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

We enter the 18th Ordinary Sunday and we are invited to discover not only all that Jesus and his word can bring us, but also to discover the Person, 'JESUS', the bread that came down from heaven, the Bread of Life. In today's Gospel we are after the multiplication of the loaves, and especially immediately after finding Jesus walking on the water. This context is important for us to better understand the message that Jesus wants to share with us.

You seek me because you have eaten, you have seen my miracles, and you want to associate.  Jesus is not against this association, but the purpose of this association is disturbing, because they remain in the peripheries, purely carnal, without wanting to penetrate to the depth of the PERSON, Christ.  Many of us are looking for the same Jesus, the power, the miracle maker, giver and healer as these people.  This is why, faced with illness, family or social breakdown, we distance ourselves from the faith, we even refuse to enter the church, because we find this Jesus is not efficient in these moments of life.  We would like to remain like the faithful customers in the shop, choosing what is good for us and rejecting anything inconvenient.  Our faith is conditioned by all that God brings us, than God Himself.  We don’t search God, rather what God can give us. In truth, we are a chosen generation, called, consecrated and sent.

Since we are a covenant people, Jesus presents himself as the new Adam, the new Moses, who establishes a new covenant through His body and blood.  It was not Moses who gave you this bread, but I, my Father. Jesus tells us that this covenant is himself. Indeed, he is with us, it is already a covenant made, for in the whole covenant God has promised his presence and his faithfulness to his promise. I will always be with you.

Therefore, all of Jesus' activities are divine works, including the multiplication of the loaves. This is why the multiplication of the loaves should never be seen as carnal food, because this gesture is already a prelude to the establishment of the Eucharist, the broken bread, the shed blood, a divine tear.  He took the bread, gave thanks to God, broke it and gave it to his disciples to remember. If the world is still looking for a higher sign than of the establishment of the Eucharist, a higher sign of an offering made on the Cross, it will have given nothing.

Believing in Jesus is not an intellectual work by looking at the signs or miracles seen or glimpsed. Faith is a gift that God willingly offers to each of us, even if we are not worthy of it.  This faith helps us to recognise the signs that God gives us daily and the miracles of each day. What must we do to have this faith?  "What must we do to do the works of God? ........ "The work of God is that you believe in the one he has sent. Jesus tells us that we will learn to ride a bicycle by riding a bicycle. We have no choice but to believe.

John, in the mouth of the Lord, puts this phrase: "Amen, Amen, I say to you."  This phrase has exactly the same function as the very usual formula of the prophets in the Old Testament, "the oracle of the Lord, or Thus says the Lord". We must therefore pay particular attention to everything that Jesus is going to say to us: "I am the Bread of Life. "In Deuteronomy 8:3, we read a very profound word that Jesus would take up as an answer to the devil who wanted to tempt him: "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. "As St Paul tells us in the second reading, we cannot act like others who do not have faith.

Let us be open, so that this Word may enter us and we ourselves become the living Word to the people God loves so much. If we allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit, we will say with Paul, it is not I who live, but the Lord who lives in me. When we are looking for the Lord, like Mary Magdalene, like the disciples of Emmaus, we can make mistakes in our discernment. The Word Himself will come to meet us and He will transform us. Search and your will find, knock and it will be opened for you.  Amen.

Gospel text

(Mt 14,1-12): 

On one occasion the news about Jesus reached King Herod. And he said to his servants, «This man is John the Baptist. John has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him».

Herod had, in fact, ordered that John be arrested, bound in chains and put in prison be-cause of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John had said to him, «It is not right for you to have her as wife». Herod wanted to kill him but he did not dare, because he feared the people who regarded John as a prophet.

On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst of the guests; she so delighted Herod that he promised under oath to give her anything she asked. The girl, following the advice of her mother, said, «Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a dish». The king was very displeased, but because he had made this promise under oath in the presence of the guests, he ordered it to be given her. So he had John beheaded in prison and his head brought on a dish and given to the girl. The girl then took it to her mother. Then John's disciples came to take his body and bury it. And they went to bring the news to Jesus.

The Application

We all have a past history that still weighs on us today. The events of our past can help us to grow, if we learn to look at it with an open heart and with a backward glance. Let's take some distance from them and look at it without any prejudice. Pleasant or painful, both can help us to grow. Herod looks back at his past, especially at the evil he committed against John the Baptist, the righteous one. This look is not enough for us, if we do not learn the lesson and are not ready to change or  be converted.

Jesus looks at us and accepts our past history, even if it is not all good. Jesus invites us not only to do a reappraisal like Herod, but also to be converted by our positive commitment. Divine knowledge, with necessary power or authority, does not guarantee us salvation, for Herod had it. He did not want to choose the truth, nor to be consistent with his conscience. He refused to listen to his inner voice, the sign of God's presence.

The Lord asks us to discern everything before the Lord, not like Herod, before the people, thus failed to be in truth,. If we discern everything with God, we will learn to act with a heart filled with compassion and love. On this feast day, we need to take Ignatius of Loyola's gourd, to immerse ourselves in the immense mercy of God. God forgives our past and are we ready to meet him today?

Action of the day: Act with compassion and love.

«The news about Jesus reached King Herod»

Fr. Joan Pere PULIDO i Gutiérrez

(Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Spain)

Today, our liturgy proposes us to contemplate an injustice: the beheading of St. John the Baptist; and, at the same time, to discover in God's Word the need of a clear and concrete testimony of our faith to fill out the world with hope.

I invite you to center our consideration in the person of Herod, the tetrarch. In fact, it is a counter-testimony for us, but it will help us to emphasize some interesting aspects, important enough for our testimony of faith amid the world. «The news about Jesus reached King Herod» (Mt 14:1). This assertion underlines an apparently correct, but not too sincere, attitude. It is the same kind of reality we can today find in many persons and, perhaps, even in ourselves. There are many who have heard of Jesus, but, who is He actually?, what kind of personal implication can we find in him?

First of all, we must give the correct answer; Herod's reply is but vague information: «This man is John the Baptist. John has risen from the dead» (Mt 14:2). Most probably you will be missing here Peter's reply to Jesus' question: «He said to them, ‘but who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’» (Mt 16:15-16). And this assertion does not leave any room for fear or indifference but it rather gives way to a testimony based in the Gospel of hope. This is how His Holiness Saint John Paul II defined it in his apostolic Exhortation The Church in Europe: «Therefore, in union with the whole Church, I invite my brothers and my sisters in faith constantly to be open in trust to Christ and to allow themselves to be renewed by him, proclaiming to all people of good will in the power of peace and love that whoever encounters the Lord comes to know the Truth, discovers the Life, and finds the Way leading to it».

Today, Saturday, let the Mother of God, the Mother of hope, help us to really discover Jesus and to bear witness of him to our brethren.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mt 14,1-12): 

En ce temps-là, Hérode, prince de Galilée, apprit la renommée de Jésus et dit à ses serviteurs: «Cet homme, c'est Jean le Baptiste, il est ressuscité d'entre les morts, et voilà pourquoi il a le pouvoir de faire des miracles».

Car Hérode avait fait arrêter Jean, l'avait fait enchaîner et mettre en prison, à cause d'Hérodiade, la femme de son frère Philippe. En effet, Jean lui avait dit: «Tu n'as pas le droit de vivre avec elle». Hérode cherchait à le mettre à mort, mais il eut peur de la foule qui le tenait pour un prophète.

Lorsqu’arriva l'anniversaire d'Hérode, la fille d'Hérodiade dansa devant tout le monde, et elle plut à Hérode. Aussi s'engagea-t-il par serment à lui donner tout ce qu'elle demanderait. Poussée par sa mère, elle: Donne-moi ici, sur un plat, la tête de Jean le Baptiste». Le roi fut contrarié, mais à cause de son serment et des convives, il commanda de la lui donner. Il envoya décapiter Jean dans la prison. La tête de celui-ci fut apportée sur un plat et donnée à la jeune fille, qui l'apporta à sa mère. Les disciples de Jean arrivèrent pour prendre son corps, l'ensevelirent et allèrent en informer Jésus.

L’Application

Nous avons tous un passé qui nous pèse encore aujourd'hui. Les événements de notre passé peuvent nous aider à grandir, si nous apprenons à le regarder avec un cœur ouvert et avec un regard en arrière. Prenons un peu de distance par rapport à eux et regardons-les sans aucun préjugé. Agréable ou douloureux, les deux peuvent nous aider à grandir. Hérode regarde son passé, en particulier le mal qu'il a commis contre Jean Baptiste, le juste. Ce regard n'est pas suffisant pour nous, si nous n'en tirons pas la leçon et si nous ne sommes pas prêts à changer ou à nous convertir.

Jésus nous regarde et accepte notre histoire passée, même si elle n'est pas entièrement bonne. Jésus nous invite non seulement à faire une réévaluation comme Hérode, mais aussi à nous convertir par notre engagement positif. La connaissance divine, avec le pouvoir ou l'autorité nécessaires, ne nous garantit pas le salut, car Hérode l'avait. Il n'a pas voulu choisir la vérité, ni être en accord avec sa conscience. Il a refusé d'écouter sa voix intérieure, signe de la présence de Dieu. 

Le Seigneur nous demande de tout discerner devant le Seigneur, et non pas comme Hérode, devant le peuple, qui n'a donc pas su être dans la vérité,. Si nous discernons tout avec Dieu, nous apprendrons à agir avec un cœur rempli de compassion et d'amour. En ce jour de fête, nous devons prendre la gourde d'Ignace de Loyola, pour nous immerger dans l'immense miséricorde de Dieu. Dieu pardonne notre passé, sommes-nous prêts à le rencontrer aujourd'hui ? 

«Hérode, prince de Galilée, apprit la renommée de Jésus»

Abbé Joan Pere PULIDO i Gutiérrez

(Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, la liturgie nous invite à contempler une injustice: celle de la mort de Jean Baptiste, et en même temps à découvrir dans la parole de Dieu le besoin de porter témoignage clairement et concrètement de notre foi afin d'annoncer l'espérance au monde.

Je vous invite à focaliser notre réflexion sur le personnage d'Hérode. En réalité, pour nous il représente un mauvais témoin, mais il va nous aider à faire ressortir des aspects importants pour notre témoignage de foi au monde. «En ce temps-là, Hérode, prince de Galilée, apprit la renommée de Jésus» (Mt 14,1). Cette déclaration désigne en apparence une bonne attitude, mais elle est peu sincère. C'est une réalité que nous pouvons rencontrer de nos jours chez certaines personnes et peut-être même en nous-mêmes. Beaucoup de gens ont entendu parler de Jésus, mais on se demande: qui est-Il réellement? Quel est l'engagement personnel qui nous unit à Lui?

Tout d'abord, il est nécessaire de donner une réponse exacte: celle d'Hérode nous semble un peu vague: «Cet homme, c'est Jean le Baptiste, il est ressuscité d'entre les morts» (Mt 14,2). Il est clair que nous regrettons de ne pas donner la réponse de Pierre à la question posée par Jésus: «Et vous, que dites-vous? Pour vous, qui suis-je?». «Prenant la parole, Simon-Pierre déclara: ‘Tu es le Messie, le Fils du Dieu vivant!’» (Mt 16,15-16) Cette affirmation ne laisse aucun doute, elle n'inspire ni la peur ni l'indifférence, mais elle ouvre la porte au témoignage d'espérance ancré dans l'Évangile. Saint Jean-Paul II le définit ainsi dans son Exhortation Apostolique Ecclesia in Europa: «Avec toute l'Église j'invite mes frères et sœurs dans la foi à savoir constamment s'ouvrir en toute confiance au Christ et à se laisser renouveler par lui, annonçant à toute personne de bonne volonté, avec la force de la paix et de l'amour, que celui qui rencontre le Seigneur connaît la Vérité, découvre la Vie, trouve la Voie qui y conduit».

Prions pour qu'aujourd'hui samedi, la Vierge Marie, Mère de l'espérance, nous aide à découvrir réellement qui est Jésus et à porter un bon témoignage sur Lui à nos frères.

Gospel text

(Mt 13,54-58): 

Jesus went to his hometown and taught the people in their synagogue. They were amazed and said, «Where did He get this wisdom and these special powers? Isn't He the carpenter's son? Isn't Mary his mother and aren't James, Joseph, Simon and Judas his brothers? Aren't all his sisters living here? How did he get all this?». And so they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, «The only place where prophets are not welcome is their hometown and in their own family». And He did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

The Application

Many of us get disappointed with in ourselves, because our own people have rejected us and refused to believe us. We live in a very rude world. Certainly yes, however, in this world we are called to be soft and gentile, so that this world may be converted and believe in the Gospel.

We should be very much aware that we live in the world, which rejects everything that does not suit it, even if it is from the son of the soil. There is a plenty of jealousy and anger. They fail not only to realise what is good in us, rather make a mockery of our good will.

Jesus is rejected by His own people and he becomes aware of the situation and we are called to be aware of the present situation. We should gracefully accept that all are not with us. This self-awareness will help us to discern the divine will, particularly in a difficult moment of life.

In the face of rejection, of failure, we are invited to look at Jesus and learn from Him how to live through this difficult moment in a peaceful and pleasant way, and to discover joy in our sorrow. Jesus does not look at Himself, and enter into self-pity, rather He looks at the people with compassion and love.  He is sad that they are not able to profit from Him. When we learn to look with compassion and love, there won't be judgement and accusation.

By this behaviour in the face of this rejection, He will teach the people how to discern in their daily lives, ignoring the negative and useless comments, and prioritising the essential. He will not be conditioned by these comments, rather inspired by love, he will continue his mission elsewhere.

Action of the day: Ignore the negative commentary and continue your good work.  

«The only place where prophets are not welcome is their hometown and in their own family»

Fr. Jordi POU i Sabater

(Sant Jordi Desvalls, Girona, Spain)

Today, as in yesteryears, to speak about God to those we know is a difficult thing to do. In a commentary about Jesus, St. John Chrysostom says: «The villagers of Nazareth do admire him, but their admiration does not go to the point of believing in him but, rather, of feeling envious, as if meaning: ‘Why him and not I’». Jesus knew quite well those who, instead of listening to him, took offense at him. They were his relatives, friends, neighbors He appreciated, but precisely to whom He will not be able to let them have his message of salvation.

We —that cannot work out miracles or have Christ's saintliness— will not incite envies (though, at times, if we are really trying to live as true Christians, we may actually do). However, come what may, we shall often find that those we love the most are those who could not care less about listening to us. To this effect, we must also bear in mind that shortcomings are easier to spot than virtues and, accordingly, those closer to us may wonder: —What are you trying to teach me, who used to do (or still does) this or that?

To preach or speak about God with our own people or family may be difficult but necessary. It must be said that when He was going back home, Jesus was preceded by his miracles and his word. Maybe, in our case, we may need a certain reputation for saintliness, whether at home or away, before “preaching” to those at home.

In his previous comment St. John Chrysostom adds: «Please look at the Master's kindness: He does not punish them for not listening to him but He tells them sweetly: ‘The only place where prophets are not welcome is their hometown and in their own family’» (Mt 13:57)». It is evident Jesus would leave somewhat sadly but nonetheless He would proceed with his preaching until his word of salvation would be welcome by his own people. Likewise, we (that have nothing to forgive or oversee) will have to preach so that Jesus' word reaches those that we love but do not want to listen to us.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mt 13,54-58): 

Jésus alla dans son pays, et il enseignait les gens dans leur synagogue, de telle manière qu'ils étaient frappés d'étonnement et disaient: «D'où lui viennent cette sagesse et ces miracles? N'est-il pas le fils du charpentier? Sa mère ne s'appelle-t-elle pas Marie, et ses frères: Jacques, Joseph, Simon et Jude? Et ses sœurs ne sont-elles pas toutes chez nous? Alors, d'où lui vient tout cela?». Et ils étaient profondément choqués à cause de lui. Jésus leur dit: «Un prophète n'est méprisé que dans sa patrie et dans sa propre maison». Et il ne fit pas beaucoup de miracles à cet endroit-là, à cause de leur manque de foi.

L’Application

Nous vivons dans le monde, qui rejette tout ce qui ne lui convient pas, même si cela vient du fils du village. Très souvent, nous ne nous rendons pas compte de tout ce que nous avons en nous, et entre nous.  Aujourd'hui encore, paradoxalement, les autres nous aident à découvrir ce que nous avons en nous. Jésus est rejeté par son peuple et il va aller dans la direction que son Père lui indiquera. Jésus prend conscience de la situation et nous sommes appelés à prendre conscience de la situation présente. Cette conscience de soi nous aidera à discerner la volonté divine, notamment dans un moment difficile de la vie. 

Face au rejet, à l'échec, nous sommes invités à regarder Jésus et à apprendre de Lui comment vivre ce moment difficile de manière paisible et agréable, et à découvrir la joie dans la tristesse. Jésus ne se regarde pas lui-même et ne s'apitoie pas sur son sort, mais il regarde les gens avec compassion et amour.  Il est triste qu'ils ne puissent pas profiter de lui. Lorsque nous apprenons à regarder avec compassion et amour, il n'y a pas de jugement ni d'accusation. 
 
Par ce comportement face à ce rejet, Il apprendra aux gens à faire preuve de discernement dans leur vie quotidienne, en ignorant les commentaires négatifs et inutiles, et en donnant la priorité à l'essentiel. Il ne sera pas conditionné par ces commentaires, mais inspiré par l'amour, il poursuivra sa mission ailleurs.  

«Un prophète n'est méprisé que dans sa patrie et dans sa propre maison»

Abbé Jordi POU i Sabater

(Sant Jordi Desvalls, Girona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, comme hier, il nous est difficile de parler de Dieu à ceux qui nous connaissent depuis toujours. Dans le cas de Jésus, Saint Jean Chrysostome, disait: «Les gens de Nazareth l'admirent, mais cette admiration au lieu de leur inspirer la foi, leur inspire la jalousie, c'est comme s'ils se disaient ‘pourquoi Lui et pas moi?’». Jésus connaissait bien ceux qui au lieu de l'écouter se scandalisaient de ses paroles. C'était des parents, des amis, des voisins qui lui étaient chers, mais c'est justement à eux qu'Il ne réussira pas à faire entendre son message de salut.

Nous, qui ne pouvons pas faire de miracles et qui n'avons pas la sainteté de Jésus, nous ne susciterons pas la jalousie (même si parfois cela peut arriver quand nous nous efforçons réellement de vivre en chrétien). Mais quoi qu'il en soit, comme à Jésus, il nous arrivera souvent que ceux que nous aimons et qui nous sont chers ne nous écoutent pas. Dans ces circonstances, nous devons nous rappeler que ceux qui ont toujours été très proches de nous voient davantage nos défauts que nos vertus et qu'ils peuvent se dire: —Toi qui faisais ça ou qui fait ça, tu n'as rien à m'apprendre.

Prêcher ou parler de Dieu aux gens de notre entourage ou de notre famille est difficile mais nécessaire. Il faut dire, tout de même, que lorsque Jésus rentre chez lui, la renommée de ses paroles et de ses miracles le précèdent. Peut-être que nous aussi nous devrions établir une certaine réputation de sainteté en dehors (et à l'intérieur) de nos maisons avant de prêcher à nos proches.

Sain Jean Chrysostome ajoute ce commentaire: «Je t'en prie, regarde l'amabilité du Maître: il ne les punit pas parce qu'ils ne l'écoutent pas, mais au contraire il leur dit avec douceur: ‘Un prophète n'est méprisé que dans sa patrie et dans sa propre maison’ (Mt 13,57)». Il est évident que Jésus s'en alla de là très triste, mais Il continu à prier pour que son message de salut parvienne à ceux de son village. Et nous (qui ne devrons rien pardonner ou excuser), nous devrons également prier pour que le message de Jésus parvienne à ceux qui nous sont chers, mais qui ne veulent pas nous écouter.

Gospel text

(Lk 10,38-42): 

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

The Application

A feast dedicated for the first time to all the members of the family, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. For me, as the parish priest of Saint Lazarus, I am happy, because I longing  this feast. Even if Lazarus and the Lord's disciples are absent in this narration, one can easily imagine that they are already there, by their discretion.

The Lord did not choose Mary as the best, He simply recognised that Mary chose who was better for Mary, as Martha chose who was better for Martha.  He simply wanted to put them in order and prioritise. Yet we must recognise that Christian action must be born of a divine encounter, according to His will. The Lord worns us through Martha that an act that is disconnected from the divine will only serves our arrogance and pride.

The Lord needs Lazarus and his disciples, many of whom are represented today's contemporary world by charities, who work day and night for peace, reconciliation and justice.Like Lazarus, they will bear witness through their lives of service and be fully contemplative, like Mary, active like Martha, who put into action all that Mary heard from the Lord.  Today the Lord invites us to work together, for we must never forget that the Lord sent his disciples on mission two by two.

Action of the day: Learn to work together.

«You are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing»

Fr. Antoni CAROL i Hostench

(Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, we must also listen to our Lord —even if we are busy by so many things— reminding us that “there is need of only one thing” (Lk 10:42): love and saintliness. They should be our aim, the horizon we must never lose sight of amidst our daily chores.

Because we shall be “busy” if we follow our Creator’s plan: “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it” (Gen 1:28). The earth! The world! This is our meeting point with the Lord. “I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one” (Jn 17:15). Yes, the world is an “altar” for us and for our offerings to God and to others.

We belong in this world, but that does not mean we have to be worldly. On the contrary, we are called to become —in a beautiful expression of Saint John Paul II— “Priests of Creation!” “priests” of our world, of a world we passionately love.

Here is the question: world and saintliness; our daily chores and the one and only thing we truly need. They are not opposed realities, and we have to try to make both coincide. And this coincidence must be carried out in our own heart, where heaven and earth can be reunited. Because within the human heart is where the dialogue between Creator and creature takes place.

Therefore, prayer is necessary. “Ours is a time of continual movement which often leads to restlessness, with the risk of "doing for the sake of doing". We must resist this temptation by trying "to be" before trying "to do". In this regard we should recall how Jesus reproved Martha: "You are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing" (Lk 10:41-42).” (Saint John Paul II).

There is no opposition between “to be” and “to do”, but there is indeed a priority order of precedence: “Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her” (Lk 10:42).

Texte de l'Évangile

(Lc 10,38-42): 

Alors qu'il était en route avec ses disciples, Jésus entra dans un village. Une femme appelée Marthe le reçut dans sa maison. Elle avait une soeur nommée Marie qui, se tenant assise aux pieds du Seigneur, écoutait sa parole. Marthe était accaparée par les multiples occupations du service. Elle intervint et dit: «Seigneur, cela ne te fait rien? Ma soeur me laisse seule à faire le service. Dis-lui donc de m'aider». Le Seigneur lui répondit: «Marthe, Marthe, tu t'inquiètes et tu t'agites pour bien des choses. Une seule est nécessaire. Marie a choisi la meilleure part: elle ne lui sera pas enlevée».

L’Application

Une fête dédiée pour la première fois à tous les membres de la famille, Marie, Marthe et Lazare. Pour moi, en tant que curé de Saint Lazare, je suis heureux, car je désire ardemment cette fête. Même si Lazare et les disciples du Seigneur sont absents dans ce récit, on peut facilement imaginer qu'ils sont déjà là, par leur discrétion.

Le Seigneur n'a pas choisi Marie comme la meilleure, Il a simplement reconnu que Marie a choisi qui était meilleur pour Marie, comme Marthe a choisi qui était meilleur pour Marthe.  Il a simplement voulu les mettre en ordre et établir des priorités. Pourtant, nous devons reconnaître que l'action chrétienne doit naître d'une rencontre divine, selon Sa volonté. Le Seigneur nous fait comprendre à travers Marthe qu'un acte déconnecté de la volonté divine ne sert que notre arrogance et notre orgueil.

Le Seigneur a besoin de Lazare et de ses disciples, dont beaucoup sont représentés aujourd'hui dans le monde contemporain par des associations caritatives, qui travaillent jour et nuit pour la paix, la réconciliation et la justice. Comme Lazare, ils témoigneront par leur vie de service et seront pleinement contemplatifs, comme Marie, actifs comme Marthe, qui a mis en action tout ce que Marie a entendu du Seigneur.  Aujourd'hui, le Seigneur nous invite à travailler ensemble, car nous ne devons jamais oublier que le Seigneur a envoyé ses disciples en mission deux par deux.

«Tu t'inquiètes et tu t'agites pour bien des choses. Une seule est nécessaire»

Abbé Antoni CAROL i Hostench

(Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, pris comme nous sommes par beaucoup de choses, nous aussi, nous devons écouter le rappel du Seigneur: «Une seule est nécessaire» (Lc 10,42): l'amour, la sainteté. C'est notre point de mire; l'horizon que nous ne devons pas perdre de vue au milieu de nos tâches quotidiennes.

Car nous serons en effet "occupés" si nous obéissons aux indications du Créateur: «Soyez féconds et multipliez-vous, remplissez la terre et soumettez-la.» (Gn 1,28). La Terre, le Monde, voilà le lieu de notre rencontre avec le Seigneur «Je ne demande pas que tu les retires du monde, mais que tu les gardes du Mauvais» (Jn 17,15). En effet, le monde est un "autel" pour nous et notre offrande à Dieu et à notre prochain.

Nous sommes du monde, mais cela ne veut pas dire que nous devons être mondains. Bien au contraire, nous sommes appelés à être —comme le dit cette belle expression de Jean-Paul II— des "prêtres de la création", "prêtres" de notre monde, d'un monde que nous aimons passionnément.

Voici la question: le monde et la sainteté; les tâches quotidiennes et la seule chose nécessaire. Ce ne sont pas des réalités opposées: nous devons faire en sorte de les raccorder toutes les deux. Et ce raccordement doit se produire —d'abord et surtout— dans notre cœur, là où le ciel et la terre peuvent s'unir. Parce que le cœur de l'homme est l'endroit dans lequel peut naître le dialogue entre le Créateur et la créature.

Pourtant la prière est nécessaire. «Notre époque est une époque de mouvement continuel, qui va souvent jusqu'à l'activisme, risquant facilement de “faire pour faire”. Il nous faut résister à cette tentation, en cherchant à “être” avant de “faire”. Rappelons-nous à ce sujet le reproche de Jésus à Marthe: ‘Tu t'inquiètes et tu t'agites pour bien des choses. Une seule est nécessaire’ (Lc 10,41-42)» (Jean-Paul II).

Il n'y a pas d'opposition entre être et faire, mais il y a un ordre de priorité, de préséance: «Marie a choisi la meilleure part: elle ne lui sera pas enlevée» (Lc 10,42).

Gospel text

(Mt 13,44-46): 

Jesus said to the crowds, «The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. The one who finds it buries it again; and so happy is he, that he goes and sells everything he has, in order to buy that field.

»Again the kingdom of heaven is like a trader who is looking for fine pearls. Once he has found a pearl of exceptional quality, he goes away, sells everything he has and buys it».

The Application

What a paradox! In emptying that I will be filled? Sadly, it is so. If you don’t empty your bottle, not even God will fill it, because God respects your freedom of choice. Today’s gospel while enumerating about the Kingdom of God, explains that there is great joy, in joy, he will sell everything, everything he owns!

How can you have joy, when you lose everything you have earned all your life? Yes, there is joy, because he sees all that is invisible to others who don’t search, he sees all that he is going to have. He looks not at everything he loses, his immediate pain and what is going to lose, but at everything he gains.

It all depends on this look that man can have in his daily life. This look of faith, a look that has its origin in God, directs us not towards emptiness, not towards all that we do not have, but all that God gives us daily, or all that we can have in God.

The Kingdom of God, gives us this exceptional experience, a painful process, a rough training and an exhausting transformation, yet we will walk in joy, if we accept to empty ourselves in freedom. It is not the other who imposes it on us, we ourselves have chosen it. This Kingdom is not completely hidden, for it was visible to the people who sought it, and it is still visible to the people who seek it.

The poverty or emptying or selling that God proposes to us is a true richness in God, a discovery of a precious gift, which is God Himself. He gives himself in this gift, in the human encounter a divine encounter, and in the sacrifice the Eucharist.  Unfortunately, if you don't know how to sell everything, you won't be able to get it.

Action of the day: Ready to empty what you have, to inherit what God gives you.

«He goes and sells everything he has, in order to buy that field»

Fr. Enric CASES i Martín

(Barcelona, Spain)

Today, Matthew places two parables about the Kingdom of Heaven for us to ponder over. The announcement of the Kingdom is of essence in Jesus' preaching and in the hopes of the chosen people. But it is evident the nature of this Kingdom is not understood by the majority. The Sanhedrin who condemned him to death did not understand it, nor did Pontius Pilate or Herod, and initially, not even his disciples understood it. We can find only in the good thief, hung in a cross along with him, the comprehension Jesus requests when he says: «Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom» (Lk 23:42). Both had been accused as criminals and were about to die; but, because of an unknown reason, the good thief recognizes Jesus as the King of a Kingdom that will come after that terrible death. It could only be a spiritual Kingdom.

In his first preaching, Jesus speaks of the Kingdom as of a hidden treasure, the finding of which causes the finder a great joy and impels him to buy the field to be able to enjoy it forever: «and so happy is he, that he goes and sells everything he has, in order to buy that field» (Mt 13:44). But, at the same time, to reach the Kingdom it is necessary to look for it with yearning and effort, to the point of selling all one may have: «Once he has found one of exceptional quality, he goes away, sells everything he has and buys it» (Mt 13:46). «What is He referring to when He says seek and he who seeks, finds? I daresay He is referring to the pearls and to the pearl, pearl that acquires he who has given up everything and has accepted to lose everything» (Origen).

The Kingdom is peace, justice and liberty. To reach It is, at the same time, a gift from God and a human responsibility. In front of the greatness of this divine gift we realize the imperfection and instability of our own efforts, quite often destroyed by our sins, our wars and our malice that looks insurmountable. Nevertheless, we must have confidence, because what looks impossible for man is more than possible for God.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Mt 13,44-46): 

«Le Royaume des cieux est comparable à un trésor caché dans un champ; l'homme qui l'a découvert le cache de nouveau. Dans sa joie, il va vendre tout ce qu'il possède, et il achète ce champ.

»Ou encore: Le Royaume des cieux est comparable à un négociant qui recherche des perles fines. Ayant trouvé une perle de grande valeur, il va vendre tout ce qu'il possède, et il achète la perle».

L’Application

Il y a une grande joie, dans la joie, il va vendre tout, tout ce qu'il possède ! Comment pouvez-vous avoir de la joie, quand vous perdez tout ce que vous avez gagné pendant toute votre vie ? Oui, il y a de la joie, parce qu'il voit tout ce qu'il ne voit pas maintenant, il voit tout ce qu'il va avoir. Il ne regarde pas tout ce qu'il perd, mais tout ce qu'il gagne.

Tout dépend de ce regard que l'homme peut avoir dans sa vie quotidienne. Ce regard de la foi, un regard qui a son origine en Dieu, nous oriente non pas vers le vide, non pas vers tout ce que nous n'avons pas, mais tout ce que Dieu nous donne quotidiennement, ou tout ce que nous pouvons avoir en Dieu.

Le Royaume de Dieu, nous donne cette expérience exceptionnelle, un processus douloureux, un entraînement rude et une transformation épuisante, mais nous marcherons dans la joie, si nous acceptons de nous vider dans la liberté. Ce n'est pas l'autre qui nous l'impose, c'est nous-mêmes qui l'avons choisi. Ce Royaume n'est pas complètement caché, car il a été visible pour ceux qui l'ont cherché, et il est encore visible pour ceux qui le cherchent.

La pauvreté que Dieu nous propose est une véritable richesse en Dieu, une découverte d'un don précieux, qui est Dieu lui-même. Il se donne dans ce don, dans la rencontre humaine une rencontre divine, et dans le sacrifice, l'Eucharistie.  Malheureusement, si tu ne sais pas tout vendre, tu ne pourras pas l'obtenir.

«Dans sa joie, il va vendre tout ce qu'il possède, et il achète ce champ»

Abbé Enric CASES i Martín

(Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, Mathieu, soumet à notre réflexion deux paraboles sur le Royaume des Cieux. L'annonce du Royaume a beaucoup d'importance pour la prédication de Jésus ainsi que pour l'espérance du peuple choisi. Mais il est certain que la nature de ce Royaume n'était pas quelque chose connu de tous. Les Sanhédrins qui avaient condamné Jésus à mort ne l'avaient pas compris, Pilate et Hérode non plus, et, au début, même les disciples ne l'avaient pas compris. Nous ne trouvons qu'un seul instant de compréhension, celui du bon larron cloué sur la croix à côté de Jésus, quand il lui dit: «Jésus, souviens-toi de moi quand tu viendras inaugurer ton Règne» (Lc 23,42). Tous les deux avaient été accusés en tant que criminels et étaient sur le point de mourir, mais pour une raison que nous ne connaissons pas, le bon larron reconnaît Jésus comme le Roi d'un Royaume qui viendra après cette terrible mort sur la croix. Ce ne pouvait être qu'un Royaume Spirituel.

Jésus, dans sa première prédication, parle du Royaume des Cieux comme d'un trésor caché sous terre, et dont la découverte est cause d'une telle joie, que cela nous incite à acheter le terrain où il se trouve afin de profiter de lui pour toujours. «Dans sa joie, il va vendre tout ce qu'il possède, et il achète ce champ» (Mt 13,44). Mais au même temps, pour trouver ce Royaume, nous devons le chercher assidûment même au point de vendre tout ce que nous possédons: «Ayant trouvé une perle de grande valeur, il va vendre tout ce qu'il possède, et il achète la perle» (Mt 13,46). «Car à propos de quoi est-il dit: ‘cherchez’, ou ‘qui cherche trouve’? Oserai-je dire qu'il s'agit des perles et de la perle, celle que se procure celui qui a tout donné et accepté de tout perdre…» (Origène).

Le Royaume est la paix, amour, justice et liberté. L'atteindre est à la fois un don de Dieu et une responsabilité humaine. Devant la grandeur du don divin, nous constatons l'imperfection et l'instabilité de tous nos efforts, qui sont souvent détruits par le péché, la guerre et la malice qui nous semblent insurmontables. Cependant, nous devons être confiants, car ce qui semble impossible pour l'homme est possible pour Dieu.

Gospel text

(Mt 13,36-43): 

Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

The Application

Among the 40 parables, Jesus explains only two and today's parable is one of them. Therefore, it is a very important parable for the Lord and we should pay special attention to it and understand it better. For the application of today's gospel, and to better understand today's parable, I invite you to read again.

The enemy enters when we are asleep. "Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak," Mt 26:41, Jesus told his disciples in Gethsemane. The moment we separate ourselves from the Lord, that is when the Devil steps in to tempt us.

Jesus assures us that the victory belongs to the Lord, to the righteous. The giver is God and the Word is that which nourishes us. We are called, not to look at others, rather to fix at the finalities requested by the Giver. At the last day of judgement, we will discover Him, not as a passive spectator, but as an active and committed God. His silence was only a means to protect and accompany us.

Today's Gospel begins by saying, "Then leaving the crowd, he came to the house". Whenever Hi enters, there is particular message or act. When He goes out, there is a open mission, open teaching. By this entry, He assures us that He is with us, to explain everything to us personally, including His silence and patience with the evil, so that we may be converted, and produce the fruits, which will give glory to God.

Action of the day: Learn to find reason with God.        

«Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field»

Fr. Iñaki BALLBÉ i Turu

(Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, through the parable of the weeds and the wheat, the Church urges us to ponder over the coexistence of good and evil. Good and evil within our heart; good and evil we may spot on others, good and evil we can see in the world, all around us.

His disciples ask Jesus: “explain to us the parable” (Mt 13:36). And, today, we can mean to be more careful with our personal prayer, our everyday dealings with God. We can ask him: Lord, tell me why I do not progress enough in my interior life. Tell me how can I be more faithful to you, how can I look for you in my work, or through circumstances I do not understand or I do not want. How can I be a qualified apostle? A prayer is just this, to ask God for “explanations”. How is my prayer? Is it sincere? Is it constant? Is it trusting?

Jesus Christ invites us to keep our eyes focused on Heaven, our eternal home. The speed of life can drive us crazy quite often, but we seldom stop to think that there will come a day —we do not know whether far-off or near— when we shall have to settle our accounts with God and explain which are the fruits borne by the good seeds He has sown on us. And the Lord tells us that at the end of time there will be a selection. So, we must win Heaven here on earth, in our everyday life, without waiting for situations that perhaps will never occur. We have to live heroically our ordinary life, the things that apparently have no transcendence. We must live by thinking of eternity and helping others to think of it, too! Paradoxically, «the man who strives to live must die; whereas the man who does not strive to avoid sin has to live eternally» (St. Julian of Toledo).

We shall reap what we have sown. We have to fight to give today the 100%. So when we are called into God's presence we might be able to go with our hands full: of acts of faith, hope and love, which result in minor things and events that, when lived on an everyday basis, make us better Christians, saints and human.