1 November 2024 - Feast of All Saints

Rev 7:2-4.9-14; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a

Homily

          These words of Jesus are surprising words. They are not very 'religious'. There is no question of religion, not even of prayer. They refer to real life - a life in which there are people who suffer and are comforted, people who are subject to their fate and are finally fulfilled, people who are hungry and thirsty for justice, people who are pure of heart and work for peace in this world, but also poor people and the persecuted. A world, after all, not so different from our own. And to this world Jesus offers happiness. A happiness that is available to everyone, if instead of running after the idols of money and power, we opt for the reign of God. "Blessed are the poor; they have chosen the kingdom of heaven".

1^er novembre 2024 – Fête de tous les Saints

Apo 7,2-4.9-14 ; 1 Jn 3,1-3 ; Mt 5,1-12a

Homélie

          Ces paroles de Jésus sont des paroles surprenantes. Elles n’ont pas grand chose de « religieux ». Il n’y est pas question de religion, même pas de prière. Elles se réfèrent à la vie concrète – une vie où il y a des personnes qui souffrent et qui sont consolées, des personnes soumises à leur sort et qui finalement sont comblées, des personnes affamées et assoiffées de justice, des personnes qui ont le coeur pur et qui travaillent pour instaurer la paix en ce monde, mais aussi des gens pauvres et des persécutés.  Un monde, somme toute, pas tellement différent du nôtre.  Et, à ce monde, Jésus offre le bonheur. Un bonheur qui est à la disposition de tous, si au lieu de courir après les idoles de l’argent et du pouvoir, on opte pour le règne de Dieu. « Bienheureux les pauvres ; ils ont choisi le royaume des cieux ».

29 October 2024 - Tuesday of the 30th week of the even-numbered year

Eph. 5, 21-33; Luke 13, 18-21

Homily

          These two parables are part of a group of four found in the three synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke), even though each of the Evangelists has placed them differently in his narrative. The other two are those of the patient farmer who has placed his seed in the ground and waits for it to grow, and that of the weeds mixed with the good seed, and which will only be uprooted when the seed has reached its full growth. All four parables speak of the same reality, that is, the apparent failure of Jesus in his preaching, or at least the slowness with which the results of that preaching were manifested.  

30 October 2024 - Wednesday of the 30th week

Eph 6, 1-9; Lk 13, 22-30

Homily

If you don't mind, we'll begin by analyzing the meaning of several expressions in this passage from Luke's Gospel, and then we'll see how this message also applies to us.