Homélies de Dom Armand Veilleux

14 April 2024 -- 3rd Sunday of Easter "B"

Acts 3:13...19; 1John 2:1-5a; Luke 24:35-48

Homily

          The most surprising thing in this Gospel is the fear that seizes the eleven Apostles and their companions. Not long before, the disciples who had met Jesus on the road to Emmaus and recognised him in the breaking of the bread had returned to tell the Apostles these things. They replied: "It is true! The Lord has risen and appeared to Simon". Before that, there had been the testimony of the women who had come to the tomb on Easter morning. So everyone already knew that Jesus had indeed risen. Suddenly, while they were talking together about Jesus, he appeared in their midst and said quite simply: "Peace be with you". And this is enough to make them afraid and filled with fear. So what is the source of this fear?

13 avril 2024 - Samedi de la 2ème semaine de Pâques

Actes 6, 1-7; Jean 6,16-21 

H O M É L I E

          Il y a beaucoup de détails mystérieux et lourds de symboles dans ce bref texte de saint Jean. La scène se situe tout de suite après la première multiplication des pains (dont nous avons lu le récit hier). Nous sommes encore au début de la vie publique de Jésus, et ses relations avec ses disciples sont en train de s'établir.   Après la multiplication des pains, alors que la foule veut le faire roi, Jésus se retire seul sur la montagne. Les disciples sont déjà habitués à ces nuits que Jésus passe seul sur la montagne à prier. Lorsque le soir arrive et que Jésus ne revient pas, les disciples savent qu'il y passera la nuit. Ils descendent alors au bord du lac et s'embarquent pour la ville de Capharnaüm, de l'autre côté. Jean a alors une de ces phrases pleines de mystère : “Déjà il faisait nuit et Jésus ne les avait pas encore rejoints". La mention de la nuit, chez Jean, signifie aussi le trouble, le manque de compréhension, l'absence de Jésus. Les disciples sont un peu perdus.

April 13, 2024 - Saturday of the 2nd week of Easter

Acts 6:1-7; John 6:16-21

Homily

          There are many mysterious and highly symbolic details in this short text by Saint John. The scene takes place immediately after the first multiplication of the loaves (which we read about yesterday). We are still at the beginning of Jesus' public life, and his relationship with his disciples is still being established.   After the multiplication of the loaves, when the crowd wanted to make him king, Jesus withdrew alone to the mountain. The disciples were already used to the nights Jesus spent alone on the mountain, praying. When evening came and Jesus did not return, the disciples knew that he would spend the night there. So they went down to the lake and set sail for the town of Capernaum on the other side. John then uses one of those phrases full of mystery: "It was already night and Jesus had not yet joined them". John's reference to night also signifies confusion, lack of understanding and the absence of Jesus. The disciples were a little lost.

12 avril 2024 – vendredi de la 2ème semaine de Pâques

Actes 5,34-42; Jean 6, 1-15 

H O M É L I E

            La multiplication des pains est le seul signe accompli par Jésus qui nous soit rapporté par les quatre Évangiles. C'est dire l'importance que lui attribuaient les premiers Chrétiens. Aujourd'hui c'est dans la version de Jean que nous lisons ce récit. Jean raconte cet événement après environ 65 ou 70 ans de méditation. Ce n'est pas le signe ou le miracle comme tel qui l'intéresse. Tout son récit est centré sur la personne de Jésus. Il nous montre Jésus partageant simplement, très simplement, sans compter, sans faire attention à la dimension de la foule.

April 12, 2024 - Friday of the 2nd week of Easter

Acts 5:34-42; John 6:1-15

Homily

          The multiplication of the loaves is the only sign performed by Jesus that is recorded in the four Gospels. This shows the importance attributed to it by the first Christians. Today, we read the story in John's version. John recounts this event after some 65 or 70 years of meditation. He is not interested in the sign or the miracle as such. His whole story is centred on the person of Jesus. He shows us Jesus sharing simply, very simply, without counting, without paying attention to the size of the crowd.

April 11, 2024 -- Homily for Thursday of the 2nd week of Easter

Acts 5, 27-33; John 3, 31-36.

Homily

          The story we are reading these days from the Acts of the Apostles is both very profound and somewhat comic. Luke, who is an excellent writer, knows how to convey profound teaching using symbolic and poetic language. Here, he describes the beginnings of the Church in an almost playful style.

11 avril 2024 -- Homélie pour le jeudi de la 2ème semaine de Pâques

Ac 5, 27-33 ; Jean 3, 31-36.

Homélie

          Le récit des Actes des Apôtres que nous lisons ces jours-ci a quelque chose d’à la fois très profond et de quelque peu comique. Luc, qui est un excellent écrivain, sait transmettre un enseignement profond en utilisant un langage symbolique et poétique. Ici, il décrit dans un style presque enjoué les débuts de l’Église.