brothers and sisters.  Next Friday we will celebrate the passion of the Lord. I invite you, therefore, to live it now by recognising the signs that God gives us, through the John Baptists, who are still visibly present in our community, calling for conversion. If we learn to look everything in Faith, this look will certainly help us to be converted, to become true children of God.

Action of the day: Be patient and hopeful.

“For which of these are you trying to stone me?”

Fr. Carles ELÍAS i Cao

(Barcelona, Spain)

Today, Friday, when there is only one week to go to commemorate our Lord's death, the Gospel presents us with the motives of his condemnation. Jesus tries to show the truth to the Jews, but they consider him to be a blasphemer and want to stone him. Jesus tells them about the works He is doing, the works of his Father that bestow credit to him, about why He can use the title of the “Son of God”... Nevertheless, He speaks from a level which is difficult to assimilate by his adversaries: “to be with the truth”, “to listen to his voice”... He speaks to them from the submission and commitment to his Person that make Jesus to be known and loved —“Rabbi, where are you staying?” (Jn 1:38)—, his disciples asked him at the beginning of his ministry. But, it all seems pointless: what Jesus is trying to say is so big they cannot fully understand it; only the small and humble ones will understand him, for the Kingdom is hidden from the wise and the learned.

Jesus struggles to present arguments that may be acceptable for the Jews, but to no avail. In fact, He will die because He is saying the truth about Himself, because He is faithful to Himself, to his identity and to his mission. As a prophet, He will present a claim for conversion and will be rejected, a new face of God and will be spitted at, a new fraternity and He will be forsaken.

Once more, our Lord's Cross emerges with all its strength as a true banner, as the one and only unquestionably reason: “O admirable virtue of the Holy Cross! O ineffable glory of the Father! We can see in it our Lord's Tribunal, the judgment of this World and the power of Christ Crucified. O, yes, my Lord: you have drawn towards you all things when, all day long you have held out your hands to an obstinate and rebellious people (cf. Is 65:2), the whole Universe will realize it had to pay tribute to your majesty!” (Saint Leo the Great). Jesus had to escape to the other side of the Jordan and those that truly believe in him went to him quite willing to follow him and listen to Him.