7 June 2025, Saturday of the 7th week of Easter

Acts 28, 16-20.30-31; John 21, 20-25

Homily

With the solemnity of Pentecost, which we celebrate tomorrow, the liturgical season of Easter comes to an end. In the Eucharistic celebrations of the last seven weeks, the first reading, generally taken from the Book of Acts, has introduced us to the witness of the first martyrs of the Faith and the life of the first Christian community in Jerusalem, followed by the preaching to the Nations beyond the Jewish world, and particularly the ministry of Paul. The reading of the Gospel has told us about the appearances of Jesus to his disciples during this /period; and, since the beginning of the last week, we have been reading the chapters of the Gospel of John relating the words of Jesus to his disciples during the last meal he had with them and his long prayer to his Father during this same meal. So it was only natural that, on this last day of Paschal Time before Pentecost, we should read the last verses of the Acts of the Apostles and the last verses of John's Gospel.

From Monday, our liturgical calendar will return to "Ordinary Time". There is much to be said about the beauty of Ordinary Time. For now, let's just remember that with the conclusion of the Easter season, a new page is being turned. A new liturgical season is beginning, which must manifest itself as a new season in our spiritual life.

In our human lives, it is important to live in the present, which is our point of contact with God's eternal present. The temptation is often great to live in nostalgia for the past (the "good old days") or in dreams of a wonderful time to come. It's important to learn to turn the page at the right moment - to know when to close a chapter in the book of our lives, to turn the page and start a new chapter with all our energy. This is another way of describing the constant call to conversion.

It's important to realise that in all of this there is a call for each of us to be reborn, to be converted to a fuller, more unified life. Let us pray to the Holy Spirit, whose light we will especially implore in tomorrow's liturgy, to show us the "conversions" to which we are called, collectively and individually.

Let us turn the page, and may the text of the new page be of great beauty!

Armand Veilleux

8 June 2025 – Solemnity of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-11; Romans 8:8-17; John 14:15...26

Homily

Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles, and John, in his Gospel, present us with two very different but complementary descriptions of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the first Christian community – that of the Apostles and the first disciples. In Luke, it is a visible, surprising and disturbing manifestation in their relationships with those around them. In John, it is entirely internal, an intimate presence. In both cases, it is the presence of the Spirit of God in human reality.

6 juin 2025, vendredi de 7^ème semaine de Pâques

Acte 25, 13-21 ; Jean 21, 15-19

Homélie

Durant la dernière Pâque que Jésus célébra avec ses disciples, Pierre, avec son ardeur habituelle s’était déclaré prêt à le suivre jusqu’au bout, même jusqu’à la mort. Jésus lui avait répondu : « Pierre, le coq ne chantera pas aujourd’hui, que tu n’aies par trois fois nié me connaître ». Et, de fait, quelques heures plus tard Pierre reniait Jésus trois fois et, rencontrant le regard de Jésus, il sortit et pleura amèrement.

6 June 2025, Friday of the 7th week of Easter

Acts 25, 13-21; John 21, 15-19

Homily

During the last Passover that Jesus celebrated with his disciples, Peter, with his usual ardour, declared himself ready to follow him to the end, even to death. Jesus replied: "Peter, the cock will not crow today before you deny three times that you know me". And, in fact, a few hours later Peter denied Jesus three times and, meeting Jesus' gaze, he went out and wept bitterly.

5 juin 2025, jeudi de la 7^ème semaine de Pâques

Actes 22,30-23,6-11 ; Jean 17, 20-26

H O M É L I E

          Communiquer est essentiel à l'être humain dont la dimension sociale est un élément constitutif. De nos jours, non seulement la communication conserve toute l'importance qu'elle a toujours eue dans la vie humaine, mais elle a été en quelque sorte récupérée par ceux qui exercent ou veulent exercer le pouvoir. Il n'y a pas tellement d'années, le pouvoir, dans la société était dans les mains de ceux qui contrôlaient l'argent ou le "capital". Aujourd'hui il est dans les mains de ceux qui contrôlent la communication. Il est donc important de réfléchir sur le sens qu'a la communication dans le plan de Dieu. Jésus n'a-t-il pas envoyé ses disciples communiquer son message à toutes les nations ? Quel est le sens de cette communication ? Les textes bibliques de l'Eucharistie d'aujourd'hui nous éclairent là-dessus.

4 jun 2025 – mercredi de la 7^ème semaine de Pâques

Actes 20, 28-38 ; Jean 17, 11b-19

Homélie

Saint Luc, dans son Évangile, donne une grande importance à la longue montée de Jésus vers Jérusalem, où il sera jugé par le Sanhédrin puis confié par les chefs religieux au pouvoir romain, pour être mis à mort hors de la Ville. De même, dans son « deuxième livre », les Actes des Apôtres, il décrit l’activité de Paul comme une montée vers Jérusalem où il sera mis en accusation par les mêmes chefs religieux d’Israël, ce qui conduira à sa prise en charge par l’autorité romaine. Ce qui l’amènera à être envoyé à Rome où il sera finalement décapité.