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

Gospel text

(Mt 18,21-35): 

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.

That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.

When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

Application

We Christians, reading this gospel, will say, we must forgive. Certainly, forgiveness and love are the visible identities that differentiate us from others. However, for the application of today's gospel, I would invite you to establish a very good relationship with the Lord, to recognise his will and to put it into practice.

It is good to receive grace, especially the forgiveness of our sins. If we reduce our relationship with God as a dispenser of the grace he gives us, we are taking a poll with God, vulgarising our relationship for the good that God can give us.

Lent helps us to re-establish a real relationship, a constructive, affective, life-giving relationship. To live this Lenten season better, we need to make an evaluation of our relationship with God, especially the quality of our relationship.

Action of the day: Know and love God.

“Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.”

Fr. Enric PRAT i Jordana

(Sort, Lleida, Spain)

Today, Matthew's Gospel invites us to ponder over the mystery of forgiveness by proposing a parallel between God's ways and our own human behavior when it comes to forgiving others.

Man even dares measuring and keeping control of the magnanimity of his forgiving nature: “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” (Mt 18:21). Peter felt seven times was a bit too much, perhaps the very maximum we can stand. In fact, Peter comes out of it quite splendidly if compared to the official of the parable who, when he met one of his companions who owed him a hundred pieces of silver, “grabbed him by the neck and almost strangled him, shouting, ‘Pay back what you owe.’” (Mt 18:28), refusing to listen to his pleading and promises of payment.

In actual fact, man either refuses to forgive or miserly measures out his forgiveness. Who would actually say that we have just received from God an infinitely reiterated and limitless forgiveness…? The parable says: “Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.” (Mt 18:27). And this, despite the fact his debt was very big.

But the parable we are commenting on emphasizes God's ways when it comes to granting forgiveness. After calling the debtor's attention to the gravity of his situation, he suddenly took pity on him before his humble and sorrowful pleading: “(...) the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master…” (Mt 18:26-27). This episode reflects what each one of us knows by our own experience and with deep gratitude: that God forgives the repentant and converted one without any limit. The negative and sad ending of the parable, however, honors justice and evidences the truth of Jesus' words in Luke’s Gospel: “For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mt 18,21-35): 

Pierre s'approcha de Jésus pour lui demander: «Seigneur, quand mon frère commettra des fautes contre moi, combien de fois dois-je lui pardonner? Jusqu'à sept fois?». Jésus lui répondit: «Je ne te dis pas jusqu'à sept fois, mais jusqu'à soixante-dix fois sept fois.

»En effet, le Royaume des cieux est comparable à un roi qui voulut régler ses comptes avec ses serviteurs. Il commençait, quand on lui amena quelqu'un qui lui devait dix mille talents (c'est-à-dire soixante millions de pièces d'argent). Comme cet homme n'avait pas de quoi rembourser, le maître ordonna de le vendre, avec sa femme, ses enfants et tous ses biens, en remboursement de sa dette. Alors, tombant à ses pieds, le serviteur demeurait prosterné et disait: ‘Prends patience envers moi, et je te rembourserai tout’. Saisi de pitié, le maître de ce serviteur le laissa partir et lui remit sa dette.

»Mais, en sortant, le serviteur trouva un de ses compagnons qui lui devait cent pièces d'argent. Il se jeta sur lui pour l'étrangler, en disant: ‘Rembourse ta dette!’. Alors, tombant à ses pieds, son compagnon le suppliait: ‘Prends patience envers moi, et je te rembourserai’. Mais l'autre refusa et le fit jeter en prison jusqu'à ce qu'il ait remboursé. Ses compagnons, en voyant cela, furent profondément attristés et allèrent tout raconter à leur maître. Alors celui-ci le fit appeler et lui dit: ‘Serviteur mauvais! je t'avais remis toute cette dette parce que tu m'avais supplié. Ne devais-tu pas, à ton tour, avoir pitié de ton compagnon, comme moi-même j'avais eu pitié de toi?’. Dans sa colère, son maître le livra aux bourreaux jusqu'à ce qu'il ait tout remboursé. C'est ainsi que mon Père du ciel vous traitera, si chacun de vous ne pardonne pas à son frère de tout son coeur».

L’Application

Nous, chrétiens, en lisant cet évangile, nous dirons : nous devons pardonner. Certainement, le pardon et l'amour sont les identités visibles qui nous différencient des autres. Cependant, pour l'application de l'évangile d'aujourd'hui, je vous invite à établir une très bonne relation avec le Seigneur, à reconnaître sa volonté et à la mettre en pratique.

Il est bon de recevoir la grâce, en particulier le pardon de nos péchés. Si nous réduisons notre relation avec Dieu à un distributeur de la grâce qu'il nous donne, nous faisons un sondage avec Dieu, nous vulgarisons notre relation pour le bien que Dieu peut nous donner.

Le Carême nous aide à rétablir une vraie relation, une relation constructive, affective, vivifiante. Pour mieux vivre ce temps de carême, nous devons faire un bilan de notre relation avec Dieu, surtout de la qualité de notre relation.

«Saisi de pitié, lui remit sa dette»

Abbé Enric PRAT i Jordana

(Sort, Lleida, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui l'Evangile de Matthieu nous invite à la réflexion sur le mystère du pardon, en nous proposant un parallèle entre la façon de pardonner de Dieu et la nôtre.

L'homme ose mesurer et compter sa générosité pour accorder son pardon: «Seigneur, quand mon frère commettra des fautes contre moi, combien de fois dois-je lui pardonner? Jusqu'à sept fois?» (Mt 18,21). Pierre pense que sept fois c'est déjà beaucoup ou bien peut-être que c'est le maximum que l'on peut supporter. Enfin si nous y réfléchissons Pierre nous semble même très généreux, si nous le comparons à l'homme de la parabole qui en trouvant son compagnon qui lui devait cent pièces d'argent «se jeta sur lui pour l'étrangler, en disant: ‘Rembourse ta dette!’» (Mt 18,28) refusant d'entendre ses supplications et ses promesses.

En fin compte, l'homme se nie à pardonner ou bien il donne son pardon à la baisse. En vérité, personne ne dirait qu'on vient de recevoir un pardon sans limites, réitéré à plusieurs reprises de la part de Dieu. La parabole nous dit: «Saisi de pitié, le maître de ce serviteur le laissa partir et lui remit sa dette» (Mt 18,27). Et cela même s'agissant d'une dette très élevée.

Néanmoins, la parabole que nous commentons ici met plutôt l'accent sur la manière dont Dieu nous confère son pardon. D'abord Il rappelle à l'ordre son débiteur et lui fait voir la gravité de la situation, soudain Il est saisi de pitié par sa prière contrite et humble «le serviteur demeurait prosterné et disait: ‘Prends patience envers moi, et je te rembourserai tout’» (Mt 18,26-27). Cet épisode met en évidence ce que chacun de nous connaît bien par expérience et avec beaucoup de reconnaissance: Dieu pardonne sans limite celui qui vient vers lui repenti et converti. La fin de cette parabole qui est négative et triste, fait honneur à la justice et mets en évidence la véracité d'une autre parole de Jésus dans Lc 6,38: «Car la mesure dont vous vous servez pour les autres servira aussi pour vous».

Gospel text

(Lk 4:24-30): 

Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

The Application

The conversion that the Lord has required of us is a call to acknowledge our unbelief and unfaithfulness before a faithful God. For people of faith, the presence and works of God are evident and they do not look for an external sign to believe or have faith. Since they already see in the history of salvation the signs that God has been giving for centuries, they are content with them, without putting God to the test. This approach to life helps us to listen to the prophets of the day and to welcome their message of conversion as an opportunity and a gift, which come directly from this God of love and mercy.

I also invite you to imitate the behaviour of Jesus in front of his adversaries, "........passing in their midst, going his way. "The Lord chose to stay with this unfaithful and harsh people. Since these people are His beloved, He continues to give them this opportunity to be converted.  The people of this world, especially our contemporaries, need our presence and our good witness of divine love and forgiveness. Let us follow in the footsteps of the Lord, and learn to walk the path that Jesus leads us daily.

Action of the day: Be open and welcoming.

”No prophet is accepted in his own native place”

Fr. Higinio Rafael ROSOLEN IVE

(Cobourg, Ontario, Canada)

Today Jesus tells us in the Gospel that “no prophet is accepted in his own native place” (Lk 4:24). By making use of this proverb Jesus is introducing Himself as a prophet.

A "Prophet" is someone who speaks on behalf of another, he who carries someone else’s message. Among the Hebrews, the prophets were men sent by God to announce, whether with words or signs, the presence of God, the coming of the Messiah and the message of salvation, peace and hope.

Jesus is the Prophet par excellence, the long awaited Savior; in Him all prophecies are fulfilled. But, just as it did happen at the time of Elijah and Elisha, Jesus is not “well accepted” among their own, for those who are filled with anger “rose up, drove him out of the town” (Lk 4:29).

Because of our baptism each one of us is also called to be a prophet. Therefore:

1st. We should announce the Good News. To do so, as Pope Francis said, we have to listen to the Word with a sincere approach, to let it touch our own lives, to let it retrieve us, exhort us, mobilize us, because if we do not dedicate time to pray with that Word, then we shall indeed be a “false prophet”, a "”swindler” or an “empty charlatan”

2nd. To live by the Gospel. Again Pope Francis says: “We are not asked to be flawless, but to keep growing and wanting to grow as we advance along the path of the Gospel; our arms must never grow slack.” It is essential to be sure that God loves us, that Jesus Christ has saved us and that His love is forever.

3rd. As disciples of Jesus, we must be aware that just as Jesus experienced rejection, anger and being drove out; this will also be present on the horizon of our daily lives.

Let Mary, Queen of the prophets, guide us on our way.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Lc 4,24-30): 

Puis il ajouta: «Amen, je vous le dis: aucun prophète n'est bien accueilli dans son pays. En toute vérité, je vous le déclare: Au temps du prophète Élie, lorsque la sécheresse et la famine ont sévi pendant trois ans et demi, il y avait beaucoup de veuves en Israël; pourtant Élie n'a été envoyé vers aucune d'entre elles, mais bien à une veuve étrangère, de la ville de Sarepta, dans le pays de Sidon. Au temps du prophète Élisée, il y avait beaucoup de lépreux en Israël; pourtant aucun d'eux n'a été purifié, mais bien Naaman, un Syrien».

A ces mots, dans la synagogue, tous devinrent furieux. Ils se levèrent, poussèrent Jésus hors de la ville, et le menèrent jusqu'à un escarpement de la colline où la ville est construite, pour le précipiter en bas. Mais lui, passant au milieu d'eux, allait son chemin.

L’Application

La conversion que le Seigneur a exigée de nous est un appel à reconnaître notre incrédulité et notre infidélité devant un Dieu fidèle. Pour les personnes de foi, la présence et les œuvres de Dieu sont évidentes et elles ne cherchent pas un signe extérieur pour croire ou avoir la foi. Comme ils voient déjà dans l'histoire du salut les signes que Dieu donne depuis des siècles, ils s'en contentent, sans mettre Dieu à l'épreuve. Cette approche de la vie nous aide à écouter les prophètes du jour et à accueillir leur message de conversion comme une opportunité et un don, qui viennent directement de ce Dieu d'amour et de miséricorde.

Je vous invite aussi à imiter le comportement de Jésus face à ses adversaires, "........passant au milieu d'eux, allant son chemin. " Le Seigneur a choisi de rester avec ce peuple infidèle et dur. Puisque ces gens sont ses bien-aimés, il continue à leur donner cette opportunité de se convertir.  Les gens de ce monde, surtout nos contemporains, ont besoin de notre présence et de notre bon témoignage de l'amour divin et du pardon. Suivons les traces du Seigneur, et apprenons à marcher sur le chemin que Jésus nous fait parcourir quotidiennement.

«Aucun prophète n'est bien reçu dans sa patrie»

Abbé Higinio Rafael ROSOLEN IVE

(Cobourg, Ontario, Canada)

Aujourd'hui, dans l'Evangile, Jésus nous dit "qu'aucun prophète n'est bien reçu dans sa patrie" (Lc 4,24). En utilisant ce proverbe, Jésus se présente comme un prophète.

Le "prophète", c'est celui qui parle au nom de quelqu'un autre, qui apporte le message de quelqu'un d'autre. Chez les hébreux, les prophètes étaient des hommes envoyés par Dieu pour annoncer, soit avec des paroles, soit avec des signes, la venue du Messie, le message du salut, de la paix et de l'espérance.

Jésus est le prophète par excellence, le Sauveur attendu ; toutes les prophéties s'accomplissent avec Lui. Mais, comme à l'époque d'Elie et d'Elisée, Jésus n'est pas "bien reçu" parmi les siens, puisque ce sont eux qui, pleins de colère, "l'ont jeté hors de la ville" (L 4,29).

Du fait de notre baptême, chacun de nous est aussi appelé à devenir prophète : C'est pour cela que :

1° Nous devons annoncer la Bonne Nouvelle. Pour ce faire, comme le dit le Pape François, nous devons écouter la Parole avec une ouverture sincère, la laisser toucher notre propre vie, nous réclamer, nous exhorter, nous mobiliser, car si nous ne consacrons pas du temps à cette Parole pour prier, alors nous serons un "faux prophète", un "escroc", un "charlatan qui sonne creux".

2° Vivre l'Evangile. Le Pape François dit à nouveau "on ne nous demande pas d'être immaculés, mais d'être toujours en progrès, de vivre le désir profond de grandir sur le chemin de l'Evangile et de ne pas baisser les bras". Il est indispensable d'avoir la certitude que Dieu nous aime, que Jésus nous a sauvés, que son amour durera toujours.

3° En tant que disciples de Jésus, nous devons être conscients que de même que Jésus a connu le rejet, la colère, a été chassé, cela se profile aussi à l'horizon de notre vie quotidienne.

Que Marie, Reine des prophètes, nous guide sur notre chemin.

On the first Sunday in His humanity Jesus taught us how we can resist our daily temptations. Last Sunday we climbed the mountain with Him, and He revealed His divinity to us and His Father asked us to listen to Him. This Sunday Jesus speaks to us and gives us two important messages: God is patient with us and we must be converted.

For many of our contemporaries, this God does not exist and if God does exist, how can he allow so much violence, especially unjust oppression?  They share Moses' internal despire and their lack of understanding of the divine silence is understandable. The world would like to see a just, all-powerful God, with the characteristics of a dictatorship, a merciless judgement. Moses is going to discover a completely different God, a God who is patient, a God who suffers with his people, a God who acts in the face of the misery and suffering of his people. For this, He needs Moses, and today He needs us. We can respond to this divine call by saying, 'Who am I, Lord, to go and meet Pharaoh, the mighty man of this world? If we put all our trust in this God, we will discover, like Moses, the divine answer, a reassuring answer, "I will be with you. 

We are chosen, this fig tree, which the Lord planted on good ground, and today he is approaching to recover the fruit, which he has been waiting for. Totally discouraged and disappointed by our unfaithfulness and unbelief, God would like to act, in a concrete and definitive way. "Cut him off, what is the use of letting him exhaust the soil? The temptation is great and with the strength that is available, it is easy to make it disappear. Yet the story tells us another story, for we have a God who never desires the death of sinners, strongly desires that this fig tree bear fruit, in due season, like a tree planted on the shore. "Master, leave it for another year while I dig around it and put manure on it. Perhaps it will bear fruit in the future. If not, you will cut it down. If that fig tree refuses to bear fruit in due course, despite the time it has been given, the vinedresser himself will remove that plant, certainly in sorrow. It's a pity, everything has to start again, as it was before.

We must never forget our history, the history of salvation. Everything has a meaning in life, and all the events of life, pleasant or unpleasant, have something to tell us.  The God of our history is full of mercy. Yet He is also a God of justice and peace. The fig tree, like the vine, is a biblical image that explains the relationship God has established with his people. Our God is a merciful God, not a God of judgment. It is not good to put Him on trial. 

God comes to meet us in ordinary events, Moses finds himself alone in the desert, a well used place, he discovers an interesting and curious event. Taking a break, like the Good Samaritan, is necessary to better assimilate the grace that God gives us. In this pause, God sees our progress, and He comes to us and will call us, Moses, Moses and remind us of our history. "I am God of your Father." God all-other becomes very close. We must know how to live this strong, totally unexpected moment. This is the divine action.

God leaves Moses free that he assumes his responsibility, not alone , but with the strength of God. Let us go forward in this Lenten season in confidence. This God of our Father is with us. Let us not hesitate to start again, or even return to Egypt. A year is given and let us take advantage of it, Amen.

Gospel text

(Mt 1:16.18-21.24a): 

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

The Application (Meditation)

In silence, discreetly, a righteous man, preparing a project for his life, so that he avoids everything that will defile him. A God who sees everything that happens discreetly, wanted to intervene to save life, the life of the world, his Saviour. We must know how to live the moments of trouble, of darkness, of uneasiness, etc., in a correct and just way, always leaving a door open, so that God can take His place and guide us.

Like any man who hears bad news, Joseph teaches us to act, not react, a just man. A proper, divine discernment, putting the other and his suffering before, acting not as a victim, but as a saviour. Even in my misery, I save the other. In his humanity, he teaches us to act divinely.

In the darkness, in his brokenness that he hears a voice speaking to him, a voice of reassurance, yet giving him no proof of certainty. Darkness, Lord, we have much of it and need to learn from Joseph, to keep silence and serenity, when the storms of life strikes us. Joseph, you simply believe, because it is God who speaks, everything comes from God, and His every word gives life. You teach us to trust. You who desire life, will always recognise this voice, which saves life. Speak Lord, thy servant listens.

God gave the word to man to choose the name, for all created ones, and man named all living beings, and God found it to be good. However, today, for the new Adam, God will choose Himself a NAME, from now on a holy NAME that Joseph will learn to respect. Everything will pass from his NAME, from my name you will ask and receive. In the name of Jesus rise and walk, and that was the disciples of Jesus have done. Shouldn’t we learn to invoke this NAME as much as possible? Happy feast day to you all.

Action of the day: Wish good to all.

«Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife»

+ Mons. Ramon MALLA i Call Emeritus Bishop of Lleida

(Lleida, Spain)

Today, the Church celebrates the solemnity of Saint Joseph, Mary's husband. It is like a joyful interlude within Lent's austerity. But, the joy of this feast should not be an obstacle to our advancing along the path of our personal conversion, as preceptive in Lenten time.

He who, looking ahead, tries hard to accommodate his life to God's plan for us, is very fortunate. And so is he who, looking around him, tries always to properly interpret others' actions by saving their good reputation. In today's Gospel Saint Joseph is presented to us in both aspects of goodness.

God has over each one of us a love plan, inasmuch as «God is love» (1Jn 4:8). But, at times, the hardships of life difficult our discovering it. And then, logically, we grumble and we reluctantly accept to carry our crosses.

Saint Joseph must have gone through a difficult time when realizing Mary «before they had lived together, was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit» (Mt 1:18). He was planning to divorce her, but «in all secrecy» (Mt 1:19). And, at the same time, when «an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream» (Mt 1:20), saying he had to become the legal father, he accepted it right away «and took his wife to his home» (Mt 1:24).

Lent is a good time to find out what God expects from us and strengthen our wish to carry it out. Let us beg God «through the intercession of Mary's husband», as we shall read in the Collect of the Mass, that we may advance in our path of conversion by imitating Saint Joseph in his acceptance of God's will and in the exercise of charity with our fellow men. At the same time, let us keep in mind that if «all the Church is indebted to the Virgin Mary, as we received Christ through her, after her, Saint Joseph should certainly be who mostly deserves our gratitude and reverence» (Saint Bernardino of Siena).

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mt 1,16.18-21.24a): 

Jacob engendra Joseph, l'époux de Marie, de laquelle fut engendré Jésus, que l'on appelle Christ (ou Messie). Voici quelle fut l'origine de Jésus Christ. Marie, la mère de Jésus, avait été accordée en mariage à Joseph; or, avant qu'ils aient habité ensemble, elle fut enceinte par l'action de l'Esprit Saint. Joseph, son époux, qui était un homme juste, ne voulait pas la dénoncer publiquement; il décida de la répudier en secret.

Il avait formé ce projet, lorsque l'ange du Seigneur lui apparut en songe et lui dit: «Joseph, fils de David, ne crains pas de prendre chez toi Marie, ton épouse: l'enfant qui est engendré en elle vient de l'Esprit Saint; elle mettra au monde un fils, auquel tu donneras le nom de Jésus (c'est-à-dire: Le-Seigneur-sauve), car c'est lui qui sauvera son peuple de ses péchés». Quand Joseph se réveilla, il fit ce que l'ange du Seigneur lui avait prescrit: il prit chez lui son épouse.

L’Application

En silence, discrètement, un homme juste, préparant un projet de vie, pour qu'il évite tout ce qui le souille. Un Dieu qui voit tout ce qui se passe, a voulu intervenir pour sauver la vie, la vie du monde, son Sauveur. Nous devons savoir vivre les moments de trouble, d'obscurité, de malaise, etc., de manière correcte et juste, en laissant toujours une porte ouverte, afin que Dieu puisse prendre sa place et nous guider.

Comme tout homme qui entend une mauvaise nouvelle, Joseph nous apprend à agir, et non à réagir, en homme juste. Un discernement juste et divin, en faisant passer l'autre et sa souffrance avant, en agissant non comme une victime, mais comme un sauveur. Même dans ma misère, je sauve l'autre. Dans son humanité, il nous apprend à agir divinement.

Dans l'obscurité, dans sa brisure, il entend une voix qui lui parle, une voix qui le rassure, mais qui ne lui donne aucune preuve de certitude. Les ténèbres, Seigneur, nous en avons beaucoup et devons apprendre de Joseph, à garder le silence et la sérénité, quand les tempêtes de la vie nous frappent. Joseph, tu crois simplement, car c'est Dieu qui parle, tout vient de Dieu, et sa parole donne la vie. Tu nous apprends à faire confiance. Toi qui veux la vie, tu reconnaîtras toujours cette voix qui sauve la vie. Parle Seigneur, ton serviteur écoute.

Dieu a donné la parole à l'homme pour qu'il choisisse le nom, pour tous les êtres créés, et l'homme a nommé tous les êtres vivants, et Dieu a trouvé cela bon. Mais aujourd'hui, pour le nouvel Adam, Dieu va se choisir un NOM, désormais un NOM saint que Joseph apprendra à respecter. Tout passera de son NOM, de mon nom vous demanderez et recevrez. Au nom de Jésus, lève-toi et marche, c'est ce qu'ont fait les disciples de Jésus. Ne devrions-nous pas apprendre à invoquer ce NOM autant que possible ? Bonne fête à vous tous.

« Marie, la mère de Jésus, avait été accordée en mariage à Joseph »

Abbé Marc VAILLOT

(París, France)

Aujourd'hui l'Église nous invite à contempler l'aimable figure du saint Patriarche. Choisi par Dieu et par Marie, Joseph a connu comme nous tous des joies et des peines. Nous devons regarder chacun de ses agissements avec un intérêt tout particulier. Nous en retirerons toujours quelque chose. Glissons-nous dans sa peau afin de l'imiter; ce faisant, nous parviendrons à répondre comme lui à la Volonté divine.

Toute sa vie, modeste et courante, est aussi humble que lumineuse. C'est pourquoi, de célèbres mystiques (Thérèse d'Avila, Hildegarde de Bingen, Thérèse de l'Enfant Jésus), de grands fondateurs (Benoît, Bruno, François d'Assise, Bernard de Clairvaux, Josémaria Escriva) et d'innombrables saints de tous les temps nous encouragent à le fréquenter et à l'aimer pour suivre les pas de celui qui est le Patron de l'Église. Il est le raccourci pour arriver à sanctifier l'intimité de nos foyers, car il nous introduit au cœur de la Sainte Famille ; il nous apprend à soutenir une vie de prière et à sanctifier aussi notre travail.

Grâce à sa constante union à Jésus et à Marie —voilà la clef!— Joseph peut vivre simplement ce qui est extraordinaire, lorsque Dieu le lui demande, comme dans le passage de l'Évangile de la messe de ce jour, puisqu'il accomplit habituellement les tâches ordinaires qui ne sont jamais sans importance, car elles permettent de mener une vie heureuse et comblée qui conduit jusqu'à la Béatitude du ciel.

« Nous pouvons tous trouver en saint Joseph, écrit le pape François, l’homme qui passe inaperçu, l’homme de la présence quotidienne, discrète et cachée, un intercesseur, un soutien et un guide dans les moments de difficultés. (...) Joseph nous enseigne ainsi qu’avoir foi en Dieu comprend également le fait de croire qu’il peut agir à travers nos peurs, nos fragilités, notre faiblesse. Et il nous enseigne que, dans les tempêtes de la vie, nous ne devons pas craindre de laisser à Dieu le gouvernail de notre bateau ».

Gospel text

(Mt 21:33-43.45-46): 

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”

They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.” Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.

The Application

There is a great difference between the pain and the disappointments that we undergo, without any clear indication of remuneration or recompense, (just that of Joseph, in the first reading) and we ourselves becoming the oppressor of the innocents and remain unfaithful to our own responsibilities and duties (brothers of Joseph).  Whatever be our present situation, by our sincere efforts and in our faithfulness to the divine will, our faith in the divine mercy, everything can be transformed as a favor to us, by God’s own personal intervention.

The gospel of the day reminds us paradoxically that there are the wretched ones for whom the Lord gave his life and we are still the same wretched unfaithful ones. Lent helps us to recognize not only our weakness, but it also invites us to discover the divine love and mercy. A God who is patient with us, and also a God of justice.

We are in truth those vinedressers who no longer work for our Master, but simply for ourselves, without recognizing his will. It is true that these vines that produce good wine, is offered to all of us. Very often, we do not have patience. Instead of welcoming or receiving these gifts offered by God, we appropriate them unjustly or steal them without recognizing the Author of these goods.

If this state of life continues, these wretches will certainly be replaced by the faithful vintners. Let us therefore be vigilant, so that we may recognize the Lord's messengers and be converted.

Action of the day: Remain faithful to God.

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”

Fr. Melcior QUEROL i Solà

(Ribes de Freser, Girona, Spain)

Today, Jesus, with the parable of the homicidal tenants, speaks about the betrayal of trust; He compares the vineyard to the people of Israel and the wine growers to the chiefs of the chosen people. Them, and in them, all of Abraham's descendants, have been entrusted with the kingdom of God, but they have embezzled the heritage: “Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” (Mt 21:43).

At the beginning of Matthew's Gospel, the Good News seems to be addressed only to the people of Israel. Already in the Old Covenant, the chosen people, had the mission of announcing and bringing salvation to all other nations. But Israel has been unfaithful to its mission. Jesus, the intermediate of the New Covenant, will gather around him the twelve Apostles, a symbol of the “new” Israel, called to yield a harvest of fruits of eternal life and to announce their salvation to all the other peoples.

This new Israel is the Church, all the baptized. We have received in the person of Jesus and in his message, a most unique gift we must make bear fruit. We cannot resign ourselves to an individualist and shortsighted experience of our faith; we must transmit it and give it to anyone who may come close. Hence, we can derive that the first fruit is to live our faith in the warmth of our family, that of the Christian community. That will be easy, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (Mt 18:20).

But ours is an open Christian community, that is, basically missionary (second fruit). Because of the strength and beauty of the Resurrected “in the midst of us”, the community is appealing in all its gestures and acts, and each one of its members has the capacity to beget men and women to the new life of the Resurrected. And a third fruit, is for us to live with the conviction and certitude that we can find in the Gospel the solution to all our problems.

Let's live in the saint Fear of God, lest the Kingdom of Heaven be taken from us and given to others.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mt 21,33-43.45-46): 

«Écoutez une autre parabole. Il y avait un homme, maître de maison, qui planta une vigne. Il l'entoura d'une haie, y creusa un pressoir, et bâtit une tour; puis il l'afferma à des vignerons, et quitta le pays. Lorsque le temps de la récolte fut arrivé, il envoya ses serviteurs vers les vignerons, pour recevoir le produit de sa vigne. Les vignerons, s'étant saisis de ses serviteurs, battirent l'un, tuèrent l'autre, et lapidèrent le troisième. Il envoya encore d'autres serviteurs, en plus grand nombre que les premiers; et les vignerons les traitèrent de la même manière. Enfin, il envoya vers eux son fils, en disant: Ils auront du respect pour mon fils. Mais, quand les vignerons virent le fils, ils dirent entre eux: ‘Voici l'héritier; venez, tuons-le, et emparons-nous de son héritage’. Et ils se saisirent de lui, le jetèrent hors de la vigne, et le tuèrent. Maintenant, lorsque le maître de la vigne viendra, que fera-t-il à ces vignerons?».

Ils lui répondirent: «Il fera périr misérablement ces misérables, et il affermera la vigne à d'autres vignerons, qui lui en donneront le produit au temps de la récolte». Jésus leur dit: «N'avez-vous jamais lu dans les Écritures: ‘La pierre qu'ont rejetée ceux qui bâtissaient est devenue la principale de l'angle; c'est du Seigneur que cela est venu, et c'est un prodige à nos yeux?’. C'est pourquoi, je vous le dis, le royaume de Dieu vous sera enlevé, et sera donné à une nation qui en rendra les fruits».

Après avoir entendu ses paraboles, les principaux sacrificateurs et les pharisiens comprirent que c'était d'eux que Jésus parlait, et ils cherchaient à se saisir de lui; mais ils craignaient la foule, parce qu'elle le tenait pour un prophète.

L’Application

Ce sont les malheureux pour lesquels le Seigneur a donné sa vie et nous sommes toujours les malheureux infidèles. Le Carême nous aide à reconnaître non seulement notre faiblesse, mais il nous invite aussi à découvrir l'amour et la miséricorde divine. Un Dieu qui est patient avec nous, et aussi un Dieu de justice.

Nous sommes en vérité ces vignerons qui ne travaillent plus pour notre Maître, mais simplement pour nous-mêmes, sans reconnaître sa volonté. Il est vrai que ces vignes qui produisent du bon vin, nous sont offertes à tous. Très souvent, nous n'avons pas la patience. Au lieu d'accueillir ou de recevoir ces dons offerts par Dieu, nous nous les approprions injustement ou les volons sans reconnaître l'Auteur de ces biens.

Si cet état de vie perdure, ces malheureux seront certainement remplacés par les fidèles vignerons. Soyons donc vigilants, afin de reconnaître les messagers du Seigneur et de nous convertir.

«La pierre qu'ont rejetée ceux qui bâtissaient est devenue la principale de l'angle»

Abbé Melcior QUEROL i Solà

(Ribes de Freser, Girona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui Jésus, par la parabole des vignerons homicides, nous parle de l'infidélité; il compare Israël à la vigne et les chefs du peuple élu aux vignerons. C'est à eux et à toute la descendance d'Abraham que le Royaume de Dieu avait été confié, mais ils ont perverti l'héritage: «C'est pourquoi, je vous le dis, le royaume de Dieu vous sera enlevé, et sera donné à une nation qui en rendra les fruits» (Mt 21,43).

Au début de l'Évangile de Matthieu, la Bonne Nouvelle paraît adressée uniquement à Israël. Déjà dans l'Ancienne Alliance, le peuple élu a pour mission d'annoncer et de porter le salut à toutes les nations. Mais Israël n'a pas été fidèle à sa mission. Jésus, le médiateur de la Nouvelle Alliance, réunira autour de lui les douze apôtres, symboles du “nouvel” Israël, appelé à donner des fruits de vie éternelle et à annoncer à tous les peuples le salut.

Ce nouvel Israël, c'est l'Église, tous les baptisés. Nous avons reçu, en la personne de Jésus et de son message, un présent unique que nous devons faire fructifier. Nous ne pouvons pas nous contenter d'une vie individualiste et fermée à notre foi; il faut la communiquer et en faire don à chaque personne qui s'approche de nous. Il en découle que le premier fruit est que nous vivions notre foi dans la chaleur de notre famille, celle de la communauté chrétienne. Ce sera facile, car «là où deux ou trois sont réunis en mon nom, je suis là au milieu d'eux» (Mt 18,20).

Mais il s'agit d'une communauté chrétienne ouverte, c'est-à-dire éminemment missionnaire (deuxième fruit). Par la force et la beauté du Ressuscité “au milieu de nous”, la communauté est attirante dans tous ses faits et gestes, et chacun de ses membres jouit de la capacité d'engendrer des hommes et des femmes à la vie nouvelle du Ressuscité. Un troisième fruit est que nous vivions avec la conviction et la certitude de ce que dans l'Évangile se trouve la solution à tous les problèmes.

Vivons dans la sainte crainte de Dieu, pour que le Royaume ne nous soit pas enlevé et donné à d'autres.

Gospel text

(Lk 16:19-31): 

Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.

When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’ Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’

He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’”

The Application

I  am personally convinced that God has created us all both rich and poor. The richness that we possese need to be shared and others’ richness will remove our poverty. The more a rich refuse to share, the more the poverty grows. When I say ‘richness’, I don’t necessarily mean, material richness like wealth, rather it’s both spirituel and intellectual, it’s both personal and collective. What I mean is, if I am material rich, I will have less true human relationship. When I have a material poverty, I will be very rich in true and sincere human relationship.  

The story of poor Lazarus and the unnamed rich man is a reminder to all those who desire eternal life, a life with God. May man not live alone, but live with his brothers and sisters. May we not despair, for God watches over us.

This parable tells us that our God is just and understanding. He accompanies us, not only on earth, but also after death. A consolation and comfort to all believers.

To all those who are lost in life, who do not know where and how to get out of it, Jesus directs them to the sacred scriptures and also to tradition. The law and the prophets help us to adjust ourselves to the divine will, and to remain always connected to God, like a branch that is attached to the vine.

Action of the day: Identify your richness and learn to share it with others.

“If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.”

Fr. Xavier SOBREVÍA i Vidal

(Sant Just Desvern, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, the Gospel is a parable discovering the realities of man in afterlife. Jesus tells us about the divine reward or retribution we shall have depending upon our behavior.

The contrast between the rich and the poor is very strong. The luxury of the rich and his indifference to the plight of poor Lazarus lying at his door, his pathetic situation, even when dogs used to come and lick his sores (cf. Lk 16:19-21). It all has a deep realism introducing us into the scene.

We might ponder: Where would I be if I was one of the two main characters of this parable? Our society constantly reminds us, that we have to live well, in comfort and well-being, enjoying ourselves, worry free... That we have to live for oneself, without minding others, or at the very best, the minimum necessary to keep one's conscience at ease, but certainly not because of a sense of justice, love or solidarity.

Today, we are presented with the need to listen to God in this life, to convert ourselves and take advantage of the time He offers us. God will eventually call us to account. In this life we risk our eternal life.

Jesus is quite explicit about the reality of Hell and He describes some of its characteristics: the sorrow senses suffer —“Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.” (Lk 16:24)— and its eternity —“between us and you a great chasm is established” (Lk 16:26).

Saint Gregory the Great tells us that "all these things are told so that nobody may apologize because of their ignorance." We have got to get rid of the old man and be free to be able to love our fellow man. We have to react to the suffering of the poor, the unwell or the forsaken. It would be good we might frequently remember this parable so that it would made us more responsible of our life. We all will have to face the moment of death. And we should better be always ready because one day we shall be judged.