Sunday November 17, 2024 – TO33
FRATELLO day in EMBRUN
Next Sunday, the feast of Christ the King, will be the end of the liturgical year, because our Christian year will begin the following Sunday, the 1st Sunday of Advent. The liturgical year is like a summary of the entire holy history of humanity. So we are approaching the end of the liturgical year. What will happen when we approach the end of time, and what can we learn from this for our current Christian life; This is what the Word of God tells us, in two stages: everything passes, and everything goes towards God.
Everything passes.
This is also what this Fratello Day, 8th World Day of the Poor, and Catholic Relief Day, reminds us: none of us is safe from poverty. Everything passes.
Many times, Jesus warns: “For what advantage has a man to gain the whole world if it is at the cost of his life? What could he give in exchange for his life? » A war, our Ukrainian brothers and sisters have been experiencing it since the invasion by Russia. We experience an illness in our families or for ourselves. A work problem. A fire, like in ND de Paris. A virus that causes a global pandemic, etc. There is no shortage of risks in our personal lives or in international life. Everything can happen from one moment to the next.
Jesus' speech in the gospel is a response to one of his disciples who expressed great admiration at the Temple in Jerusalem built by King Herod the Great. Jesus said to him, “Not one stone will be left upon another,” and then he gives this long speech about the end of Jerusalem and the end of the world.
Everything passes, so let's not get too attached to earthly things, which certainly doesn't mean not getting involved in earthly things! But putting them in their place: these are means.
Everything passes, so let's get ready! For “as for that day and that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, not even the Son, but only the Father. “
Only one thing will not pass away… “Heaven and earth will pass away, my words will not pass away. » We also see this when we read the Bible. It is certainly dated in its time, but it bears fruit today. A single word from God can turn a life upside down. Because the same Holy Spirit who inspired the evangelists acts in our soul. (This gives me the opportunity to point out that here next Saturday at 5 p.m. there will be confirmations for the deanery. If some of you are not confirmed, please know that we will offer confirmation for all Catholic adults who are not have not been confirmed, during the jubilee of the year 2025.)
Charity is the final word of Jesus which will not pass away. Thank you to each of you who make yourself available to serve our brothers and sisters at Secours Catholique and in other associations.
Everything goes to God.
Faced with the multiple current crises, Jesus said something which is a booster of hope: “when you see this happening, know that the Son of Man is near, at your door”. Yes, the Son of Man is near. Everything goes to God. My life and the life of the world do not go towards nothingness, but towards God. The prophet Daniel in our first reading, prophesies: “at this time your people will be delivered, everyone who is found written in the Book. » Isn't this a beautiful reason for evangelizing? Write the name of each of the inhabitants of our towns and villages in the book of Life! Yesterday in ND du Laus on the occasion of the diocesan day at the end of the year of prayer, each parish was able to present an element of its parish missionary project. How to evangelize, how to transmit the love of the heart of Jesus to our contemporaries. How can we tell them that their life has meaning, that it is moving towards God?
Jesus himself announced it: “the Son of Man will be seen coming in the clouds with great power and glory. He will send the angels to gather the elect from the four corners of the world, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. »
And Daniel announced the last judgment, at the end of time: “Many people who slept in the dust of the earth will awaken, some to eternal life, others to eternal shame and degradation. » Because everything goes towards God, provided that we want it. God does not want to save us, does not want to give us eternal life without our consent. And the way to consent is to observe his great commandment of brotherly love. “Let yourself be instructed by the comparison of the fig tree,” Jesus said again: “as soon as its branches become tender and the leaves come out, you know that summer is near. » Currently it is more the fall of the leaves and the autumn colors are also shimmering, but remember our wonder when the soft green grass comes to grow. Tender like the tenderness which is the signature of love. The tender branches of the fig tree designate the coming of a new world, of a civilization of love. Christians cannot accept that civilization becomes more and more violent. These predictions about the end of times and the final judgment encourage us in a life of prayer of union with God, and in a life of charity towards our brothers.
And above all, the fundamental attitude for us is trust in God for the Son of Man is near.
The psalmist sings it wonderfully:
“Lord, my portion and my cup:
my fate depends on you.
I keep the Lord before me without ceasing;
he is on my right: I am unshakeable.
My heart exults, my soul is in celebration,
my flesh itself rests in confidence:
you cannot abandon me to death
nor let your friend see corruption.
You teach me the path of life:
before your face, overflowing joy!
At your right, eternity of delights! »
Saint Teresa of Avila, a great Spanish saint in the 16th century, invites us to trust in one of the best-known texts of Christian spirituality: 'Nada te turbe'.
“Let nothing trouble you, let nothing frighten you, everything passes, God does not change, patience obtains everything; he who possesses God lacks nothing: God alone is sufficient. Raise your thoughts, ascend to heaven, do not worry about anything, let nothing trouble you. Follow Jesus Christ with a big heart, and whatever happens, let nothing frighten you. Do you see the glory of the world? It is vain glory; There is nothing stable about it, everything passes. Aspire to the heavenly, which lasts forever; faithful and rich in promises, God does not change. Love Him as He deserves, immense Goodness; but there is no quality love without patience. Let trust and live faith maintain the soul, he who believes and hopes obtains everything. Even if he sees himself assailed by hell, he who possesses God will thwart his favors. Even if abandonment, crosses, misfortunes come to him, if God is his treasure, he lacks nothing. Go then, you goods of the world; go away, vain joys: even if we lose everything, God alone is enough. Amen. »
