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

Gospel text

(Mk 1,40-45): 

A leper came to him [and kneeling down] begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

The Application

The Ark of the Lord could not save Israelite (first reading of the day) and the presence of the Lord could not heal all the lepers of his time. God can in his mercy make himself visible to us all. However, if we are not worthy to welcome him, his presence cannot bring us anything. If we close our eyes, even in the hot sun, we will only see darkness, the darkness that dwells within us.

"If you want, you can cleanse me" is a statement of faith and trust in Jesus. He hands over everything to the divine will, expressing his own desire to be healed and be saved. What a joy to hear his profession of faith. Of course, the Gospel does not tell us about his inner journey or his courage to go before the Lord, a great risk. If we place ourselves in the situation of Jesus' time, we can easily deduce the process of his inner pilgrimage from darkness, isolation and slavery to Jesus, a path to liberation, the promised salvation.

To all who seek the Lord, we have this assurance, "I will, be cleansed”. God is always there to save us and set us free. Like the leper, we are invited to take risk in life and to bear witness to all that God gives us daily. May our contemporaries, through our lives of witness, discover this God of love and mercy, who leads us on the right path, the path of holiness, Amen.

Action of the day: Learn to take risk.

“If you wish, you can make me clean (...) I do will it. Be made clean.”

Fr. Xavier PAGÉS i Castañer

(Barcelona, Spain)

Today, in the first reading we read: “Therefore, as the holy Spirit says: 'Oh, that today you would hear his voice, "Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion in the day of testing in the desert…"’” (Heb 3:7-8). And we constantly repeat it in the response to Psalm 94. In this brief quote, two points are raised: a longing and a warning. Both should never be forgotten.

During our daily prayer we long for and hope to hear our Lord's voice. But, perhaps more often than not, we fill it with our own words without allowing us time to listen to what the Lord may wish to tell us. Let us, therefore, take care of our inner silence, which —by avoiding distractions and centering our attention— opens up a space to receive the affections and inspirations our Lord, most certainly, wants to impregnate within our hearts.

A risk we must never forget is the risk that dwelling on our old sins may harden our hearts. Life's hazards, at times, may make us —even without our realizing it— more leery, insensible, disheartened, forlorn…! We must beg our Lord to make us more conscious of this inner downgrading. Our prayer offers us the opportunity to look serenely at our own life and to all circumstances surrounding it. We must meditate over the different events in the Light of the Gospel, to discover where we are in need of an authentic change.

If only we could hope for our conversion with the same degree of faith and confidence as the leper showed to Jesus! He “begged him and said, ‘If you wish, you can make me clean’” (Mk 1:40). He is the only one to make possible what for us is simply impossible. Therefore, let God act through His Grace upon us, so that our hearts can be purified, and meek to His influence may become more like Jesus' own heart, with each passing day. He is telling us, in confidence: “I do will it. Be made clean” (Mk 1:41).

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mc 1,40-45): 

Un lépreux vient trouver Jésus; il tombe à ses genoux et le supplie: «Si tu le veux, tu peux me purifier». Pris de pitié devant cet homme, Jésus étendit la main, le toucha et lui dit: «Je le veux, sois purifié». A l'instant même, sa lèpre le quitta et il fut purifié. Aussitôt Jésus le renvoya avec cet avertissement sévère: «Attention, ne dis rien à personne, mais va te montrer au prêtre. Et donne pour ta purification ce que Moïse prescrit dans la Loi: ta guérison sera pour les gens un témoignage».

Une fois parti, cet homme se mit à proclamer et à répandre la nouvelle, de sorte qu'il n'était plus possible à Jésus d'entrer ouvertement dans une ville. Il était obligé d'éviter les lieux habités, mais de partout on venait à lui.

L’Application

L'Arche du Seigneur n'a pas pu sauver les Israélites (première lecture du jour) et la présence du Seigneur n'a pas pu guérir tous les lépreux de son époque. Dans sa miséricorde, Dieu peut se rendre visible et disponible pour nous tous. Cependant, si nous ne sommes pas dignes de l'accueillir, sa présence ne peut rien nous apporter. Si nous fermons les yeux, même sous un soleil de plomb, nous ne verrons que les ténèbres, celles qui nous habitent.

" Si tu veux, tu peux me purifier " est une déclaration de foi et de confiance en Jésus. Il remet tout à la volonté divine, en exprimant sa propre volonté. Quelle joie d'entendre sa profession de foi. Bien sûr, l'Évangile ne nous parle pas de son cheminement intérieur ni de son courage pour aller devant le Seigneur, un grand risque. Si nous nous plaçons dans la situation de l'époque de Jésus, nous pouvons facilement déduire le processus de son pèlerinage intérieur depuis les ténèbres, l'isolement et l'esclavage jusqu'à Jésus, un chemin de libération, le salut promis.

À tous ceux qui cherchent le Seigneur, nous avons cette assurance : "Je veux, sois purifié. Dieu est toujours là pour nous sauver et nous libérer. Comme le lépreux, nous sommes invités à témoigner de tout ce que Dieu nous donne au quotidien. Que nos contemporains, par nos vies de témoignage, découvrent ce Dieu d'amour et de miséricorde, qui nous conduit sur le bon chemin, le chemin de la sainteté, Amen.

«‘Si tu le veux, tu peux me purifier’ (…). ‘Je le veux, sois purifié’»

Abbé Xavier PAGÉS i Castañer

(Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, dans la première lecture, nous lisons «Si seulement vous pouviez entendre la voix du Seigneur: ‘N'endurcissez pas vos cœurs’!» (Heb 3,7-8). Et nous le répétons avec insistance dans la réponse au Psaume 94. On trouve deux choses dans cette brève citation: un désir et un avertissement. Il ne faut jamais oublier ni l'un ni l'autre.

Pendant le temps que nous consacrons quotidiennement à la prière, nous souhaitons et nous demandons d'entendre la voix du Seigneur. Mais nous nous préoccupons peut-être trop souvent de remplir ce temps avec des paroles que nous voulons lui dire, et nous ne laissons pas de temps pour écouter ce que le Bon Dieu veut nous transmettre. Veillons par conséquent à prêter attention au silence intérieur qui —en évitant les distractions et en nous concentrant— nous ouvre un espace pour accueillir l'affection, l'inspiration… que le Seigneur veut certainement susciter dans nos cœurs.

Il y a un risque que nous ne pouvons pas oublier: c'est le danger, qu'au fil du temps, notre cœur s'endurcisse. Parfois, les coups de la vie peuvent nous faire devenir, y compris sans que nous nous en rendions compte, une personne plus méfiante, insensible, pessimiste, désespérée… Nous devons demander au Seigneur de nous rendre conscients de cette possible détérioration intérieure. La prière est l'occasion de regarder sereinement notre vie et toutes les circonstances qui l'entourent. Nous devons lire les différents événements à la lueur de l'Evangile, pour découvrir dans quels aspects nous avons besoin d'une authentique conversion.

Si seulement nous pouvions demander notre conversion avec la même foi et la même confiance que le lépreux qui s'est présenté devant Jésus: «A genoux, il dit: ‘Si tu le veux, tu peux me purifier’» (Mc, 1,40). Il est le seul à pouvoir rendre possible ce qui pour nous serait impossible. Laissons Dieu agir sur nous avec sa grâce pour que notre cœur soit purifié et, qu'obéissant à son action, il puisse ressembler davantage de jour en jour au cœur de Jésus. Lui nous dit avec confiance: «Je le veux: sois purifié» (Mc 1,41).

Gospel text

(Mk 1:29-39): 

On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

The Application

It is difficult to discern the divine will, in every aspect of life. When everything goes well, particularly as act of charity and love, we have a sense that God's will is there. When we are faced with a difficulty, whether death or illness, even separation or divorce, we have a sense that our good and generous God cannot allow it and it may not be His will.

Whatever be the case, if we put our trust in God, as God has put his trust in us, whatever may be the situation, God will show us his will, both in joyful and painful. To know this, Jesus shows us the right way, the way of contemplation and prayer. It was in this contemplation that Jesus decided to leave one region and go to another.  Are we really seeking God's will in our daily lives? Are we ready to welcome it without reservation? Do we have the courage to put it into practice? Samuel did have a support and we too, if we have ears to hear and eyes to see.

Action of the day: Seek thy will and the rest will be given to you.

“Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed”

+ Fr. Josep Mª MASSANA i Mola OFM

(Barcelona, Spain)

Today, we are clearly shown how Jesus split his working hours. On one hand, He prayed; on the other, He consecrated time to his mission of praying with words and deeds. Contemplation and Action. Prayer and Work. Being with God while amongst men.

We indeed see Jesus dedicated in body and soul to his task as Messiah and Savior: He cures the sick, such as Saint Peter's mother-in-law and many others; He comforts the sad ones, drives out demons and preaches. People bring him the ailing and those with evil spirits. And they all want to hear his words. His disciples tell him: “Everyone is looking for you” (Mk 1:37). More often than not, He maintained an exhausting schedule that did not give him even time to breathe.

But, at the same time, Jesus also had to look for some lonely place where He could pray: “Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed” (Mk 1:35). In other Gospels we can also find Jesus devoted to praying at different hours and even at night. He knew how to distribute his time, so that his working days would have a proper balance between work and prayer.

We often say, "I have not time!" We are so busy with our homework, our professional activity, the countless tasks on our agenda... So, quite often, we believe we should be relieved from our daily prayers. We do a lot of important things, but often run the risk of forgetting the absolutely necessary one: prayer. We have to establish a balance to be able to do the former without neglecting the latter.

Saint Francis puts it like that: “We must faithfully and devotedly work, without extinguishing the spirit of holy prayer and devotion which all temporal things must be submitted to.”

Perhaps we should organize ourselves a little bit better, discipline ourselves by “domesticating” our time. Certainly, what is important must be done. However, what is necessary, is an absolute must.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mc 1,29-39): 

En quittant la synagogue, Jésus, accompagné de Jacques et de Jean, alla chez Simon et André. Or, la belle-mère de Simon était au lit avec de la fièvre. Sans plus attendre, on parle à Jésus de la malade. Jésus s'approcha d'elle, la prit par la main, et il la fit lever. La fièvre la quitta, et elle les servait.

Le soir venu, après le coucher du soleil, on lui amenait tous les malades, et ceux qui étaient possédés par des esprits mauvais. La ville entière se pressait à la porte. Il guérit toutes sortes de malades, il chassa beaucoup d'esprits mauvais et il les empêchait de parler, parce qu'ils savaient, eux, qui il était.

Le lendemain, bien avant l'aube, Jésus se leva. Il sortit et alla dans un endroit désert, et là il priait. Simon et ses compagnons se mirent à sa recherche. Quand ils l'ont trouvé, ils lui disent: «Tout le monde te cherche». Mais Jésus leur répond: «Partons ailleurs, dans les villages voisins, afin que là aussi je proclame la Bonne Nouvelle; car c'est pour cela que je suis sorti». Il parcourut donc toute la Galilée, proclamant la Bonne Nouvelle dans leurs synagogues, et chassant les esprits mauvais.

L’Application

Il est difficile de discerner la volonté divine, dans tous les aspects de la vie. Lorsque tout se passe bien, notamment en tant qu'acte de charité et d'amour, nous avons le sentiment que la volonté de Dieu est là. Lorsque nous sommes confrontés à une difficulté, qu'il s'agisse d'un décès ou d'une maladie, voire d'une séparation ou d'un divorce, nous avons le sentiment que notre Dieu bon et généreux ne peut le permettre et que ce n'est peut-être pas sa volonté.

Quoi qu'il en soit, si nous mettons notre confiance en Dieu, comme Dieu a mis sa confiance en nous, quelle que soit la situation, Dieu nous montrera sa volonté, dans chaque situation de notre vie, aussi bien dans la joie que dans la douleur. Pour le savoir, Jésus nous montre le bon chemin, celui de la contemplation et de la prière. C'est dans cette contemplation que Jésus a décidé de quitter une région pour aller dans une autre.  Sommes-nous vraiment à la recherche de la volonté de Dieu dans notre vie quotidienne ? Sommes-nous prêts à l'accueillir sans réserve ? Avons-nous le courage de la mettre en pratique ? Samuel a eu un soutien et nous aussi, si nous avons des oreilles pour entendre et des yeux pour voir. 

«Le lendemain, bien avant l'aube, Jésus se leva. Il sortit et alla dans un endroit désert, et là il priait»

+ Abbé Josep Mª MASSANA i Mola OFM

(Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, nous voyons clairement comment Jésus divisait ses journées. D'un côté, il se consacrait à la prière, et, de l'autre, à sa mission de prédication par la parole et par les actes. La contemplation et l'action. Prière et travail. Etre avec Dieu et être avec les hommes.

En effet, nous voyons Jésus qui se donne corps et âme à sa tâche de Messie et de Sauveur: il guérit les malades, comme la belle-mère de Pierre et beaucoup d'autres, il console ceux qui sont tristes, il expulse des démons, il prêche. Tout le monde lui amène ses malades et ses possédés. Ils veulent tous l'écouter: "Tout le monde te cherche" (Mc 1,37) lui disent les disciples. Il avait certainement une activité souvent très fatigante, qui ne devait presque pas le laisser souffler.

Mais Jésus s'accordait aussi un temps de solitude pour se consacrer à la prière: «Le lendemain, bien avant l'aube, Jésus se leva. Il sortit et alla dans un endroit désert, et là il priait» (Mc 1,35). Dans d'autres passages de l'Evangile, nous voyons Jésus se consacrer à la prière à d'autres heures, y compris très tard dans la nuit. Il savait partager son temps avec sagesse, afin que sa journée ait un équilibre raisonnable entre le travail et la prière.

Nous disons souvent: Je n'ai pas le temps! Nous sommes occupés avec les tâches ménagères, le travail et les innombrables tâches qui remplissent notre agenda. Fréquemment, nous croyons être dispensés de la prière quotidienne. Nous faisons un tas de choses importantes, c'est vrai, mais nous courons le risque d'oublier la plus nécessaire: la prière. Nous devons créer un équilibre pour pouvoir faire les unes sans négliger les autres.

Saint François nous présente les choses ainsi: «Il faut travailler fidèlement et avec dévouement, sans éteindre l'esprit de la sainte prière et de la dévotion que les autres choses temporelles doivent servir».

Nous devrions peut-être nous organiser un peu plus. Nous discipliner, en “domestiquant” le temps. Ce qui est important doit trouver sa place. Mais ce qui est nécessaire encore plus.

Gospel text

(Mk 1:21-28): 

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.

All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

The Application

A new teaching, because it comes with a divine authority, accompanied by signs. For me personally, neither this authority, nor these signs are important, because they belong to the Lord. I look, rather, at the humanity of Jesus, which belongs and is similar to me, where I can appropriate from Jesus, in my humanity, which can help me to grow in my own humanity, and in this humanity I can meet the divinity of Jesus (a humanity par excellence), in which the world will find the divine authority and God will accomplish the wonderful signs. I know with certitude,  that God continues to liberate us from evil and infirmities. However, if I forget to imitate the daily life of Jesus, which is well balanced with contemplation and action, the danger is that I may be led with action, not being inspired in the contemplation.

Jesus is not simply content that there is truth. He is looking for the source and intent of the truth. We all have in our words and actions, a truth, which is very subjective, yet in the intention and source, we can be very objective. The silence that the Lord requires can be applied in our daily lives, when our intentions and sources are not good.

Action of the day: Be contemplative in your action.

“The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.”

+ Fr. Antoni ORIOL i Tataret

(Vic, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, first Tuesday in Ordinary Time, Saint Mark presents Jesus teaching in the synagogue, and immediately he comments: “The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes” (Mk 1:21). This is quite an extraordinary comment. On one hand, what His listeners admire is certainly not the doctrine but the Master; it is not what is said, but Who says it. And, on the other hand, it is not the preacher as such but, rather, specifically who He is: Jesus taught “as one having authority”, that is, with legitimate and unimpeachable power. This particularity is further confirmed with of a direct contrast: “He taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.”

A little later, though, the scene of the man with an evil spirit integrates the doctrinal lesson with an admirable motivation: “What is this? A new teaching with authority” (Mk 1:27). Notwithstanding, we may as well note the description does not refer so much to the contents as it does to its uniqueness: the doctrine is “new”. Here we find another reason for this contrast: Jesus communicates something unheard (no other word can better describe it).

We still add a third remark. His authority comes also from the fact Jesus “commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” We are facing here such a deep contrast as with the previous ones: To the Master's authority and to the newness of His doctrine we must add His power against evil spirits.

Brothers! Our faith tells us that this Liturgy of the Word makes us contemporaries of what we have just heard and commenting on. Let us ask ourselves with humble gratitude: Do I fully realize no man has ever spoken the Word of God the Father as Jesus did? Do I feel rich with a message that holds no comparison either? Do I realize what liberating force Jesus and His teachings have in human life and, more specifically, in my life? Touched by the Holy Spirit, let us tell our Redeemer: Jesus-life, Jesus-doctrine, Jesus-victory, please, as the great Raymond Lully liked to say, may we live in a constant “wonder” of You!

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mc 1,21-28): 

Jésus, accompagné de ses disciples, arrive à Capharnaüm. Aussitôt, le jour du sabbat, il se rendit à la synagogue, et là, il enseignait. On était frappé par son enseignement, car il enseignait en homme qui a autorité, et non pas comme les scribes. Or, il y avait dans leur synagogue un homme tourmenté par un esprit mauvais, qui se mit à crier: «Que nous veux-tu, Jésus de Nazareth? Es-tu venu pour nous perdre? Je sais fort bien qui tu es: le Saint, le Saint de Dieu». Jésus l'interpella vivement: «Silence! Sors de cet homme». L'esprit mauvais le secoua avec violence et sortit de lui en poussant un grand cri.

Saisis de frayeur, tous s'interrogeaient: «Qu'est-ce que cela veut dire? Voilà un enseignement nouveau, proclamé avec autorité! Il commande même aux esprits mauvais, et ils lui obéissent». Dès lors, sa renommée se répandit dans toute la région de la Galilée.

L’Application

Un enseignement nouveau, parce qu'il vient avec une autorité divine, accompagné de signes. Pour moi personnellement, ni cette autorité, ni ces signes ne sont importants, car ils appartiennent au Seigneur. Je regarde plutôt l'humanité de Jésus, qui m'appartient et me ressemble, où je peux m'approprier de Jésus, dans mon humanité, qui peut m'aider à grandir dans mon humanité, et dans cette humanité je peux rencontrer la divinité de Jésus (une humanité par excellence), dans laquelle le monde trouvera l'autorité divine et Dieu accomplira les signes merveilleux.

Jésus ne se contente pas de constater qu'il y a une vérité. Il cherche la source et l'intention de la vérité. Nous avons tous, dans nos paroles et nos actions, une vérité qui est très subjective, mais dans l'intention et la source, nous pouvons être très objectifs. Le silence que le Seigneur exige peut et doit être appliqué dans notre vie quotidienne, lorsque nos intentions et nos sources ne sont pas bonnes.

«On était frappé par son enseignement, car il enseignait en homme qui a autorité, et non pas comme les scribes»

+ Abbé Antoni ORIOL i Tataret

(Vic, Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, premier mardi du temps ordinaire, saint Marc nous présente Jésus en train d'enseigner dans la synagogue et, aussitôt après, il commente: «On était frappé par son enseignement, car il enseignait en homme qui a autorité, et non pas comme les scribes» (Mc 1,21). Cette observation initiale est impressionnante. En effet, la raison de l'admiration des auditeurs, d'une part, n'est pas la doctrine mais le maître, non ce qu'on enseigne mais Celui qui l'enseigne et, d'autre part, non pas le prédicateur en général, mais ce prédicateur en particulier, dont il est dit qu'Il enseigne «avec autorité», c'est-à-dire avec un pouvoir légitime et incontestable. Cette particularité est ensuite confirmée par une opposition tranchée: «non pas comme les scribes».

Mais, dans un second temps, la scène de la guérison de l'homme possédé par un esprit mauvais ajoute à l'admiration pour la personne la référence à sa doctrine: «Qu'est-ce que cela veut dire? Voilà un enseignement nouveau, proclamé avec autorité!» (Mc 1,27). Nous remarquons cependant que le qualificatif ne vise pas tant le contenu que la singularité: la doctrine est «nouvelle». Voici un autre contraste: Jésus communique quelque chose d'inouï (et, certes, on ne pouvait mieux dire).

Troisième remarque. L'autorité vient aussi du fait que Jésus «commande même aux esprits mauvais, et [qu']ils lui obéissent». Voilà un contraste aussi fort que les précédents. À l'autorité du maître et à la nouveauté de sa doctrine, il faut ajouter maintenant sa puissance contre les esprits du mal.

Mes frères! Par la foi nous savons que cette liturgie de la parole nous rend témoins de ce que nous venons d'entendre et que nous sommes en train de commenter. Demandons-nous avec une humble reconnaissance: Ai-je conscience de ce que jamais homme n'a parlé comme Jésus, Parole de Dieu le Père? Est-ce que je me sens riche d'un message incomparable? Est-ce que je me rends compte de la force libératrice que Jésus et son enseignement ont sur la vie humaine et, plus concrètement, sur ma vie? Mus par l'Esprit Saint, disons à notre Rédempteur: Jésus-vie, Jésus-doctrine, Jésus-victoire, fais que, comme le grand Raymond Llull aimait à le dire, nous vivions dans un continuel émerveillement de toi!

Gospel text

(Mk 1,14-20): 

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

The Application

We begin today our ordinary time and we begin it with a call for conversion. Life has never being charitable to us. Just like any other being in the planet, we are called to observe, judge and engage. When the process is followed, by the proper discernment, using our intelligence, then, it ends with celebration. When this process is associated with the Creator, we will have the pleasure of participating in the creation process, a divine project.  

We know it is easily said than done. We have two events, both in the OT and NT, which needs to be studied and imitated. Anna’s bitterness and the Lord's eagerness are understandable. The arrest of John the Baptist and the mockery of Peninna are not a failure neither for Anna to have faith in God, nor a block to Jesus  for the proclamation of the Good News. They all becaome an opportunity to engage. Anna goes to the Lord weeping, and the Lord goes to the people inviting them to conversion.

Anna, the mother of the prophet Samuel, is a character who touches me personally, because she is a courageous and pious woman who remains faithful to her God, even when she finds no hope to accomplish her human desire of having a child. I would like to imitate her for the rest of my life and feel, at the end, the true plan of God that will be accomplished later in my life. Like the disciples in today's Gospel, let us respond positively to God's call and He will transform us and accompany us throughout our lives. Conversion is thus, not necessarily a change of life, rather it is synonymous with going home, recognising our own identity. That is, to become ourselves, true children of God.

Action of the day: Trust in God.

“The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Fr. Joan COSTA i Bou

(Barcelona, Spain)

Today, the Gospel invites us to conversion: «Change your ways and believe the Good News» (Mk 1:15). Convert to what? It would perhaps be better to say, to whom? To Christ! This is how He said it: «Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me» (Mk 10:37). To convert means to gratefully receive the gift of Faith and live a life of love and service. To convert means to accept Christ as our only Lord and King of our hearts, so that we become a useful servant to Him. To convert implies discovering Christ in every event in human history —and in our own personal history too— while realizing He is the origin, the core and the end of all History, and that everything has been redeemed by Him; in Him, everything attains its maximum plenitude. To convert also implies living with hope, for He has defeated Sin, the Evil One and Death, and the Eucharist is His guarantee.

To convert also involves loving Our Lord more than anything else in this world, with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength. To convert requires delivering our understanding and our will to Him, in such a way that our behavior makes true the Episcopal motto of St. John Paul II, Totus tuus, that is, All yours my God. And "all" means: time, qualities, possessions, illusions, projects, health, family, work, leisure… everything. Therefore, to convert requires us to love God's will in Christ over all things, while enjoying it, which means to be grateful for whatever He may care to send us —even if it is contradictions, humiliations or ailments— and take them as treasures, which allow us express more clearly our love for God: If You want it like that, so do I!

As it happened with the apostles Simon, Andrew, James and John, changing means to leave «immediately the nets» and follow Him (cf. Mk 1:18), once we hear His voice. To convert, after all, is that Christ be everything for us.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mc 1,14-20): 

Après l'arrestation de Jean Baptiste, Jésus partit pour la Galilée proclamer la Bonne Nouvelle de Dieu; il disait: «Les temps sont accomplis: le règne de Dieu est tout proche. Convertissez-vous et croyez à la Bonne Nouvelle». Passant au bord du lac de Galilée, il vit Simon et son frère André en train de jeter leurs filets: c'étaient des pêcheurs. Jésus leur dit: «Venez derrière moi. Je ferai de vous des pêcheurs d'hommes». Aussitôt, laissant là leurs filets, ils le suivirent. Un peu plus loin, Jésus vit Jacques, fils de Zébédée, et son frère Jean, qui étaient aussi dans leur barque et préparaient leurs filets. Jésus les appela aussitôt. Alors, laissant dans la barque leur père avec ses ouvriers, ils partirent derrière lui.

L’Application

L'amertume d'Anne et l'empressement du Seigneur sont compréhensibles. L'arrestation de Jean le Baptiste et la moquerie de Peninna ne sont pas un échec ni pour Anne d'avoir foi en Dieu, ni un blocage pour Jésus pour l'annonce de la Bonne Nouvelle. Anne va vers le Seigneur en pleurant, et le Seigneur va vers les gens en les invitant à la conversion.

Anne, la mère du prophète Samuel, est un personnage qui me touche personnellement, car c'est une femme courageuse et pieuse qui reste fidèle à son Dieu, même quand on ne trouve aucun espoir. Je voudrais l'imiter pour le reste de ma vie et sentir, à la fin, le vrai plan de Dieu qui s'accomplira plus tard dans ma vie. Comme les disciples de l'Évangile d'aujourd'hui, répondons positivement à l'appel de Dieu et Il nous transformera et nous accompagnera tout au long de notre vie. La conversion n'est pas un changement de vie, mais elle est synonyme de retour à la maison, de reconnaissance de notre propre identité. C'est-à-dire devenir nous-mêmes, de vrais enfants de Dieu.

 «Convertissez-vous et croyez à la Bonne Nouvelle»

Abbé Joan COSTA i Bou

(Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, l'Évangile nous invite à la conversion. «Convertissez-vous et croyez à la Bonne Nouvelle» (Mc 1,15). Se convertir, à quoi?; Ce serait mieux de dire, à qui? À Christ! Ainsi il le dit: «Celui qui aime par-dessus moi son père ou sa mère, n'est pas digne de moi» (Mt 10,37).

Se convertir signifie recevoir, reconnaissants, le don de la foi et le rendre opérant par la charité. Se convertir veut dire reconnaître le Christ comme l'unique seigneur et roi de nos coeurs, desquels il peut disposer à sa guise. Se convertir implique découvrir le Christ à travers tous les évènements de l'histoire humaine, y compris de notre histoire personnelle, sachant qu'Il est l'origine, le centre et la fin de toute l'histoire, et que pour Lui tout à été sauvé et en Lui achève sa plénitude. Se convertir suppose vivre d'espérance, car Lui a vaincu le péché, le mal et la mort, et l'Eucharistie en est la garanti.

Se convertir veut dire aimer Notre Seigneur par dessus toute chose en cette terre, avec tout notre coeur, avec toute notre âme et toutes nos forces. Se convertir suppose lui offrir notre raison et notre volonté, de telle façon que notre comportement incarne la devise épiscopal du Saint Père, Jean Paul II, Totus tuus, c'est-à-dire, Tout à toi, mon Dieu; et tout est: temps, qualités, biens, rêves, projets, santé, famille, travaille, repos, tout. Se convertir requière, donc, aimer la volonté de Dieu en Christ au dessus de tout et jouir, reconnaissants, de tous les évènements que Dieu permet, incluant contradictions, humiliations, maladies, et les découvrir comme des trésors qui nous permettent de manifester plus pleinement notre amour pour Dieu: Si Tu le veux de cette façon, moi aussi je le veux !

Se convertir requière, ainsi comme ce fut le cas des apôtres Simon, André, Jacques et Jean, laisser «là leurs filets» et aller avec Lui (cf. Mc 1,18), une fois sa voix fut entendue. Se convertir est faire en sorte que Dieu soit tout en nous.

We celebrate the baptism of the Lord. The Gospel reveals to us a people who were waiting for a Messiah, and also the prophet Elijah who was to come before the Messiah to prepare the way. A joyful waiting in certainty. An expectation that sends us back to the past, a past of misery that pursues us to the present.  An expectation of a better life, and a joyful one, if possible. It is an expectation that decries our faith and our hope.  The people who waited for a Saviour, the shepherds who kept watch all night, the wise men who knew how to interpret the supernatural signs in the sky, saw a Light rising from above that dispelled the darkness. 

Today, it is God himself who comes to manifest himself and in this manifestation he reveals himself by announcing Good News, news of assurance and peace. He addresses each of us in a personal way, giving us a new identity, never heard of and never seen: "You are my beloved". This personal announcement is audible and the signs given are visible to all those who have faith.

The baptism of the Lord brings us together as one people, the people of God, believing and fervent, faithful to the commandment of love.  Through our baptism we have responded to Jesus' call to Nicodemus: "You must be born again. We have a new birth, a birth to God, and we become his beloved, bearing in us his NAME, the holy name, CHRIST. For this people of the world, for our contemporaries, we owe the Body of Christ. That is why we are in this church to celebrate the Eucharist, all together, and we will become through this celebration the Eucharist for our brothers and sisters.

In celebrating the baptism of the Lord, we remember our baptism which transforms us. Thanks to this baptism that we have a new language, a new way of looking at ourselves and at the world. This view is filled with love and mercy. God has chosen us, not because we deserve it, but in his mercy he has raised us as his children. This gaze forbids us to speak ill of others, it forbids us to quarrel, to separate, to divide, etc. This gaze brings us together, and we are united by it and forms us as divine beings.

We thus become, in this new birth, a new creation, born of the Spirit and of fire. A creation faithful to his command, like the new Adam, who remained faithful to his Father's will. Faithful to our baptismal commitment, by keeping the light of the risen Christ always burning, we will participate in the fulfilment of the will of Jesus' Father. Through our commitments, Jesus will fulfil in us the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah, and the people will be freed from every form of slavery, including sin.

You are my beloved son, and in you I place all my trust. Dear brothers and sisters, God needs you and me. God has put his trust in us, so that his joy may be complete in all creation. That is why, moved by the Holy Spirit, Jesus went into the desert to be tempted by Satan. And he will come out of the desert victorious over all the temptations of the world. Let us not be afraid of this darkness that can do nothing. Let us walk with him in the desert and never be left alone. All that was visible in the Lord's baptism makes visible to us all that was invisible to the world, the Trinity. Let us acknowledge that we are children of this triune God and let us honour the baptism we have received by welcoming the diversity of God's people, Amen.

Gospel text

(Jn 3:22-30): 

Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned.

Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings. So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.” John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said [that] I am not the Messiah, but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.”

The Application

John invites us to establish a relationship of friendship with Jesus, by orienting his disciples towards Jesus. In this friendship, joy will play an important and central role, the joy of the other, the joy of our friend. A friend always seeks complete joy for the other, and in the joy of the other we rejoice. We are invited to discover the joy of our friend, the friend in Jesus Christ. He himself prayed that we would have joy and that it would be complete. He has called us 'Friends'. Thus every Christian life is a love story.

In a very good friendship we discover each other and in this discovery we rejoice. The life of faith is a life of discovery of God and his love, that is to say, a life of love. Thus our Christian life becomes a life of witness and thanksgiving, with great gratitude and appreciation for this generous divine love. To make our friend grow in us and in everything is already a path of happiness that believers feel all their life.

All the martyrs of the Lord's Church have experienced this joy. The martyrs of Barbastro, (the Claretian martyrs, the young seminarians of Spain) sang with joy on their way to death. Are we able to stand back and feel the presence of God in our daily lives and live our faith fully in joy?  " He must increase; I must decrease.”

Action of the day: Give the right space to God in your personal life.

“He must increase; I must decrease.”

Fr. Antoni CAROL i Hostench

(Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, we are surprised to see both Jesus and John baptizing "side by side". We say "side by side", although… actually, this is only in appearance, because John the Baptist refers us to Jesus, who is the Messiah, the "new Moses", the long-awaited Prophet, he who comes over to bring God to us. “What has He [Jesus] brought? The answer is very simple: God. He has brought God” (Benedict XVI).

Consequently, and immediately, John spells out the substance of baptism: in fact, it is purification, but «it differs from the customary religious ablutions» performed those days, and -as Pope Benedict asserted- «it must be the material culmination of a change determining a new way of life forever and ever». Therefore the Christian baptism stands for a radical change under the figure of a new birth. A new beginning in life.

Purification, definitely, but to put off the "old man", to die oneself and -because of God's Grace- be born to a new life altogether: the divine life, something that « “No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven” (Jn 3,27). The second council of Orange teaches us that “it is wholly a gift of God to love God. He, who loves, even though he is not loved, allowed himself to be loved. We are loved, even when we displease him, so that we might have means to please him”.

Hence, our long-life task for sanctity: to grow deep in humility, open up God's will for us and let Him guide us. It is not as important what I can do as it is that He leads me: “He must increase; I must decrease.” (Jn 3,30). And the fuller our joy will grow as the more immaterial I turn into and the Spouse becomes closer to our heart and to our deeds.