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

Gospel text

(Lk 1:57-66): 

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.

The Application

The right time has arrived for us today, for the last preparation, just like the preparation that we make before an examination. This time is an intense moment of our spiritual life, because, we are called to prepare something without any clarity of the way Jesus is going to come in this season.

Two days before Christmas, the holy Church invites us to welcome John the Baptist like Prophet Elijah and with him to prepare the way, which will lead us to this surprising God, who has chosen to be born into our humanity.

In these days, I invite you to discover the preparation that God desires of us and to identify our strength and weakness in the Christian life.  So that our strength may be a grace for others and our weakness be an opportunity for us to grow in the Lord. There we will discover the hand of the Lord that teaches us to walk, to walk the right way.

Action of the day: Walk in the divine presence.

“‘What, then, will this child be?’ For surely the hand of the Lord was with him”

Fr. Miquel MASATS i Roca

(Girona, Spain)

Today, in the first reading we read: “Now I am sending my messenger he will prepare the way before me” (Mal 3:1). John the Baptist fulfills Malachi’s prophecy. He is one of the main characters in the liturgy of Advent. He invites us to prepare ourselves with prayer and penance for the arrival of the Lord. As the collect of today's Mass says: “Your Son's birth is near; may the love of He who is the Word made flesh who became man in the Virgin's womb to live among men, welcome us”.

The Precursor's birth speaks of the proximity of Christmas. The Lord is at hand!: let's get ourselves ready! When asked who he was by the priests who had come from Jerusalem, he said: “I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert, Make straight the way of the Lord.’” (Jn 1:23).

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me” (Rev 3:20), we read in the Communion antiphone. It is necessary to examine ourselves to see how we are preparing ourselves to receive Jesus this Christmas: God, more than anything, wants to be born in our hearts.

The Precursor's life teaches us the virtues we need to receive Jesus properly; fundamentally, humility of the heart. He acknowledges himself as an instrument of God, to fulfil his vocation, his mission. As Saint Ambrose says: «Do not boast that they call you son of God —let us acknowledge His grace without forgetting our human nature—; do not become proud if you have served well because you have done just what was expected from you. The sun does its job, the moon obeys, and the angels of the Lord do their duty. The instrument chosen by God for serve the Gentiles said: “For I am the least* of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (1Cor 15:9)."

We are looking for the glory of God only. The virtue of humility will help us to prepare ourselves for the coming festivities appropriately.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Lc 1,57-66): 

Le temps où Élisabeth devait accoucher arriva, et elle enfanta un fils. Ses voisins et ses parents apprirent que le Seigneur avait fait éclater envers elle sa miséricorde, et ils se réjouirent avec elle. Le huitième jour, ils vinrent pour circoncire l'enfant, et ils l'appelaient Zacharie, du nom de son père. Mais sa mère prit la parole, et dit: «Non, il sera appelé Jean». Ils lui dirent: «Il n'y a dans ta parenté personne qui soit appelé de ce nom». Et ils firent des signes à son père pour savoir comment il voulait qu'on l'appelle. Zacharie demanda des tablettes, et il écrivit: «Jean est son nom». Et tous furent dans l'étonnement. Au même instant, sa bouche s'ouvrit, sa langue se délia, et il parlait, bénissant Dieu. La crainte s'empara de tous les habitants d'alentour, et, dans toutes les montagnes de la Judée, on s'entretenait de toutes ces choses. Tous ceux qui les apprirent les gardèrent dans leur coeur, en disant: «Que sera donc cet enfant?». Et la main du Seigneur était avec lui.

L’Application

Deux jours avant Noël, la sainte Église nous invite à accueillir Jean le Baptiste comme le prophète Élie et à préparer avec lui le chemin qui nous mènera à ce Dieu surprenant qui a choisi de naître dans notre humanité. En ces jours, je vous invite à découvrir la préparation que Dieu attend de nous et à identifier notre force et notre faiblesse dans la vie chrétienne.  Afin que notre force soit une grâce pour les autres et que notre faiblesse soit une occasion pour nous de grandir dans le Seigneur. Nous y découvrirons la main du Seigneur qui nous apprend à marcher, à marcher sur le bon chemin.

«‘Que sera donc cet enfant?’. Et la main du Seigneur était avec lui»

Abbé Miquel MASATS i Roca

(Girona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, dans la première lecture nous lisons: «Voici que j'envoie mon messager, et il préparera le chemin devant Moi» (Ml 3,1). La prophétie de Malachie s'accomplit en Jean Baptiste. C'est un des personnages principaux de la liturgie de l'Avent, qui nous invite à nous préparer dans la prière et la pénitence à la venue du Seigneur. Comme la prière collective de la messe d'aujourd'hui: «Accorde-nous tes serviteurs, qui reconnaissons l'approche de la naissance de ton Fils, d'expérimenter la miséricorde du Verbe qui a daigné prendre chair de la Vierge Marie et habiter parmi nous».

La naissance du Précurseur nous parle de la proximité de Noël. Le Seigneur est proche! Préparons-nous!. Quand les prêtres qui vinrent de Jérusalem lui demandèrent qui il était, il répondit: «Je suis la voix de celui qui crie dans le désert: Aplanissez le chemin du Seigneur» (Jn 1,23).

«Voici que je me tiens à la porte et je frappe: si quelqu'un entend ma voix et ouvre la porte, j'entrerai chez lui, je souperai avec lui et lui avec Moi» (Ap 3,20), lit-on dans l'antienne de la communion. Nous devons nous examiner pour voir comment nous sommes en train de nous préparer à recevoir Jésus le jour de Noël: Dieu veut naître surtout dans nos cœurs.

La vie du Précurseur nous enseigne les vertus dont nous avons besoin afin de profiter pleinement de la venue de Jésus, fondamentalement, l'humilité du cœur. Il se reconnaît comme un instrument de Dieu pour accomplir sa vocation, sa mission. Comme le dit Saint Ambroise; «Ne te glorifie pas d'être appelé fils de Dieu —reconnaissons la grâce sans oublier notre nature—; ne t'enorgueillis pas si tu as bien servi, car tu as accompli ton devoir. Le soleil fait son travail, la lune obéit, les anges accomplissent leur mission. L'instrument choisi par le Seigneur pour les gentils dit: ‘Car je suis le moindre des Apôtres, moi qui ne suis pas digne d'être appelé apôtre, parce que j'ai persécuté l'Église de Dieu’ (1Co 15,9)».

Cherchons uniquement la gloire de Dieu. La vertu de l'humilité nous conditionne à nous préparer dûment pour les fêtes qui approchent.

Gospel text

(Lk 1:46-56): 

Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.”

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

The Application

Mary's magnificat is a thanksgiving, and she gives thanks to God, not as an individual woman, but as the daughter of a generation and thus she becomes the mother of a new generation. She uses the liturgical song or hymn she has learned to give thanks to her God, the God of history. The one who was saved by her Son, even before being the mother, already shows us a way to become the true sons and daughters of this mother.

The Gospel tells us that she stayed for three months. These three months are important, just as the Ark of the Covenant stayed three months in Jerusalem. These three months represent for me personally the many three that she will undergo throughout her life, such as searching for her son for three days, three days at the tomb, etc. They are represent the accomplishment of divine will, in its perfection. She will take care that remains faithful, come what may. As she finishes her work in her cousin's house, she invites us to be faithful to the mission we have accepted, for it will lead us to the resurrection. There we will find the promise made to Abraham fulfilled in us, poor sinners that we are.

Action of the day: Glorify God at all time.

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior”

Fr. Francesc PERARNAU i Cañellas

(Girona, Spain)

Today's Gospel presents for our consideration the Magnificat Canticle, with which the Virgin Mary, full of joy, greets Elizabeth, her relative, mother of John the Baptist, in her home. Mary's words remind us of other Biblical canticles and songs She knew quite well and had so often, recited and contemplated. Now. However, those very words, on her lips, have a much deeper meaning: behind them, God's Mother spirit shows through while also evincing the purity of her heart. Every day, at the Liturgy of the Hours, the Church makes these words hers when, with the Vespers, the Church addresses to Heaven the same song with which Mary rejoiced, blessed and thanked God for all His graciousness and sheer kindness.

Mary has benefited of the most extraordinary Grace any woman has ever received or will ever receive: amongst all other women in History, she has been chosen by God, to become the Mother of the Redeemer Messiah, whom Mankind had been awaiting for so many centuries. It is the highest honor ever granted any human person, and She accepts it with total restraint and humility, by realizing it all is Grace and a gift, and her own lowliness before the immensity of God's power and greatness, which has done wonders on Her (cf. Lk 1:49). This is a great lesson of humility for all of us, Adam's sons, and heirs of a human nature deeply stained by Original Sin, which, day after day, would try to drag us down.

We are getting close to the end of Advent, a time of conversion and purification. To day, it is the Virgin Mary who is showing us the best way. Mulling over our Mother's prayer —by wishing to make it ours— will help us to become more humble. Mother Mary will help us if we truly ask her.

Gospel text

(Lk 1:39-45): 

Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

The Application

The Gospel of the Visitation makes me understand three important elements for my Christian faith: the divine behaviour, the necessity of my participation and the fruit of the divine work.

A surprising God: He has his own way of acting and he does everything for all those who give themselves generously to his mission. For Mary to discover her divine motherhood, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit. God gives grace to our friends when we put ourselves at his service. They are all blessed by our commitment. God has prepared Elizabeth, so that Mary's YES stands firm. God accompanies us, not according to our desire (very often our desires destroy us), but according to his will, a will filled with love and mercy. 

God needs our participation: For the Child to find a worthy place, God needed Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Zechariah and John the Baptist. And let us not forget their parents. Each of them had an important role. God prepared them differently, individually and very carefully. God continues to prepare us and we must learn from Mary to say Yes, and from Elizabeth to identify the presence and work of God in the lives of our brothers and sisters.

Joy: The child is full of joy. It is the fruit of every divine encounter. Joy is not the end, but it is a path to holiness. May our presence in the daily lives of our brothers and sisters bring them joy, the joy of the divine presence, the joy of feeling the presence of our brothers and sisters who are at the service of the Lord, the joy of being able to participate in the history of salvation. Where God is found, love is visibly present. Where true love is found, there is joy and peace, which leads us to the perfection willed by the Lord.

Action of the day: Be joyful in every moment of life, it’s already a sign of God’s presence.

“Blessed are you who believed”

Fr. Àngel CALDAS i Bosch

(Salt, Girona, Spain)

Today, the text of the Gospel corresponds to the second joyful mystery: the “Visitation of the Blessed Virgin to Her Cousin, St. Elizabeth”. It certainly is a complete mystery! A silent in burst of profound and intense joy as History has never ever narrated! It is Mary's joy that has just become a mother, because it is fitting that all grace continues to come through Mary by the work of the Holy Spirit. The Latin word “gaudium” express a deep and intimate joy that does not burst out. Despite that, the mountains of Judah were covered with joy. Mary exulted as a mother who has just realized she is expecting a child. And what a Child! A Child that, before being born, already peregrinated through the boulder trodden tracks leading to Ain Karim, nestled in the heart and lovely arms of Mary.

Joy in Elizabeth's soul and face, and in the baby leaping in her womb. The words of Mary's cousin will travel through time: “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb”. (Lk 1:42). The prayer of the Saint Rosary, as a source of joy, is one of the new perspectives discovered by our Pope John Paul II in his apostolic Letter about the Rosary of the Virgin Mary.

Joy is indivisible from faith. “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1:43). The joy of God and Mary has spread all over the world. To allow it within us, we need only to open ourselves through our faith to God's constant influence in our life, while walking our path with the Infant, with She who has believed, by holding St. Joseph's strong and enamored hand. Earthen paths, asphalt, cobblestones or muddy roads through, any Christian always carries upon him, two dimensions of faith: the union with God and the service to others. Both quite closely linked up: with a unity of life that establishes no solution of continuity between one thing and the other.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Lc 1,39-45): 

En ces jours-là, Marie se mit en route rapidement vers une ville de la montagne de Judée. Elle entra dans la maison de Zacharie et salua Élisabeth. Or, quand Élisabeth entendit la salutation de Marie, l'enfant tressaillit en elle. Alors, Élisabeth fut remplie de l'Esprit Saint, et s'écria d'une voix forte: «Tu es bénie entre toutes les femmes, et le fruit de tes entrailles est béni. Comment ai-je ce bonheur que la mère de mon Seigneur vienne jusqu'à moi? Car, lorsque j'ai entendu tes paroles de salutation, l'enfant a tressailli d'allégresse au-dedans de moi. Heureuse celle qui a cru à l'accomplissement des paroles qui lui furent dites de la part du Seigneur».

L’Application

L'Évangile de la Visitation me fait comprendre trois éléments importants pour ma foi chrétienne : le comportement divin, la nécessité de ma participation et le fruit de l'œuvre divine.

Un Dieu surprenant : Il a sa propre façon d'agir et il fait tout pour tous ceux qui se donnent généreusement à sa mission. Pour que Marie découvre sa maternité divine, Elisabeth est remplie de l'Esprit Saint. Dieu donne la grâce à nos amis lorsque nous nous mettons à son service. Ils sont tous bénis par notre engagement. Dieu a préparé Elizabeth, pour que OUI de Marie reste ferme. Dieu nous accompagne, non pas selon notre désire (très souvent nos désires nous détruisent), mais selon sa volonté, une volonté remplie d'amour et de miséricorde. 

Dieu a besoin de notre participation : Pour que l'Enfant trouve une place digne, Dieu avait besoin de Marie, de Josèphe, d'Elisabeth, de Zacharie et de Jean-Baptiste. ET, n'oublions pas leurs parents. Chacun d'eux a eu un rôle important. Dieu les a préparés différemment, individuellement et très soigneusement. Dieu continue à nous préparer et nous devons apprendre de Marie à dire Oui, et d'Elisabeth à identifier la présence et l'œuvre de Dieu dans la vie de nos frères et sœurs.

La joie : L'enfant est plein de joie. C'est le fruit de toute rencontre divine. La joie n'est pas la finalité, mais elle est un chemin vers la sainteté. Que notre présence dans la vie quotidienne de nos frères et sœurs leur apporte la joie, la joie de la présence divine, la joie de sentir la présence de nos frères et sœurs qui sont au service du Seigneur, la joie de pouvoir participer à l'histoire du salut. Là où se trouve Dieu, l'amour est visiblement présent. Là où se trouve l'amour véritable, il y a la joie et la paix, qui nous conduit vers la perfection voulue par le Seigneur.

«Heureuse celle qui a cru»

Abbé Àngel CALDAS i Bosch

(Salt, Girona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, le texte de l'Évangile correspond au 2ème mystère joyeux: «La visitation de Marie à sa cousine Elisabeth». Il s'agit d'un vrai mystère! Une explosion de joie profonde comme jamais l'histoire ne nous l'avait jamais raconté auparavant! La joie de Marie qui vient de devenir mère, par la grâce et l'action de l'Esprit Saint! Le mot “gaudium” exprime une joie profonde, intime qui ne se dévoile pas à l'extérieur. Pourtant, les montagnes de Judée se sont remplies de joie. Marie exulte comme une mère qui vient d'apprendre qu'elle attend un enfant… et quel Enfant! Un fils pèlerin, avant même la naissance, qui se rend par des sentiers rocheux à Ain Karen, enveloppé dans le cœur et les bras de Marie.

Joie dans l'âme et le visage d'Elisabeth, et l'enfant qui tressaille d'allégresse dans son ventre. Les paroles même de la cousine de Marie se transmettront dans les âges: «Tu es bénie entre toutes les femmes, et le fruit de tes entrailles est béni» (Lc 1,42). La prière du rosaire comme source de joie, est une des nouvelles perspectives dévoilées par Jean Paul II dans sa lettre apostolique "Le rosaire de la Vierge Marie".

L'allégresse est inséparable de la foi. «Comment ai-je ce bonheur que la mère de mon Seigneur vienne jusqu'à moi?» (Lc 1,43). La joie de Dieu et de Marie s'est dispersée dans le monde. Pour la laisser passer, il suffit de nous ouvrir par la foi à l'action constante de Dieu dans notre vie, devenir pèlerins avec l'Enfant, avec Celle qui a cru, et se tenir à la main forte et amoureuse de saint Joseph. Par les chemins de la terre, par les routes, sentiers ou chemins boueux, un chrétien porte en lui, toujours, deux dimensions de la foi: l'union avec Dieu et le service aux autres. Le tout bien rassemblé: avec une unité de vie qui empêche qu'il ait une solution de continuité entre une chose et l'autre.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Lc 1,46-56): 

Marie dit: «Mon âme exalte le Seigneur, et mon esprit se réjouit en Dieu, mon Sauveur, parce qu'il a jeté les yeux sur la bassesse de sa servante. Car voici, désormais toutes les générations me diront bienheureuse, parce que le Tout Puissant a fait pour moi de grandes choses. Son nom est saint, et sa miséricorde s'étend d'âge en âge Sur ceux qui le craignent. Il a déployé la force de son bras; Il a dispersé ceux qui avaient dans le coeur des pensées orgueilleuses. Il a renversé les puissants de leurs trônes, et il a élevé les humbles. Il a rassasié de biens les affamés, et il a renvoyé les riches à vide. Il a secouru Israël, son serviteur, et il s'est souvenu de sa miséricorde, —comme il l'avait dit à nos pères— envers Abraham et sa postérité pour toujours».

Marie demeura avec Élisabeth environ trois mois. Puis elle retourna chez elle.

L’Application

Le magnificat de Marie est une action de grâce, et elle rend grâce à Dieu, non pas en tant que femme individuelle, mais en tant que fille d'une génération et elle devient la mère d'une nouvelle génération. Elle utilise le chant liturgique ou l'hymne qu'elle a appris pour rendre grâce à son Dieu, le Dieu de l'histoire. Celle qui a été sauvée par son Fils, avant même d'être la mère, nous montre déjà un chemin pour que nous devenions les vrais fils et filles de cette mère.

L'évangile nous dit qu'elle est restée trois mois. Ces trois mois sont importants, tout comme l'Arche d'Alliance est restée trois mois à Jérusalem. Ces trois mois représentent pour moi personnellement les nombreux trois mois qu'elle va subir toute sa vie, comme chercher son fils pendant trois jours, trois jours au tombeau, etc. En terminant son travail dans la maison de son cousin, elle nous invite à être fidèles à la mission que nous avons acceptée, car elle nous conduira à la résurrection. Là, nous trouverons la promesse faite à Abraham réalisée en nous, pauvres pécheurs que nous sommes.

«Mon âme exalte le Seigneur, et mon esprit se réjouit en Dieu»

Abbé Francesc PERARNAU i Cañellas

(Girona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, l'Evangile de la Messe nous présente à notre considération le Magnificat, que Marie, pleine de joie, entonne dans la maison de sa parente Elisabeth, mère de Jean Baptiste. Les paroles de Marie nous apportent une réminiscence d'autres chants bibliques qu'elle connaissait très bien et qu'elle avait récités et contemplés à tant d'occasions. Mais, maintenant dans ses lèvres, ces mêmes paroles ont un sentiment beaucoup plus profond: l'esprit de la Mère de Dieu se transparaît à travers elles et nous montre la pureté de son cœur. Chaque jour, l'Église le fait sien dans la Liturgie des Heures quand, priant les veilles, elle dirige vers le ciel ce même chant avec lequel Marie se réjouissait, bénissait et rendait grâce à Dieu pour toutes ses bontés.

Marie s'est bénéficiée de la grâce la plus extraordinaire que jamais une autre femme n'a reçu et recevra: elle a été élue de Dieu, parmi toutes les femmes de l'histoire, pour être la Mère du Messie Rédempteur que l'Humanité attendait depuis des siècles. C'est l'honneur le plus haut jamais connue pour une personne humaine, et elle le reçoit avec une total simplicité et humilité, se rendant compte que tout est grâce, offre, et qu'elle n'ait rien devant l'immensité du pouvoir et de la grandeur de Dieu, qui a fait des merveilles en elle (cf. Lc 1,49). Une grande leçon d'humilité pour nous tous, fils d'Adam et héritiers d'une nature humaine marquée profondément par le péché originel duquel, jour après jour, nous entraînons les conséquences.

Nous arrivons au final du temps de l'Avent, un temps de conversion et de purification. Aujourd'hui c'est Marie qui nous enseigne le meilleur chemin. Méditer la prière de notre Mère —en voulant la faire nôtre— nous aidera a être plus humbles. Sainte Marie nous aidera si on lui demande avec confiance.

Gospel text

(Lk 1:26-38): 

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

The Application

There is a coherence between 'filled with grace' and 'behold the handmaid of the Lord'. From this moment of encounter, everything will change for Mary. She will no longer live for herself, or for her salvation, she will live for humanity, for the salvation of the world. The moment the man puts himself at the service of the Lord, God takes him completely and leads him on a totally unknown and unnoticed path. On this path he will discover the signs that God will give him. Through these signs, he will discover his new identity, which is closely linked to the divine identity. If we want to live this life, a life totally configured to God, we must know how to say, like Mary, YES, and be faithful to this commitment, "May everything happen to me according to your word. There we will discover a surprising God.

Action of the day: Be attentive.

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Fr, Jordi PASCUAL i Bancells

(Salt, Girona, Spain)

Today, once more, we contemplate the impressive scene of the Annunciation. God, always true to his promises, lets Mary know, through the Angel Gabriel that she is the one chosen to bear the Savior of the world. As we learn to expect from the Lord, the most important event in the history of mankind —the Creator and Lord of all things becoming man, just like us— takes place in a very simple way: a young woman in a small village in Galilea. No fireworks.

The way of going about it is simple; the event is magnificent as are the virtues of the Virgin Mary: filled with grace, the Lord is with her, humble, simple, available for God's will, generous. God has plans for her, as he has for you and for me, but He relies on our free and loving cooperation to carry them out. Mary is our example: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38). It is not only a “yes” to the message of the Angel; it is turning herself into the hands of God the Father, to abandon herself to his intimate providence, to let God work through her now and in all the circumstances of Her life.

Of Mary's answer to God's will, as of ours,—Saint Josemaría Escriva— writes, “never forget it, a great deal depends on it”.

We are preparing to celebrate Christmas. The best way to do so is to be with Mary, contemplating Her life and trying to imitate Her virtues in order to receive the Lord with the right heart: What does God expect from me, now, today, at work, with this person I deal with all the time, from my relation with Him? A great deal depends on our response to the little things of every day!

Texte de l'Évangile

(Lc 1,26-38): 

Le sixième mois, l'ange Gabriel fut envoyé par Dieu dans une ville de Galilée, appelée Nazareth, à une jeune fille, une vierge, accordée en mariage à un homme de la maison de David, appelé Joseph; et le nom de la jeune fille était Marie. L'ange entra chez elle et dit: «Je te salue, Comblée-de-grâce, le Seigneur est avec toi».

A cette parole, elle fut toute bouleversée, et elle se demandait ce que pouvait signifier cette salutation. L'ange lui dit alors: «Sois sans crainte, Marie, car tu as trouvé grâce auprès de Dieu. Voici que tu vas concevoir et enfanter un fils; tu lui donneras le nom de Jésus. Il sera grand, il sera appelé Fils du Très-Haut; le Seigneur Dieu lui donnera le trône de David son père; il régnera pour toujours sur la maison de Jacob, et son règne n'aura pas de fin».

Marie dit à l'ange: «Comment cela va-t-il se faire, puisque je suis vierge?». L'ange lui répondit: «L'Esprit Saint viendra sur toi, et la puissance du Très-Haut te prendra sous son ombre; c'est pourquoi celui qui va naître sera saint, et il sera appelé Fils de Dieu. Et voici qu'Élisabeth, ta cousine, a conçu, elle aussi, un fils dans sa vieillesse et elle en est à son sixième mois, alors qu'on l'appelait: “la femme stérile”. Car rien n'est impossible à Dieu». Marie dit alors: «Voici la servante du Seigneur; que tout se passe pour moi selon ta parole». Alors l'ange la quitta.

L’Application

Il y a une cohérence entre " comblée de grâce " et " voici la servante du Seigneur ". À partir de ce moment de la rencontre, tout va changer pour Marie. Elle ne vivra plus pour elle-même, ni pour son salut, elle vivra pour l'humanité, pour le salut du monde. Au moment où l'homme se met au service du Seigneur, Dieu le prend complètement et le conduit sur un chemin totalement inconnu et inaperçu. Sur ce chemin, il va découvrir les signes que Dieu va lui donner. À travers ces signes, il découvrira sa nouvelle identité, qui est étroitement liée à l'identité divine. Si nous voulons vivre cette vie, une vie totalement configurée à Dieu, nous devons savoir dire, comme Marie, OUI, et être fidèles à cet engagement : " Que tout m'arrive selon ta parole ". Nous y découvrirons un Dieu surprenant.

«Voici la servante du Seigneur; que tout se passe pour moi selon ta parole»

Abbé Jordi PASCUAL i Bancells

(Salt, Girona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, nous contemplons, une fois de plus, cette scène impressionnante de l'Annonciation. Dieu toujours fidèle à ses promesses à travers l'ange Gabriel fait savoir à Marie qu'elle est l'élue pour amener le Sauveur au monde. Dieu restant fidèle à sa façon d'agir, l'évènement le plus grandiose pour l'histoire de l'Humanité —le Créateur et Seigneur de toutes choses se fait homme comme nous—, se déroule de la façon la plus simple: une jeune fille, dans un petit village de Galilée, sans spectacle.

La façon de faire est facile, l'évènement est immense. Comme le sont aussi les vertus de la Vierge Marie: remplie de grâce, le Seigneur est avec elle, humble, simple, disponible devant la volonté de Dieu, généreuse. Dieu a ses projets pour elle, comme pour toi et pour moi, mais Il espère la coopération libre et amoureuse de chacun pour nous amener à terme. Marie nous donne l'exemple de cela: «Voici la servante du Seigneur, que tout se passe pour moi selon ta parole» (Lc 1,38). Ce n'est pas un simple oui au message de l'ange non plus, c'est se remettre en tout entre les mains du Seigneur, un abandon confiant à sa providence profonde, dire oui au Seigneur pour ce qu'il fait aujourd'hui et ce qu'il fera dans toutes les circonstances de sa vie.

De la réponse de Marie ainsi que de notre réponse à ce que Dieu nous demande —saint Joseph-Marie écrit— «ne l'oubliez pas, beaucoup de grandes choses en dépendent».

Nous nous préparons pour célébrer la fête de Noël. La meilleure façon de le faire est de rester proche de Marie, en contemplant sa vie et en essayant d'imiter ses vertus pour pouvoir accueillir le Seigneur avec un cœur disponible: —Qu'attend Dieu de moi, maintenant, aujourd'hui, dans mon travail, avec cette personne que je fréquente, dans la relation avec Lui? Ce sont de petites situations de chaque jour, mais… qui dépendent tellement de la réponse que nous donnons!

"You, Bethlehem Ephratah, the smallest of the clans of Judah, from you will come the one who is to rule Israel for me. God has made a choice, choice to be born in  a clan which is small and weak.  By this birth God expresses his belonging. By nature, which was divine, became the flesh of the flesh, participating in the life and death of humanity, which nevertheless has its heavenly origin. God who called man, come, 'You are my Son,' allowed humanity in Mary to call Him, You are my son, of my flesh.  Mary will give birth to this Flesh, the divine flesh that belongs visibly or by appearance to humanity, represented by Mary. 

The new Eve makes humanity learn, the humanity that God wanted from the beginning of creation, "And Then the man said, 'This time, this is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh! She shall be called woman - Ishsha - who was taken from man - Ish. She who brought misfortune to mankind by her disobedience will be the same one today who will bring consolation, symbolically reminding us of the transfer of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. It is this Ark that carries the Saviour for all humanity. A moment of joy and gladness, the child jumps with joy.

In Mary man has found the divine way, the way that will lead all humanity to the divinity. She will do so in such a way, by bringing Christ to her cousin Elizabeth, the Ark par excellence of the covenant. It is no longer man who goes to seek his God, but God who comes to seek him. After committing the sin, God will come to meet man,  "The Lord God called the man and said to him, "Where are you? It is beautiful that this story is repeated in Elizabeth. God comes for Zechariah, who did not believe the Word spoken by the Lord. His role is reversed. It is in Elizabeth, who knew how to welcome the Mother of God, that Zechariah will find his salvation.  We are all called to be this Marie who carries Jesus to the whole world.

What a beautiful encounter! Two women show us another encounter of two children. One will be silent, but active in accomplishing the divine will and the other will tremble with joy of feeling the presence of this silent worker. In this encounter, moved by the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth reveals the divine motherhood of Mary, her cousin. How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? Thus, Mary will carry salvation within her. We are all called to identify the divine presence in the heart of the humanity.

In this exchange of greetings we will feel the presence of the Holy Spirit gathering us together and like Elizabeth, we will recognise the mother of God in our brothers and sisters, the envoys of the Father who are before us and with us. My friends, let this visitation not end here in the church. Let us bring it to life in every human encounter, at home, in the hospital and on the street, etc.

Let us pray,

On this Sunday we turn to you, God our Father. You give us the joy of visiting your Son received in this Eucharist. Fill us with the Holy Spirit so that, with the Virgin Mary and Elizabeth, we may give you thanks and welcome you in our brothers and sisters, with our words and our whole life. Amen.

Gospel text

(Mt 1:18-24): 

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.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

The Application

"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary into your home", a direct assurance and "he took his wife into his home", a concrete commitment. God understands our sensitivities and it is enough to say everything in a dream and Joseph will do it. It should be noted that Mary was totally unaware of everything that happened to Joseph. We don't have to understand everything, including the way God works in our lives. He will do it in His own way, in His own time.

So let us not expect all the details to be given, revealed and received. It is enough that we feel that God is with us and that we know to trust in His goodness and generosity. The moment we say Yes to Him, like Mary, God will reveal His plan to us, little by little, in its totality. Let us contemplate Joseph, his silence and discretion. Let us imitate him. 

Action of the day: Learn to believe in God.

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home”

Fr. Antoni CAROL i Hostench

(Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, the liturgy of the Word invites us to think of the wonderful example St. Joseph gives us. He was extremely sensitive towards Mary, his betrothed.

There is no doubt that both were excellent people, in love with each other like no other couple. However, it is plain to see that the Almighty wanted their love to go through some very demanding circumstances.

Saint John Paul II wrote: “Christianity is a surprise from a God who has taken sides with his creature”. As a matter of fact, He has taken the initiative: To come to this world He has not waited for us to deserve it. He proposes His initiative; He does not impose it upon us: It is as though God asked us for “permission”. To Mary He proposed —never imposed anything! — the vocation of being the Mother of God: “He, who had the power to create everything from nothing, had refused to rebuild what had been desecrated if Mary had not agreed to it” (Saint Anselm).

But God, not only is asking us for permission, He also wants us to take part in His plans, to make a heroic contribution. And so it was for Mary and Joseph. In fact the Christ-child needed parents. Even more so: He needed his parent's heroism, for they had to go to extremes to defend the life of the “little Redeemer”.

What is really beautiful is that Mary revealed only a few details of her childbearing: Such an important fact is reported in just two verses (cf. Lk 2:6-7). On the other hand, she was more explicit when speaking of Joseph's thoughtfulness towards her. The fact was that “before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit” (Mt 1:19), and in order not to risk discrediting her, he would have preferred to disappear discretely and to renounce her love (something that was socially unfavorable to him). Thus, before the law of charity had been proclaimed, Saint Joseph was already practicing it: Mary (and his loving attentions with her) was his law.