24 November 2024 - Feast of Christ, King of the Universe, year "B"

Dan 7:13-14; Rev 1:5-8; Jn 18:33-37

Homily

In 1925, still at the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast of Christ, King of the Universe, in an effort to combat the forces of destruction at work in the world, which he identified with the rise of atheism and secularization. Since then, Christians have celebrated Christ under this title every year, but that did not stop the great nations of Europe that considered themselves Christian from waging a murderous war against each other a few years later. This feast, which we celebrate in our turn, should be an opportunity for us to focus on the message that Jesus left us even more than on the ever inadequate titles and concepts that people have attributed to Him down the ages.

23 November 2024 - Saturday of the 33rd even-numbered week

Rev 11, 4-12; Lk 20, 27-40

Homily

Dear brothers and sisters,

When we try to imagine what life will be like after our physical death, we can only do so by using images that correspond to our life here on earth. And that's what Scripture does, in both the Old and New Testaments. It is even what Jesus does, in his parables, where he describes either eternal happiness with God, or eternal misfortune if we have not lived in love here on earth.

23 novembre 2024 – samedi de la 33^ème semaine paire

Ap 11, 4-12 ; Lc 20, 27-40

H o m é l i e

Chers frères et sœurs,

Lorsque nous essayons de nous représenter ce que sera la vie après notre mort physique, nous ne pouvons le faire qu’en utilisant des images qui correspondent à notre vie ici sur la terre. C’est d’ailleurs ce que fait l’Écriture, aussi bien de l’Ancien que du Nouveau Testament. C’est même ce que fait Jésus, dans ses paraboles, où il nous décrit soit le bonheur éternel auprès de Dieu, soit le malheur éternel si nous n’avons pas vécu ici-bas dans l’amour.

17 November 2024 - 23^rd Sunday “B”

Dan 12:1-3; Heb 10:11...18; Mk 13:24-32

Homily

At the time when the evangelist Mark was composing his Gospel and recounting the words of Jesus that we have just heard, the world was full of conflict, war and oppression. The great powers were waging war against each other, often by proxy, and the oppressors claimed to be acting on a divine mission. The future of entire peoples was sacrificed to the proud ambitions of powers intoxicated by their supremacy. In reality, it was little different from the situation today. Just think of the war in Yemen, which has been going on for years, or what the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip or the people of Ukraine are going through.

17 novembre 2024 – 33^ème dimanche "B "

Dn 12, 1-3; He 10, 11...18; Mc 13, 24-32

H O M É L I E

          Au moment où l’évangéliste Marc composait son Évangile et relatait les paroles de Jésus que nous venons d’entendre, le monde était rempli de conflits, de guerres, d'oppressions. Les grandes puissances se faisaient la guerre, souvent par peuples interposés, et les oppresseurs prétendaient agir en vertu d'une mission divine. L'avenir de peuples entiers était sacrifié aux ambitions orgueilleuses de pouvoirs enivrés de leur suprématie. En réalité, ce n’était guère différent de la situation actuelle. Qu'on pense à la guerre du Yémen, qui dure depuis des années, où à ce que vit la population palestinienne de la bande de Gaza, ou encore le peuple d’Ukraine.

13 November 2024 - Benedictine All Saints' Day

Is 61:9-11; Jn 15:1...8

Homily

‘I am the true vine’. This is one of the many statements in which Jesus reveals His identity: I am the living water, the light of the world, the good shepherd, the door of the sheep, the resurrection and the life, the way, the truth, and so on. The elements with which he identifies are almost always essential elements of human life, and an adjective is often added to emphasise their importance: living water, the good shepherd, for example.