12 August 2024 - Monday of the ^19th week ‘B

Ezekiel 1:2-5. 24-28; Matt 17, 22-27

Homily

Today we begin our lectionary reading from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel seems to be making an effort to show that the Word of God was addressed to him at a very special time in the history of Israel, and in a very specific place. It was, he says, in the ^5th month of the ^5th year of the reign of Jehoiachim, in the land of the Chaldeans, near the river Kebar.

12 août 2024 - Lundi de la 19^ème semaine "B"

Ézéchiel 1, 2-5. 24-28; Matt 17, 22-27

H O M É L I E

                  Dans le lectionnaire férial, nous commençons aujourd'hui la lecture du Livre du prophète Ézéchiel. Celui-ci semble faire un effort pour bien montrer que la Parole de Dieu lui a été adressée à un moment très particulier de l'histoire d'Israël, et dans un endroit précis. C'était, dit-il, le 5^ème mois de la 5^ème année du règne de Jehoiachim, au pays des Chaldéens, près du fleuve Kebar.

11 August 2024, ^19th Sunday "B

1Kings 19:4-8; Ephesians 4:30-5:2; John 6:41-51

Homily

Elijah is a fascinating figure in the Bible. One of the great prophets, he was a man of action rather than words. I don't think that Scripture records a single one of his speeches. He was a mystic, a loner from the great desert of the East. The Spirit of God moved him constantly from one place to another: Phoenicia, Mount Horeb, the torrent of Kerit, the palace of King Ahab, the Jordan... His mission was linked to every movement in the history of his people. And everywhere he spoke through his actions.

11 August 2024, ^19th Sunday "B

1Kings 19:4-8; Ephesians 4:30-5:2; John 6:41-51

Homily

Elijah is a fascinating figure in the Bible. One of the great prophets, he was a man of action rather than words. I don't think that Scripture records a single one of his speeches. He was a mystic, a loner from the great desert of the East. The Spirit of God moved him constantly from one place to another: Phoenicia, Mount Horeb, the torrent of Kerit, the palace of King Ahab, the Jordan... His mission was linked to every movement in the history of his people. And everywhere he spoke through his actions.

11 août 2024, 19^ème dimanche "B"

1Roi 19,4-8; Eph 4,30-5,2; Jean 6, 41-51 

H O M É L I E 

          Élie est une figure fascinante de la Bible. Un des grands prophètes, il était un homme d'action encore plus que de paroles. Je ne crois pas que l'Écriture nous rapporte un seul de ses discours. C'était un mystique, un solitaire venu du grand désert oriental. L'Esprit de Dieu le déplaçait constamment d'un endroit à l'autre : la Phénicie, le Mont Horeb, le torrent de Kerit, le palais du roi Achab, le Jourdain... Sa mission était liée à tous les mouvements de l'histoire de son peuple. Et partout c`était par ses actions qu'il parlait.

10 August 2024

Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon

2 Cor 9:6-10; John 12:24-26

Homily

          In his Rule, Saint Benedict says that he wants to establish a "School where one learns to serve the Lord" (Schola dominici servitii). Whoever comes to the monastery comes to serve the Lord -- a service that will be embodied day after day in the service of the brothers or sisters. Now Jesus, in the brief Gospel we have just read, says: "If anyone wants to serve me, let him follow me". This is why monastic life is also called a sequela Christi, a life of following Christ. Now, Jesus pro-nounces these words (If anyone wants to serve me, let him follow me) in a context in which he announces his own passion. We can therefore understand why he describes what this following consists of using the image of a grain of wheat that has fallen into the earth. A dry grain of wheat can certainly be crunched and eaten. But it is only a small grain, all by itself. On the other hand, if a grain is healthy, it begins to germinate as soon as it comes into contact with the moisture in the soil. It dies as a grain of wheat, but it is born to new life as a stalk, then as an ear, and it produces many other grains. And Jesus concludes this comparison with this mysterious phrase: "He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world will keep it in eternal life."