Celebrating the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother Mary (Genesis 3 : 9-15, 20. Ephesians 1:3-6; 11-12. Luke 1: 26-38).

         

Today, Catholics around the world celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Pope Pius IX proclaimed this dogma on 8 December 1854 in the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus. He taught that Mary, from the first instant of her conception, received a singular grace that preserved her from the stain of original sin in view of the merits of Christ. The Church affirmed that this privilege was not separate from the work of the Redeemer. It was the fruit of the same salvation offered to all, applied to Mary in a unique and anticipatory way.

For today’s feast, this teaching highlights two points. God always initiates salvation. Divine grace comes before human response. Mary’s preservation from original sin prepares her to be the mother of Jesus. The feast celebrates God’s generosity and His fidelity to the promise in Genesis 3:14 15. It reminds us that the Incarnation involves a real human yes, shaped by grace. Mary’s journey of faith is a model. Her humble yes opened the way for the Word to enter the world.

After Adam and Eve ate the fruit, they hid from God. Their reaction shows how sin isolates and creates distance from God. Shame becomes the dominant response. In today’s world, what was once considered sinful or shameful is often presented as normal. The sense of guilt and shame is fading and is replaced by pride.

Genesis 3:9 uses a simple Hebrew word for the question, Ayeka. It is usually translated as "Where are you." Many people think God was asking for Adam’s location. The Hebrew shows something deeper.

The verb "God called" appears first. The form is va yikra. This is a summons. God initiates contact. The question Ayeka does not seek a place. It seeks Adam’s condition. In Hebrew, this kind of question often asks about a person’s state before the one who speaks. It means, Where do you stand now in relation to me.

Adam’s reply exposes the real issue. He says, "I heard your sound. I was afraid. I hid." The verbs shama'ti, va'ira, and va'e chave show a movement from hearing to fear and hiding. His posture has shifted. He no longer has trust in God. He takes the posture of  self-protection. The question from God uncovers this change.

The deeper truth is that God invites Adam to step out of concealment. The call is an offer to speak honestly. It asks Adam to face what he has done. It asks him to return to a truthful relation with God. The grammar and order of the words make this clear. God seeks the person. God asks for the heart. God invites admission of fear and wrongdoing.

Ayeka remains a question of orientation. It asks, Where are you in relation to my voice. It asks for an answer that includes responsibility and trust. It is not a geographical request. It is a moral and relational summons.

Then comes Genesis 3:15, a text often referred to as Protoevangelium . It is the first announcement of a future victory over evil. God speaks to the serpent. The Hebrew reads, "I will put hostility between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed. He will bruise your head and you will bruise his heel."

The wording signals more than a curse. It points to a future act of God. The phrase "her seed" is unusual in Hebrew. Lineage is normally traced through the man. This rare expression hints at a unique offspring. The verb for striking the head shows a decisive blow. The serpent’s strike at the heel shows a limited harm.

Tradition reads this as the first pointer to Christ. The early Church linked the woman with Mary and the victorious seed with Jesus. The text shows a long arc. Evil will wound but God will secure the final defeat of evil through a descendant of the woman. One of the key messages of the apparition of Mother Mary is not only the call the prayer and penance for forgiveness of sins but she said that in the end Her Immaculate Heart will triumph.

For today’s feast this matters. The promise in Genesis prepares the ground for the grace Mary received. She stands within this ancient world. Her “Yes” allows the promised seed to enter history. The Immaculate Conception highlights God’s preparation. Mary is preserved from sin so that the promised victory can unfold in her Son.

The Protoevangelium shows that God responded to human failure with hope. God acted before humanity asked. The feast today celebrates that early promise taking flesh in Mary and reaching fulfillment in Christ.

The Letter of St Paul to the Ephesians reminds us that God plan of salvation rooted in eternity. Paul writes that God blessed, chose, and predestined us to be holy. The text uses words about gift and purpose. God’s intent and purpose point to favor that is not earned.  This is theology that explains Mary’s place in salvation. God chooses the means and secures the end. Grace is offered to those who humble themselves and put their trust in God’s word.

The Gospel of Luke brings us to Nazareth. There we meet Mary, ordinary Hebrew woman. The angel greets her as "full of grace." The Greek form κεχαριτωμένη is rich. It shows a state formed by a prior act of grace. That state is not a static title. It describes how God had already held Mary within mercy from the first moment. That is the meaning behind the feast of her Immaculate Conception.

Mary is presented to us as the new Eve; where Eve listened to the seduction and lies of the ancient serpent, Mother Mary chooses obedience to God, listens to an angel. Eve and Adam hides from God. Mary offers herself to God. The contrast highlights how God prepares a human heart to receive his Son. God invites us to freely respond with “Yes” to His Word.

I want to stress Mary’s freedom in human terms. Her assent involved risk. She risked scandal, being pregnant without officially married.  She risked misunderstanding in her family and community. Her “yes” was  an acceptance of vocation offered by God. Her “Yes” came with challenges and struggle. That honesty keeps her near us.

 The Immaculate Conception is ordered to the Incarnation. Mary is preserved from the stain of original sin so that the Word could assume a pure human nature. Her role is not an end in itself. It serves the mission of Jesus. That tender link keeps Marian devotion within Christology.

This Advent season trains us to expect and to prepare a space for the Lord. Today our world faces weariness and division. Many live under the weight of isolation, fear, and distrust. Mary’s example speaks to us. Her trust did not prevent her from experiencing difficulties. Tradition speaks of the Seven Sorrows of Mary, though her sorrows were more than seven. She remained steadfast and kept all events in her heart. These acts show grace at work in her life. They form a Christian practice of presence. In families, parishes, and public life these steady practices can help rebuild trust in our relation with God and among ourselves.

God’s question echoes today: Where are you in your relation to God. Are you hiding or are you ready to answer. The feast of the Immaculate Conception reminds us that God reaches out first. God prepares people for a mission. Mary’s response invites us to renew our Christian life. Let us offer our yes. Let the Word find a home in our lives and families. Amen🙏🙏🙏

 

Welcoming the Lord with a New Heart (Isaiah 11:1-10. Romans 15:4-9 and Matthew 3:1-12. )

                

Isaiah preached during a time of collapse in Israel. The house of David looked broken. People felt deceived by their rulers who cared more about power than justice. Into that disappointment Isaiah announces a different kind of leader. A shoot will rise from the stump of Jesse. This leader will carry the Spirit with fullness, Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Strength, and Knowledge, Fear of the Lord. He will judge with justice. He will defend the poor. Peace will mark his reign. Even creation will share that peace.

This speaks to us today. Many feel tired of false promises. How many leaders, political, civic, even spiritual, have disappointed us? We keep voting, hoping, praying for someone new, someone better… only to find the same pride, the same self-interest, the same empty words. It’s easy to feel cynical about what is happening in our world today. Even within the Church, divisions persist, between communities, traditions, generations. We say “one body,” yet sometimes we forget that in Christ we are one body.

Isaiah reminds us that God does not abandon His people. The Messiah God promised comes to  rule justice and truth. Advent invites us to renew our hope in the One who brings justice without corruption. It invites us to pray that His Spirit will reshape our own hearts so that we reflect His justice and peace in our daily choices.

Romans 15:4-9: Paul writes to a church struggling with division. Jewish and Gentile Christians looked at each other with suspicion. Controversies and arguments threatened their unity and communion. Some felt superior to others. Some felt unwelcome. Paul points to Scripture as the place where believers gain endurance and hope. He reminds us that Christ welcomed all. He calls them to accept one another so we praise God with one voice.

This is our world. Many Christians still divide themselves. Some judge quickly. Others withdraw. Advent challenges us to build unity. It pushes us to seek healing in our relationships. It asks us to welcome each other with the same patience Christ shows toward us. A divided Church cannot offer convincing witness. A reconciled Church becomes a light that draws others to God. Unites we stand and divided we fall!!!

The Gospel brings us to the desert. John the Baptist reminds us the heart of Advent season; he invites us experience “Renewal, Repentance”. John warns that belonging to a religious group is not enough. God looks for fruit. He prepares the people for the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Here Advent reaches its depth. John announces a baptism that will change everything. Jesus enters the Jordan. He takes our wounded humanity and plunges it into the water. In that act He purifies what original sin has damaged in us. He reconnects us with God. He makes us capable of holy living. He turns baptism into a new creation. Through His baptism He sets us free to live as children of light.

This message speaks directly to us. Many feel wounded, confused or spiritually tired. Some struggle with sins that seem stronger than their will. The baptism of Christ tells us that He has already stepped into our brokenness. He touched our weakness. He carried it into the waters. He raised it to new life. Advent invites us to return to that truth with deep gratitude.

The Lord does not enter our lives from a distance. He walks into the desert with us. He enters the water for us. He strengthens what is weak. He restores what is wounded. He guides us toward a life marked by justice, mercy and unity.

Let us welcome Him with hope. Let us prepare our hearts with sincerity. Let us pray for the grace to live as people renewed by His Spirit.🙏🙏🙏

 

From Compassion to Mission, Doing Mission with the Heart of Jesus (Mathew 9, 35-38. 10, 1-8.)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The Gospel of today introduces us to the key aspects of the mission of Jesus. He was often an itinerary missionary, moving through towns and villages. He teaches the Truth, proclaims the kingdom, and heals every disease and casts out demons. He does not rush anything; rather He takes the time necessary to meet people where they are. Thus, Jesus teaches us the importance of proximity in mission. He was able to see people’s confusion, the burdens weighing them down.  He looks at them with compassion. This is the heart of his mission, a heart that sees and responds appropriately.

From this compassion flows his Mission. Jesus says: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” He sees people in search of hope, direction, and for healing. He also sees the shortage of workers. Then he gives a request that surprises us. He tells the disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest. The harvest belongs to God. Yet he chooses to involve his disciples through prayer. This invitation is to shape their heart and desire. He prepares them to step forward. Prayer is the beginning of mission.  

What follows shows the effect of this prayer. Jesus calls the twelve. He gives them authority to heal and to drive out unclean spirits. He names them. He knows each one. He sends them to the lost sheep of Israel and gives them a clear task: to proclaim, to heal, to raise, to cleanse, and to free. What they received from him; they must now give.

This movement matters. Jesus sees. Jesus feels compassion. Jesus asks for prayer. Jesus sends. The disciples who prayed become the disciples who act. The Gospel shows no gap between prayer and mission. One leads to the other.

This remains true for us today. We often see the same crowds in different forms. People suffering in silence. Families struggling every day. Young people search for meaning and being exploited by “false pastors and prophets”. Elderly people long for company. Many are on the edge of faith, looking for some light and direction. They are the harvest that Jesus sees.

The Gospel challenges us to respond with three attitudes.

First, compassion. It is not about pitying people. Compassion leads to actions, it stops to listens, and respects others. Jesus did not judge the crowd. He shared their pain.

Second, prayer. Prayer that places us before God and makes us available. When we pray for laborers, we accept that God may send us into places we did not expect. We share his concerns and projects. We are in deep communion with Him and from this communion arises the desire for mission.

Third, action. Jesus asks the twelve to give freely what they received. We also received faith, mercy, and forgiveness. We offer these through simple and concrete steps. Visit a sick neighbor. Call someone who feels forgotten. Support someone who struggles. Offer patient and compassionate words to a troubled friend. Pray with someone who asks for help. These are real actions. They open space for God to act.

The Gospel today is a pattern for our mission. Jesus sees, calls and sends on mission. He invites us to share his compassion and to join his work.

Let us ask for the grace to respond. Lord of the harvest, give us eyes that notice. Give us hearts that stay open. Give us courage to go where you send us. Make us workers in your harvest. Amen.🙏🙏🙏

 

Bâtir Notre vie sur le Roc de l'Obéissance. (Matthieu 7:21, 24-27).

Chers frères et sœurs en Christ, l’Évangile d’aujourd’hui nous invite à nous concentrer sur l’essentiel. Nous sommes appelés à mettre Dieu au premier plan et à rechercher sa volonté de tout notre cœur, de toutes nos forces, de tout notre esprit et de toute notre intelligence. Jésus conclut le Sermon sur la montagne par un appel direct au cœur. Il nous met en garde contre les paroles vaines et nous exhorte à vivre une vie enracinée dans l’obéissance et la vérité de l’Évangile.

Ce qui compte réellement pour Jésus :

Jésus dit : « Ce ne sont pas tous ceux qui me disent : Seigneur, Seigneur, qui entreront dans le royaume des cieux. » L'expression grecque « ou pas ho legon » souligne que les paroles seules sont vaines. Les mots sans obéissance restent vides. Jésus nous montre ce qui compte vraiment dans notre relation avec Dieu : faire la volonté du Père. Souvenons-nous que faire la volonté du Père était sa nourriture. L'expression grecque « to thelema tou patros mou » (la volonté de mon Père) met en lumière un chemin concret dans notre vie de disciple. C'est le désir du Père qui façonne le disciple. Ce désir se manifeste dans la vie de Jésus. Il se manifeste par la miséricorde, la justice et un souci constant des pauvres.

Pour illustrer davantage son enseignement, Jésus raconte deux paraboles de bâtisseurs. Le bâtisseur sage est phronimos . Il construit sur le roc. L'Écriture sainte nous dit que « la crainte de Die est le commencement de la sagesse, et la connaissance de Dieu est l'intelligence » (cf. Proverbes 9, 10). Une vie emplie de sagesse et d'intelligence divines est unie et humble. Elle s'épanouit dans l'amour désintéressé, à l'exemple du Christ. L'homme dépourvu de sagesse et d'intelligence divines est comparable à un bâtisseur insensé qui construit sur le sable. Les deux maisons s'élèvent sous le même soleil. Toutes deux subissent les mêmes pluies et les mêmes vents. Seule la maison aux fondations solides perdure. Chaque jour est une occasion de bâtir notre vie, soit sur des fondations solides, soit sur le sable. La tentation, les épreuves et les difficultés mettent à l'épreuve la solidité des fondements de notre existence.

L'Avent nous prépare à la venue du Christ . Nous commémorons sa naissance. Nous accueillons sa présence ici et maintenant. Nous attendons son retour définitif. Cette préparation doit imprégner notre vie et la transformer. Elle doit toucher nos habitudes, nos pensées et nos choix. L'Avent nous appelle à bâtir sur un fondement solide. Le roc n'est pas un rituel impressionnant. Le roc, c'est l'obéissance quotidienne à la Parole de Dieu révélée en Jésus-Christ. Le roc, c'est la vérité proclamée avec charité. Le roc, c'est la conversion qui conduit au changement, nous libérant de la complaisance envers le péché, surtout lorsqu'il est ancré dans nos habitudes.

Si notre foi reste lettre morte, elle repose sur le sable. Le vent l’emporte facilement ; elle est inutile. Si nos prières ne nous poussent jamais vers les blessés ou les oubliés, elles s'enfoncent dans le sable. L'Avent nous invite à des questions sincères : « Mon attente me façonne-t-elle ? Ma prière me tourne-t-elle vers les autres dans un amour désintéressé et sacrificiel ? L'Évangile influence-t-il mes décisions quotidiennes et ma perception de moi-même et des autres ? »

L’Évangile nous interpelle aujourd’hui :

Choisissez un changement concret pour cette semaine. Faites de choses simples. Appelez une personne seule. Proposez votre aide à quelqu'un en difficulté. Prenez un temps de prière qui se traduise par une action concrète. Partagez un peu de ce que vous possédez avec une personne dans le besoin. Que votre action soit discrète, à l'image du don de la veuve dans la Bible. Qu'elle soit constante. La solidité de nos fondements se révèle dans les épreuves de la vie. Les tempêtes arrivent sans prévenir. La maladie nous frappe. La perte d'emploi survient. Les tensions familiales s'installent. Des fondements solides nous rassurent, car nous savons pleinement qu'avec Dieu, tout est possible.

Jésus n'ignore ni la prière ni le cri d'un cœur humble et brisé. Il nous demande que notre confession soit en accord avec nos actes. Le rythme grec de l'action représente l'essence même du discipulat. La volonté du Père n'est pas lointaine ; elle est présente dans chaque petite décision prise par amour.

Nos semaines sont souvent surchargées. Pourtant, l'Évangile nous ramène à l'essentiel. Bâtissons sur des fondements solides et solides. Nous construisons notre vie en laissant la Parole de Dieu façonner nos pensées et nos actions. Et cela transforme véritablement tout. Ses commandements ne seront plus perçus comme un fardeau, mais comme un don précieux qui nous conduira à une vie de béatitude et de liberté.

L'Avent passe vite. Noël approche à grands pas ; et avec les fêtes de fin d'année, il est facile de perdre de vue l'essentiel. Puissions-nous profiter de ces jours pour fortifier nos fondements. Que notre cœur se tourne vers ce qui demeure. Que notre foi se manifeste par des actes de miséricorde, de patience, d'honnêteté et de service. Alors, lorsque les tempêtes s'abattent, notre maison restera inébranlable. Et lorsque le Seigneur reviendra, il trouvera en nous un cœur prêt à l'accueillir. Amen.🙏🙏🙏

 

Building our Life on the Rock of Obedience. (Matthew 7:21, 24-27).

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, today’s Gospel directs our attention to what really matters most. We are called to put God first and seek His will with all our heart, strength, mind, spirit, and intellect. Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with a direct appeal to the heart. He warns against empty words and urges a life rooted in obedience and truth of the Gospel.

What really matters for Jesus: 

Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.” The Greek phrase ou pas ho legon stresses that speech alone carries no weight. Words without obedience remain hollow. Jesus points to what really counts in our relationship with God. It is to do the will of the Father. We remember that doing the Father’s will was his food. The Greek term to thelema tou patros mou (the Will of my Father) highlights a concrete path in our discipleship. It is the father’s desire that shapes the disciple. That desire appears in the life of Jesus. It appears in mercy, justice, and a steady turn toward the poor.

To further illustrate His teaching, Jesus narrates two parables of builders. The wise builder is phronimos. He builds on the rock. The sacred scripture tells us that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom and the Knowledge of the Lord is Understanding.” Cfr Proverb 9:10. A life filled with divine wisdom and understanding is unified, humble. It grows in selfless love following the example of Christ. 

The man who lacks divine wisdom and understanding is comparable to a foolish builder who constructs on sand.  Both houses rise under the same sun. Both face the same rains and winds. Only the house with a firm foundation endures. Every day becomes an opportunity to build our life either on a solid foundation or on sand. Temptation, trials, difficulties test the solidness of the foundation of our lives.

Advent prepares us for the coming of Christ. We remember his birth. We welcome his presence here and now. We await his final return. This preparation must touch our life and transform it. It must reach habits, thoughts, and choices. Advent calls us to build on solid foundation. The rock is not impressive ritual. The rock is daily obedience to God’s word revealed in Christ Jesus. The rock is truth spoken with charity. The rock is repentance that leads to change, setting us free from complaisance with sin, especially habitual ones.

If our faith stays in speech without action, it rests on sand. Wind easily blows them away; they are of no use.  If our prayers never move us toward the wounded or forgotten, they sink in sand. Advent invites honest questions: “Does my waiting shape me? Does my worship turn me toward others in selfless and sacrificial love? Does the Gospel form my daily decisions and perceptions about myself and others?

The Gospel challenges us today:

Choose one concrete change for this week. Keep it simple. Call a person who is alone. Offer help to someone under pressure. Set aside time for prayer that leads to action. Share a small portion of what you have with someone in need. Let the action be quiet like the gift of the widow in the Bible.  Let it be consistent. The strength of our foundation appears when life grows difficult. Storms arrive without warning us. Sickness arrives. Job loss arrives. Family strain arrives. A strong foundation holds the heart steady, knowing fully that with God all good things are possible.

Jesus does not reject the prayer and the cry from a humble and broken heart.  He asks that our confession match our conduct. The Greek rhythm of doing represents the heart of discipleship. The Father’s will is not distant. It is present in each small decision that serves love.

Many tasks fill our days and weeks. However, the Gospel brings us back to the essential. Build well and deeply on a solid foundation.  We build our lives by allowing God’s word to shape our thought and behavior. And this really changes everything in our lives. His commandments will cease to be seen as a heavy burden. His commandments will be embraced and appreciation as a beautiful gift leading us to live of beatitude and freedom.

Advent passes quickly. Christmas will arrive soon; and with the end of the year festivities, we can easily lose sight of the essentials.  May we use these days to strengthen our foundation. Let our heart turn to what endures. Let our faith become visible in works of mercy, patience, honesty, and service. Then when storms strike, our house will stand firm. And when the Lord comes, He will find a heart ready for Him. Amen.🙏🙏🙏

 

Êtes-Vous Prêt à Partager Vos Pains avec le Christ ? (Matthieu 15, 29-37)

Mes chers sœurs et frères en Christ, nous poursuivons notre chemin de l'Avent, nous préparant à rencontrer le Seigneur qui est venu et qui reviendra. Aujourd'hui, nous nous souvenons aussi de l'un des plus grands missionnaires de l'Église, saint François-Xavier, dont le cœur brûlait du feu même de l'amour de Dieu. En méditant sur l'Évangile du jour, prions pour que l'Esprit Saint enflamme notre zèle et apaise la soif la plus profonde de nos âmes.

Pour comprendre le passage de l'Évangile d'aujourd'hui, il faut considérer où se trouve Jésus. Il vient de se trouver aux confins de Tyr et de Sidon, où il a guéri la petite fille de la Phénicienne. Il retourne ensuite au bord de la mer de Galilée et gravit une montagne (v. 29). Dans l'Écriture, la montagne est toujours un lieu de rencontre, de révélation et de transformation. C'est un lieu où la terre rencontre le ciel.

Les foules viennent à Lui . Elles lui apportent leurs blessures et leurs fardeaux. Elles lui amènent les aveugles, les boiteux, les muets et bien d'autres. Elles viennent parce qu'elles croient qu'Il peut transformer leur vie.

Cela nous aide à comprendre ce à quoi l'Avent nous invite. Jésus rencontre les gens là où ils sont. Il n'attend pas un cadre parfait. Il va à la périphérie. Il pénètre dans la « montagne » chaotique et périphérique de nos vies. Nous n'avons pas besoin d'être purs avant de nous tourner vers lui. Il nous suffit de nous présenter avec nos faiblesses. Il accueille ceux qui viennent avec leur souffrance. Saint François Xavier a vécu de la même manière. Il a quitté le confort, a porté Jésus en Inde, au Japon et en Extrême-Orient. Il est allé à la rencontre de ceux qui n'avaient jamais entendu l'Évangile. Il a rencontré les gens là où ils vivaient et a eu confiance que le Christ agirait à travers de modestes commencements.

Dans le passage d'aujourd'hui, Jésus accomplit la prophétie d'Isaïe . Il guérit les foules. Leur joie est immense et elles louent le Dieu d'Israël. Jésus voit qu'elles sont avec lui depuis trois jours et qu'elles n'ont rien à manger. Il éprouve une profonde compassion pour elles. Sa réaction révèle le cœur de Dieu. Dieu voit notre faim. Dieu connaît les besoins qui nous épuisent. Dieu choisit d'agir pour notre bien.

Les disciples, face à la situation, ne voient que des limites . Ils voient un lieu isolé, une foule nombreuse et peu de nourriture. Ils ont oublié ce que Jésus a fait auparavant , les miracles qu'il a accomplis. Nous aussi, nous tombons dans le même piège. Nous regardons nos vies ou nos communautés et ne voyons que ce qui manque, les difficultés, les problèmes. Nous nous concentrons sur les faiblesses, et non sur la présence du Christ. Nous oublions facilement les miracles que Dieu a accomplis pour nous et pour les autres. Nous sommes comme prisonniers de nos difficultés actuelles.

Jésus pose une question simple : « Combien de pains avez-vous ? » Ils répondent : sept pains et quelques poissons. Dans la Bible, le chiffre sept symbolise la plénitude. Jésus reçoit les sept pains et les poissons, et rend grâce. Il reconnaît Dieu le Père comme l’auteur de tout bien et le remercie pour tout ce qu’il a fait pour lui et son peuple. Ainsi, Jésus nous enseigne l’importance de la gratitude. « La prière d’action de grâce est très puissante. Elle produit des miracles. Il n’est donc pas étonnant que saint Paul nous ait dit de rendre grâce en toutes circonstances, car telle est la volonté de Dieu en Jésus-Christ à notre égard. » (cf. 1 Thessaloniciens 5, 18). Jésus rompt ensuite le pain.

Toute sa vie a été donnée pour nous. Souvenons-nous de son enseignement dans Jean 6,35 : « Je suis le pain de vie. Celui qui vient à moi n’aura plus jamais faim, et celui qui croit en moi n’aura plus jamais soif. » Sur la croix du Calvaire, Jésus a tout donné. La fraction du pain est donc un acte profondément spirituel. L’agneau immolé sur la croix est le même qui nous est offert dans l’Eucharistie. Jésus a donné à la foule en préfiguration de ce qu’il nous donne dans l’Eucharistie. Tous mangent et sont rassasiés. Il reste sept paniers. Ce nombre symbolise la plénitude et illustre la portée de la grâce de Dieu, qui s’étend au-delà d’un groupe, au-delà d’un peuple. La grâce de Dieu est toujours suffisante, abondante.

Saint François-Xavier offrit ce qu'il avait . Sa santé était fragile. Ses ressources limitées. Il parcourut de longues distances pour partager l'Évangile de Jésus, le pain de vie, avec de nombreuses personnes en Asie. Dieu se servit de son offrande. Son témoignage marqua des générations.

L'Avent nous invite à faire le même pas. Offrons au Christ ce que nous avons. Offrons notre temps, nos forces, notre espérance, nos blessures, les aspects de notre vie qui peinent à avancer. Offrons nos petits présents. Le Christ les accueillera et les bénira. Il les utilisera pour le bien d'autrui. Il nous invite à nourrir les autres avec ce que nous possédons. La générosité ne peut jamais engendrer le manque. Alors, combien de pains sommes-nous prêts à partager avec Jésus aujourd'hui ?

Préparons-nous à la venue du Seigneur avec confiance. Ouvrons nos cœurs à sa compassion. Marchons dans la foi qui a marqué saint François-Xavier. Que le Christ apaise notre soif et fasse de nous des instruments de son amour. Amen🙏🙏🙏.

 

"Are You Willing to Share Your Loaves with Christ?” (Matthew 15, 29-37).

My dear sisters  and brothers in Christ, we continue our journey of Advent, preparing to encounter the Lord who has come, and will come again. Today we also remember one of the Church’s greatest missionaries, Saint Francis Xavier, who heart burned with very fire of God’s love. As we meditate on today’s Gospel, let us pray that the Holy Spirit may inflame our own zeal and satisfy the deepest hunger in our souls.

To understand today’s Gospel passage, we must look at where Jesus is. He has just been on the borders of Tyre and Sidon where he healed the little daughter of the Phoenician woman. He then returns to the Sea of Galilee, climbs  a mountain (v. 29). The mountain in the Scripture is always a place of encounter, revelation, and transformation. It is a place where earth meets heaven.

Crowds come to Him. They bring their wounds and their burdens. They bring the blind, the lame, the mute, and many others. They come because they believe He can make their whole lives.

This helps us understand what Advent invites us to do. Jesus meets people where they are. He does not wait for a perfect setting. He goes to the peripheries. He enters into the messy, peripheral “mountain” of our lives. We don’t have to be clean first before running to Him. We simply need to show up with our brokenness.  He receives those who come with their pain. Saint Francis Xavier lived the same pattern. He left comfort behind, took Jesus to India, Japan, and the far East.  He went to those who had never heard the Gospel. He met people where they lived and trusted that Christ would work through small beginnings.

In today’s passage Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah. He heals the crowds. Their joy is great, and they praise the God of Israel. Jesus sees they have been with Him for three days and have nothing to eat. He feels deep compassion for them. His response shows the heart of God. God sees our hunger. God knows the needs that tire us apart. God chooses to act for our own good.

The disciples look at the situation and see only limits. They see a remote place, many people, and little food. They have forgotten what Jesus did before, the miracles he had performed in the past. We too fall into the same pattern. We look at our lives or our communities and see what is missing, difficulties, problem.  We pay attention to weakness, not to the presence of Christ. We easily forget the miracles God has done for us and others. We are like stuck with our present predicaments.

Jesus asks a simple question: “How many loaves do you have”?. They answer with seven loaves and a few fish. In the Bible, “seven represent” fullness. Jesus receives the seven loaves and few fish, and “gives thanks.” He recognizes God the Father as the author of all that is good, He thanked God the Father for all that He has been doing for Him and His people. Thus, Jesus teaches us the importance of gratitude. “Prayer of Thanksgiving is very powerful. It makes miracles happen. No wander why St Paul said that we should “Give thank in all circumstances. For this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus.” (Cfr 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Jesus then breaks the bread.

His entire life is a life broken for us. We remember His teaching in John 6:35 “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” On the Cross of Calvary, Jesus gave it all. The breaking of bread, therefore, is highly spiritual act. The lamb that was slain on the Cross is the same that is offered to us in the Eucharist. Jesus gave to the crowd in anticipation of what He gives to us in the Eucharist. Everyone eats and is satisfied. Seven baskets remain. The number signals completeness and points to the reach of God’s grace beyond one group, beyond one people. God’s grace is always enough, abundant.

Saint Francis Xavier offered what he had. His health was fragile. His resources were few. He travelled long distance to share Jesus the bread of life to many in Asia. God used his offering.  His witness shaped generations.

Advent asks us to take the same step. Bring what you have to Christ. Bring your time, your strength, your hope, your wounded places, your areas of life that struggle to move. Bring your small gifts. Christ will receive and blesses them. Christ uses them for the good of others. He invites us to feed others with what we have. Generosity can never lead us to lack. So, how many loaves are we willing to share with Jesus today?

Let us prepare for the Lord with trust. Let us open our hearts to His compassion. Let us walk with the faith that marked Saint Francis Xavier. May Christ feed our hunger and make us instruments of His love. Amen.

 🙏🙏🙏