23 March 2025 - 3rd Sunday of Lent "C"

Ex 3, 1...15; 1 Cor 10, 1...12; Luke 13, 1-9

Homily

In the collective memory of the people of Israel, the exit from Egypt and the crossing of the desert had remained privileged moments in their relationship with God, and the account of these events had gradually been enriched with marvellous elements. The people had fled Egypt by crossing the sea in a miraculous way. In the desert they had been guided by a miraculous cloud that protected them from the sun by day and illuminated them by night. When this cloud stopped, they pitched their tents and when it moved, they set off again. Along the way, they were fed with the manna that fell from heaven and the water that gushed from the rock after Moses had struck it with his rod.

Saint Paul alludes to all these things in his letter to the Corinthians when he says: "Our ancestors were all under the protection of the pillar of cloud, and they all passed through the Red Sea... They all ate the same spiritual food and drank from the same rock... Yet most of them did nothing but displease God..."

We have all been baptized and confirmed and received other sacraments. We receive the Eucharist regularly and we probably do most of the things that a good Christian or a good nun or monk is supposed to do. Are we pleasing God? -- How do we answer such a question? -- The Gospel tells us that we please God if we bear fruit. And, fortunately for us, the same Gospel teaches us that God is patient. He is always willing to give us more time, but He expects us to bear fruit.

This whole history of Israel, which is also our own, and which began with Abraham, reaches an exceptional spiritual climax in Moses' encounter with God, as recounted in the first reading. Moses had been brought up in the house of Pharaoh, in Egypt, as a son of Pharaoh. He was destined for the highest responsibilities in the administration of the country. One day he took the risk of defending one of his brothers and this act cost him his career. He soon found himself in exile, with no future but completely free because he had nothing left to lose. It was then, as he sank deeper into his solitude, that he met God. God revealed himself to him as a loving father who had seen the misery of His people and wanted to free them from it. A dialogue is possible between God and Moses, because both share the same concern. God even wants to give Moses the mission of freeing His people. Moses then asks two fundamental questions: "Who am I?" and "Who are you?" - "Who am I to do such a thing" and "Who are you?" so that I can say who sent me." To the first question God simply answers "I will be with you" and to the second he answers that he is "I am".

This is the same patient and merciful God that Jesus reveals to us in this morning's Gospel. It would be foolish and even blasphemous to think that the cataclysms that can occur today like those mentioned in this Gospel text are divine punishments (private revelations presenting natural cataclysms as divine punishments have all the signs of non-authenticity!). He is a patient God, who wants us to bear fruit, but He knows that fruit needs time to grow and ripen. Lent is given to us so that we can bear the first of all fruits, that of conversion, which is itself a gift that God wants to give us.

21 March 2025 - Friday of the 2nd week in Lent

Gen 37, 3-4. 12-13. 17-28; Mat 21, 33-43. 45-46

Homily

The two readings for this Mass speak of violence. In the Old Testament reading, eleven of the twelve patriarchs of Israel commit violence against their brothers. In the parable, Jesus speaks of the violence committed against Him by the chief priests and the elders of the people. In both cases, God was able to draw salvation from man's sin.

22 March 2025 - Saturday of the 2nd week of Lent

Mi 7, 14-15.18-20; Lk 15,1-3. 11-32

Homily

Once again, Jesus finds Himself caught between two groups of people. On the one hand, there were the tax collectors and sinners who came to listen to Him and whose hearts were often touched by His attitude as much as by His words; on the other hand, there were the Pharisees and scribes, who did not approve of His attitude at all. They accused Him not only of welcoming unbelievers, but even of eating with them.

18 mars 2025 – mardi de la 2^ème semaine de Carême

Isaïe 1, 10.16-20; Matthieu 23,1-12

 

Homélie

           Il est rare que Jésus parle avec une telle sévérité. Lui qui est si miséricordieux face à la faiblesse humaine devient extrêmement sévère devant l'exploitation de l'homme par l'homme et devant l'orgueil qui consiste à s'attribuer des titres et des honneurs qui sont réservés à Dieu.

21 mars 2025 – vendredi de la 2ème semaine de Carême

Gen 37, 3-4. 12-13. 17-28; Mat 21, 33-43. 45-46 

H O M É L I E

          Les deux lectures de cette messe parlent de violence. Dans celle de l'Ancien Testament, onze des douze Patriarches d'Israël commettent la violence contre leur frère. Dans sa parabole, Jésus parle des violences commises contre lui par les grands prêtres et les anciens du peuple. Dans les deux cas, Dieu a su tirer le salut du péché de l’homme.

18 March 2025 – Tuesday of the 2^nd week of Lent

Isaiah 1:10, 16-20; Matthew 23:1-12

Homily

It is rare for Jesus to speak with such severity. He who is so merciful in the face of human weakness becomes extremely severe in the face of the exploitation of man by man and in the face of the pride that consists of attributing to oneself titles and honours that are reserved for God.