SCRIPTURAL WISDOM : DAILY MEDITATION ON THE WORD OF GOD

Le deuxième livre de Samuel 12 : 1-17 nous offre une histoire profonde qui résume notre lutte pour l'intégrité morale, la conscience de soi et la tendance humaine à juger les autres tout en ignorant ses propres défauts. Avant l'épisode d'aujourd'hui, David avait commis l'adultère avec Bethsabée et avait ensuite assassiné son mari Urie. Ce récit illustre comment un péché en entraîne un autre. Nathan, en tant que prophète de Dieu, ne confronte pas directement le roi David à ses transgressions. Au lieu de cela, Nathan emploie une parabole, l'histoire d'un homme riche qui s'empare injustement de la seule brebis d'un homme pauvre. Nathan nous enseigne l'importance de faire preuve de sagesse pour aborder les questions sensibles avec soin, en amenant les autres à l'introspection plutôt qu'à l'accusation directe. Cette histoire illustre également les deux côtés du roi David : celui qui aimait Dieu et Lui écrivait des chansons, et celui qu

The Second Book of Samuel 12: 1 –17 offers us a profound story that encapsulates our struggle for moral integrity, self-awareness, and the human inclination to judge others while overlooking one’s own faults. Before today’s episode, David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and subsequently murdered her husband Uriah. This narrative illustrates how one sin leads to another.  Nathan, as prophet of God, does not confront King David directly with his transgressions. Instead, Nathan employs a parable, the story of a rich man who unjustly seizes the only ewe lamb of a poor man. Nathan teaches us the importance of having wisdom to approach sensitive issues with care, leading others to self-reflection rather than direct accusation. This story illustrates also the two sides of King David: he is the one who loved God and wrote songs for Him, and the one who did wrong by taking what wasn't his . David passed a harsh judgment on himself, unwittingly condemning himself.  He later realized th

               Frères et sœurs en Christ, ouvrons aujourd’hui nos cœurs aux braises de la foi qui brillent en nous, braises allumées par des générations de martyrs, nourries et soutenues par la main de Dieu. Paul, écrivant à Timothée, son fils bien-aimé dans la foi, nous rappelle cette lignée de lumière, une lignée qui s'étend de Lois, la grand-mère de Timothée, à Eunice, sa mère, jusqu'à lui et finalement jusqu'à chacun de nous. Pensez un instant, chers amis, à ceux qui ont été les premiers à susciter en vous la  foi. Qui t'a tenu la main pour te parler de la foi, t’amener à l’église, t’apprendre à prier ? Qui t'a appris les chants liturgiques?  Qui a parlé de l'amour de Dieu à voix basse contre ta joue ? Leur contact, leur voix, leurs larmes, leurs sacrifices, leurs souffrances sont les flammes qui éclairent notre chemin, des flammes qui peuvent vaciller dans le vent, mais ne s'éteignent jamais vraiment. Paul écrit : « Je me souviens de votre foi sincè

Brothers and sisters, let us open our hearts today to the embers of faith glowing within us, embers kindled by generations of Martyrs and nurtured by the steady hand of God. Paul, writing to Timothy, his beloved son in the faith, reminds us of this lineage of light, a line that stretches from Lois, Timothy's grandmother, to Eunice, his mother, and down to him, and ultimately, to each of us. Think for a moment, dear friends, of those who first sparked your own faith, who held your hand, sang to you, spoke of God's love in whispers against your cheek.   Their touch, their voice, their tears, their sacrifices, their sufferings are the flames that lit our way, flames that may flicker in the wind, but never truly die. Paul writes, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” Can you hear the echo of those words through the ages? Can you feel the hands of Lois on your shou

             Brothers and sisters, nestled in the heart of John 15:9-17 lies a message as precious as a pearl unearthed from the depths. It marks an evolution in the relationship between Jesus and his disciples. They moved from being His servants to becoming His friends. "Behold, I call you Friends", says Jesus. This Gospel challenges and questions us:  where do I stand today in my relationship with Jesus? Is He really my closest and best friend?           Talking to his disciples Jesus says: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love”. What a privilege, what a great joy to know that the Love Jesus has for us is comparable with the Love God the Father has for him.   We remember that at the baptism of Jesus, the voice of the Father came from heaven saying: “This is my beloved Son with whom I am pleased; listen to Him”.             Can you feel the warmth of Jesus invitation, not just to dip your toes in His love, but to dive headfirst and remain ther

  Samuel , from his birth, was consecrated to the Lord by his parents. However, Samuel needed to say “yes” to that act of consecration, that covenant his parents did with God.   Having been entrusted to the care of Eli, he spent his life in the temple of the Lord. He lived what Psalm 27: 4 says: “ One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. ” While recognizing that this is a special vocation, we can still learn a lot from Samuel’s call. The Lord called Samuel and he replied “ Here I am .” He was able to hear the Voice but couldn’t recognize that It was God calling him. His experience makes us understand that in the matters of faith, experience is vital. Who among us can say that it is easy for him or her to recognize God’s voice, discern the spiritual meaning behind events, both personal and in the society today? Spiritual discernment often r

Saint Marc commence l'Évangile d'aujourd'hui en disant que « Jésus marchait le long de la mer ». Tandis qu’il avançait, une foule se rassemblait autour de lui. La mention de la foule par l'évangéliste montre que la présence de Jésus incarnait un message d'amour, d'espoir et de rédemption qui résonnait profondément chez les gens ordinaires, dont beaucoup étaient accablés par les luttes de la vie. Ils trouvèrent en Jésus ce qu'ils cherchaient . Nous aussi pouvons vivre une expérience similaire lorsque nous nous approchons de Lui avec foi.           L'évangéliste note également que « Jésus enseignait à la foule ». Bien que Marc ne précise pas ici le contenu de l'enseignement de Jésus, il est crucial de reconnaître que Jésus a souvent consacré beaucoup de temps à cette mission d'enseignement. Il nous a fourni une révélation unique et complète de Dieu, de l’humanité et de la création. Ses enseignements, révolutionnaires pour l’époque, remettaient

  St Mark begins today’s Gospel by saying that “ Jesus walked along the sea ”. As he walked along, a crowd gathered around him. The evangelist’s mention of the crowd shows that Jesus’ presence embodied a message of love, hope and redemption that resonated deeply with common people, many of whom were burdened by life’s struggles. The found in Jesus what they were in search of . We too can have similar experience when we approach Him with faith.           The evangelist also notes that “ Jesus taught the crowd ”. While Mark doesn’t specify the content of Jesus’ teaching here, it is crucial to recognize that Jesus often dedicated significant time to this mission of teaching.   He provided us with a unique and complete revelation of God, humanity, and creation. His teachings, revolutionary for their time, challenged societal norms and religious dogmas. Jesus’ teachings remain relevant today, especially in a society grappling with the meaning of life.           Understanding the truth

  En lisant l'Évangile de Marc chapitre 2, versets 1-12, on est obligé de se demander : pourquoi les gens se rassemblaient-ils souvent autour de Jésus, désireux de l'écouter ? Qu’est-ce qui chez Jésus a attiré tant de personnes à lui ? Marc écrit : « Beaucoup se sont rassemblés de telle sorte qu'il n'y avait pas de place pour eux, pas même près de la porte. Et il (Jésus) leur prêcha la Parole. Sans aucun doute, Jésus parlait d’une manière non seulement captivante mais aussi vivifiante. L'Évangile déclare souvent : « Il parlait avec autorité et non comme leurs scribes ». Jésus a offert une nouvelle perspective sur la loi et a souligné l'importance de l'amour, de la compassion et du pardon plutôt que du strict respect des rituels et des règles. Il était contre le formalisme et les rituels religieux extérieurs qui ne parvenaient pas à transformer la vie des gens. Les gens se sont rassemblés autour de Jésus parce qu’Il associe ses paroles à ses actes ; Il éta

Reading the Gospel of Mark Chapter 2, verses 1-12, one is compelled to ask: why did people often gather around Jesus, eager to listen to Him? What was it about Jesus that drew so many to Him? Mark writes: “ Many gathered together so that there was no room for them, not even around the door. And he (Jesus) preached the Word to them.” Undoubtedly, Jesus spoke in a manner that was not only captivating but also life-giving. The Gospel often states “ He spoke with authority and not like their Scribes”. Jesus offered a new perspective on the law, and emphasized the importance of Love, compassion and forgiveness over strict adherence to rituals and rules. He was against formalism and outward religious rituals that failed to transform people’s life. People gathered around Jesus because He matches his words with actions; he was coherent, with no contradiction between what He preaches and what he did. He was authentic and trustworthy. As Jesus was teaching, four men brought a paralyzed man

La rencontre entre Jésus et un lépreux, telle que racontée par Marc, est message édifiant mais aussi qui met à défis notre vie de foi aujourd'hui. Il est crucial de se rappeler qu'à l'époque de Jésus, les lépreux étaient ostracisés, vivaient dans une douloureuse isolation, tant physique que psychologique. La lèpre était non seulement perçue comme une maladie contagieuse mais aussi souvent vue comme une manifestation des péchés d’une personne. En effet, certains passages bibliques soutiennent cette notion. Par exemple, Miriam a été frappée de lèpre pour avoir parlé contre Moïse (cf. Nombres 12), et le roi Ozias a contracté la maladie à cause de son orgueil et de son sacrilège (2 Chroniques 26). Les Écritures fournissent des directives détaillées sur le diagnostic de la lèpre et les rituels de purification pour celui qui est guéri, suggérant que la guérison de la lèpre symbolisait un nettoyage intérieur et extérieur. Ces éléments suggèrent que recevoir la guérison de la lè

The encounter between Jesus and a leper as narrated by Mark is full of edifying yet challenging message for us today.  It is crucial to remember that in the time of Jesus, lepers were ostracized, lived in painful isolation, both physically and psychologically.  Leprosy was not only perceived as a contagious ailment but also often viewed as a manifestation of one’s sins. Indeed, certain biblical passages support this perception. For instance, Miriam was afflicted with leprosy for speaking against Moses (cf. Numbers 12), and King Uzziah contracted the disease because of his pride and sacrilege (2 Chronicles 26). Scriptures provides us with detailed guidelines on diagnosing leprosy and the rituals for purifying one who is cured, suggesting that healing from leprosy symbolized a cleansing both inside and out.   Jesus, in his boundless compassion, ventured into the segregated spaces to meet the leper. Upon encountering Jesus, the leper demonstrated profound humility and faith, kneeling and

  An extract from today’s first reading (1 John 2:29 – 3:6) says, “No one who remains in Him commits sin; no one who sins has seen Him (God) or knows Him.” This affirmation might leave us perplexed because we all know that sin is a reality that we experience every day; we are all sinners. The Letter to the Romans 3:23 clearly affirms: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The key question here is, “What does it mean to remain in Him (God)?”           “Remaining in” evokes the idea of inhabitation, a place of living, a home. Remaining in can be understood from the perspective of our personal relationship with Jesus, who is the visible face of the invisible God. It is a metaphorical way of describing a deep, intimate, and continuous relationship with God through His Son, the Unique Mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). A personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus implies living in a way that is consistent with God’s Will and teachings, as revea