by L'équipe de publication | Mar 9, 2025 | Evangelium
Saint John Ogilvie (1579 – 1615)
Psalter: Week I
Purple
He was born in Scotland and became a Jesuit in 1608 and returned to Scotland in disguise, saying Masses in secret. He was arrested in Glasgow in 1614, tortured, paraded through the streets, and hanged on 10 March 1615.
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 122: 2-3
Like the eyes of slaves on the hand of their lords, so our eyes are on the Lord our God, till he show us his mercy. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
Collect
Convert us, O God our Saviour, and instruct our minds by heavenly teaching, that we may benefit from the works of Lent. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Leviticus 19:1-2,11-18
The Lord spoke to Moses. He said: ‘Speak to the whole community of the sons of Israel and say to them: ‘“Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy. ‘“You must not steal nor deal deceitfully or fraudulently with your neighbour. You must not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God. I am the Lord. You must not exploit or rob your neighbour. You must not keep back the labourer’s wage until next morning. You must not curse the dumb, nor put an obstacle in the blind man’s way, but you must fear your God. I am the Lord. ‘“You must not be guilty of unjust verdicts. You must neither be partial to the little man nor overawed by the great; you must pass judgement on your neighbour according to justice. You must not slander your own people, and you must not jeopardise your neighbour’s life. I am the Lord. You must not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. You must openly tell him, your neighbour, of his offence; this way you will not take a sin upon yourself. You must not exact vengeance, nor must you bear a grudge against the children of your people. You must love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord.”’
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 18:8-10,15
R/ Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.
The law of the Lord is perfect, it revives the soul. The rule of the Lord is to be trusted, it gives wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, they gladden the heart. The command of the Lord is clear, it gives light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is holy, abiding for ever. The decrees of the Lord are truth and all of them just.
May the spoken words of my mouth, the thoughts of my heart, win favour in your sight, O Lord, my rescuer, my rock!
Gospel Acclamation : Ezk18:31
Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory! Shake off all your sins – it is the Lord who speaks – and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
Gospel : Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. ‘Then the King will say to those on his right hand, “Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.” ‘Next he will say to those on his left hand, “Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food; I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me.” Then it will be their turn to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?” Then he will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.” ‘And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the virtuous to eternal life.’
Prayer over the Offerings
May this devout oblation be acceptable to you, O Lord, that by your power it may sanctify our manner of life and gain for us your conciliation and pardon. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Mt 25: 40, 34
Amen, I say to you: Whatever you did for one of the least of my brethren, you did it for me, says the Lord. Come, you blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Prayer after Communion
We pray, O Lord, that, in receiving your Sacrament, we may experience help in mind and body so that, kept safe in both, we may glory in the fullness of heavenly healing. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Contrary to prevailing Jewish thought at the time, judgement will not be based on such ethnic affiliations as being Christian or Jewish. Instead, it will be determined by our concern for our brethren, guided by moral and spiritual principles. This verdict is based on the judge’s response to the needs of the needy around us – whether hunger, thirst, lack of clothing, sickness, among other issues addressed or neglected. Christ identifies Himself with those in need, and ultimate judgement of ‘Come’ or ‘Go away’ depends on whether we satisfy those needs or not. Lent offers us an opportunity for us to earnestly consider our relationship with Christ concerning the needy and the marginalised of our society. It urges us to transform our temporal actions into lasting contributions by addressing the needs of the poor and outcasts of our society.
by L'équipe de publication | Mar 8, 2025 | Agenda Biblique
1ere dimanche de careme
Sainte françoise romaine,
Religieuse
Psautier: I
Violet
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 90, 15-16
« Quand mon serviteur m’appelle, dit le Seigneur, je lui réponds, je reste près de lui dans son épreuve. Je vais le délivrer, le glorifier, de longs jours je vais le rassasier. »
Prière d’ouverture
Accorde-nous, Dieu tout-puissant, tout au long de ce carême, de progresser dans la connaissance de Jésus Christ et de nous ouvrir à sa lumière par une vie de plus en plus fidèle. Lui qui.
1ère lecture : Deutéronome 26, 4-10
Moïse disait au peuple : Lorsque tu présenteras les prémices de tes récoltes, le prêtre recevra de tes mains la corbeille et ala déposera devant l’autel du Seigneur ton Dieu. Tu prononceras ces paroles devant le Seigneur ton Dieu : « Mon père était un Araméen nomade, qui descendit en Égypte : il y vécut en immigré avec son petit clan. C’est là qu’il est devenu une grande nation, puissante et nombreuse. Les Égyptiens nous ont maltraités, et réduits à la pauvreté ; ils nous ont imposé un dur esclavage. Nous avons crié vers le Seigneur, le Dieu de nos pères. Il a entendu notre voix, il a vu que nous étions dans la misère, la peine et l’oppression. Le Seigneur nous a fait sortir d’Égypte à main forte et à bras étendu, par des actions terrifiantes, des signes et des prodiges. Il nous a conduits dans ce lieu et nous a donné ce pays, un pays ruisselant de lait et de miel. Et maintenant voici que j’apporte les prémices des fruits du sol que tu m’as donné, Seigneur. »
Psaume : 90 (91), 1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15ab
R/ Sois avec moi, Seigneur, dans mon épreuve.
Quand je me tiens sous l’abri du Très-Haut et repose à l’ombre du Puissant, je dis au Seigneur : « Mon refuge, mon rempart, mon Dieu, dont je suis sûr ! »
Le malheur ne pourra te toucher, ni le danger, approcher de ta demeure : il donne mission à ses anges de te garder sur tous tes chemins.
Ils te porteront sur leurs mains pour que ton pied ne heurte les pierres ; tu marcheras sur la vipère et le scorpion, tu écraseras le lion et le Dragon.
« Puisqu’il s’attache à moi, je le délivre ; je le défends, car il connaît mon nom. Il m’appelle, et moi, je lui réponds ; je suis avec lui dans son épreuve. »
2ème lecture : Romains 10, 8-13
Frères, que dit l’Écriture ? Tout près de toi est la Parole, elle est dans ta bouche et dans ton cœur. Cette Parole, c’est le message de la foi que nous proclamons. En effet, si de ta bouche, tu affirmes que Jésus est Seigneur, si, dans ton cœur, tu crois que Dieu l’a ressuscité d’entre les morts, alors tu seras sauvé. Car c’est avec le cœur que l’on croit pour devenir juste, c’est avec la bouche que l’on affirme sa foi pour parvenir au salut. En effet, l’Écriture dit : Quiconque met en lui sa foi ne connaîtra pas la honte. Ainsi, entre les Juifs et les païens, il n’y a pas de différence : tous ont le même Seigneur, généreux envers tous ceux qui l’invoquent. En effet, quiconque invoquera le nom du Seigneur sera sauvé.
Acclamation
Ta Parole, Seigneur, est vérité, et ta loi, délivrance. L’homme ne vit pas seulement de pain, mais de toute parole qui sort de la bouche de Dieu. Ta Parole, Seigneur, est vérité, et ta loi, délivrance. (Mt 4, 4b)
Évangile : Luc 4, 1-13
En ce temps-là, après son baptême, Jésus, rempli d’Esprit Saint, quitta les bords du Jourdain ; dans l’Esprit, il fut conduit à travers le désert où, pendant quarante jours, il fut tenté par le diable. Il ne mangea rien durant ces jours-là, et, quand ce temps fut écoulé, il eut faim. Le diable lui dit alors : « Si tu es Fils de Dieu, ordonne à cette pierre de devenir du pain. » Jésus répondit : « Il est écrit : L’homme ne vit pas seulement de pain. » Alors le diable l’emmena plus haut et lui montra en un instant tous les royaumes de la terre. Il lui dit : « Je te donnerai tout ce pouvoir et la gloire de ces royaumes, car cela m’a été remis et je le donne à qui je veux. Toi donc, si tu te prosternes devant moi, tu auras tout cela. » Jésus lui répondit : « Il est écrit : C’est devant le Seigneur ton Dieu que tu te prosterneras, à lui seul tu rendras un culte. » Puis le diable le conduisit à Jérusalem, il le plaça au sommet du Temple et lui dit : « Si tu es Fils de Dieu, d’ici jette-toi en bas ; car il est écrit : Il donnera pour toi, à ses anges, l’ordre de te garder ; et encore : Ils te porteront sur leurs mains, de peur que ton pied ne heurte une pierre. » Jésus lui fit cette réponse : « Il est dit : Tu ne mettras pas à l’épreuve le Seigneur ton Dieu. » Ayant ainsi épuisé toutes les formes de tentations, le diable s’éloigna de Jésus jusqu’au moment fixé.
Prière sur les offrandes
Avec cette eucharistie, Seigneur, nous commençons notre marche vers Pâques: Fais que nos cœurs correspondent vraiment à nos offrandes. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion
Ce n’est pas seulement de pain que l’homme doit vivre, mais de toute parole qui sort de la bouche de Dieu.
Prière après la communion
Le pain que nous avons reçu de toi, Seigneur notre Dieu, a renouvelé nos cœurs; il nourrit la foi, fait grandir l’espérance et donne la force d’aimer; apprends-nous à toujours avoir faim du Christ, seul pain vivant et vrai, et à vivre de toute parole qui sort de ta bouche. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Le Carême s’ouvre avec le récit des tentations de Jésus. Placées au seuil de son ministère public, elles annoncent les nombreuses contradictions que Jésus devra subir, jusqu’à la violence ultime de la mort. En elles se révèle l’authenticité de l’humanité du Christ qui, pleinement solidaire de l’homme, subit toutes les tentations par lesquelles l’Ennemi cherche à l’arracher de sa pleine soumission au Père. « Le Christ a été tenté par le démon ! Mais dans le Christ, c’est toi qui es tenté « (Saint Augustin). Le récit des tentations annonce également la victoire finale du Christ, dans la Résurrection. Le Christ inaugure un chemin où personne ne pourra empêcher que le dessein de Dieu se manifeste à chaque homme : sa volonté de le racheter, de rendre à l’homme la souveraineté de sa propre vie, dans une libre reconnaissance de sa dépendance de Dieu. C’est dans l’obéissance à Dieu que l’homme trouve sa liberté.
by L'équipe de publication | Mar 8, 2025 | Evangelium
1st Sunday of Lent
Saint Frances of Rome (1384 – 1440)
Psalter: Week I
Purple
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 90: 15-16
When he calls on me, I will answer him; I will deliver him and give him glory, I will grant him length of days.
Collect
Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observances of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and, by worthy conduct, pursue their effects. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Deuteronomy 26:4-10
Moses said to the people: ‘The priest shall take the pannier from your hand and lay it before the altar of the Lord your God. Then, in the sight of the Lord your God, you must make this pronouncement: ‘“My father was a wandering Aramaean. He went down into Egypt to find refuge there, few in numbers; but there he became a nation, great, mighty, and strong. The Egyptians ill-treated us, they gave us no peace and inflicted harsh slavery on us. But we called on the Lord, the God of our fathers. The Lord heard our voice and saw our misery, our toil and our oppression; and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with mighty hand and outstretched arm, with great terror, and with signs and wonders. He brought us here and gave us this land, a land where milk and honey flow. Here then I bring the first-fruits of the produce of the soil that you, the Lord, have given me.” ‘You must then lay them before the Lord your God, and bow down in the sight of the Lord your God.’
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 90(91):1-2,10-15
R/ Be with me, O Lord, in my distress.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High and abides in the shade of the Almighty says to the Lord: ‘My refuge, my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!’
Upon you no evil shall fall, no plague approach where you dwell. For you has he commanded his angels, to keep you in all your ways.
They shall bear you upon their hands lest you strike your foot against a stone. On the lion and the viper you will tread and trample the young lion and the dragon.
His love he set on me, so I will rescue him; protect him for he knows my name. When he calls I shall answer: ‘I am with you,’ I will save him in distress and give him glory.
Second reading : Romans 10:8-13
Scripture says: The word (that is the faith we proclaim) is very near to you, it is on your lips and in your heart. If your lips confess that Jesus is Lord and if you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved. By believing from the heart you are made righteous; by confessing with your lips you are saved. When scripture says: those who believe in him will have no cause for shame, it makes no distinction between Jew and Greek: all belong to the same Lord who is rich enough, however many ask his help, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Gospel Acclamation : Mt4:4
Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory! Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
Gospel : Luke 4:1-13
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through the wilderness, being tempted there by the devil for forty days. During that time he ate nothing and at the end he was hungry. Then the devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to turn into a loaf.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Scripture says: Man does not live on bread alone.’ Then leading him to a height, the devil showed him in a moment of time all the kingdoms of the world and said to him, ‘I will give you all this power and the glory of these kingdoms, for it has been committed to me and I give it to anyone I choose. Worship me, then, and it shall all be yours.’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Scripture says: You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.’ Then he led him to Jerusalem and made him stand on the parapet of the Temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said to him ‘throw yourself down from here, for scripture says: He will put his angels in charge of you to guard you, and again: They will hold you up on their hands in case you hurt your foot against a stone.’ But Jesus answered him, ‘It has been said: You must not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Having exhausted all these ways of tempting him, the devil left him, to return at the appointed time.
Prayer over the Offerings
Give us the right dispositions, O Lord, we pray, to make these offerings, for with them we celebrate the beginning of this venerable and sacred time. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Mt 4: 4
One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
Prayer after Communion
Renewed now with heavenly bread, by which faith is nourished, hope increased, and charity strengthened, we pray, O Lord, that we may learn to hunger for Christ, the true and living Bread, and strive to live by every word which proceeds from your mouth. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Temptation, by itself, is not a sin; rather, it serves as an invitation to fall into sin. It is an integral part of our daily lives. It is one that we cannot entirely eliminate, as we are constantly surrounded and confronted with it daily. Even Jesus, as depicted in the Gospel, did not escape temptation. In his role as Master, He leads His disciples by demonstrating how to recognise and, more importantly, how to deal with temptations. The devil uses three types of temptations to sever our connection to God: the allure of material possessions (represented by bread), the temptation of power (worshipping the devil for dominion over the world’s kingdoms), and the lure of prestige (throwing oneself down with the belief in the protective power of the angels). These three temptations fail to provide genuine satisfaction and only create the false impression that everything depends on us. This misconception may lead us to make others dependent for even the smallest mattes. Jesus overcame these temptations, and this Gospel passage encourages us to follow suit,
by L'équipe de publication | Mar 7, 2025 | Evangelium
Saint John of God (1495 – 1550)
Psalter: Week IV
Purple
He was born to a poor but devout family in Portugal in 1495. After serving as a soldier, he founded a hospital in Granada and a circle of disciples formed round him, which later became the Order of Hospitallers.
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 68: 17
Answer us, Lord, for your mercy is kind; in the abundance of your mercies, look upon us.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, look with compassion on our weakness and ensure us your protection by stretching forth the right hand of your majesty. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Isaiah 58:9-14
The Lord says this: If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word, if you give your bread to the hungry, and relief to the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness, and your shadows become like noon. The Lord will always guide you, giving you relief in desert places. He will give strength to your bones and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never run dry. You will rebuild the ancient ruins, build up on the old foundations. You will be called ‘Breach-mender’, ‘Restorer of ruined houses. If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, and doing business on the holy day, if you call the Sabbath ‘Delightful’, and the day sacred to the Lord ‘Honourable’, if you honour it by abstaining from travel, from doing business and from gossip, then shall you find your happiness in the Lord and I will lead you triumphant over the heights of the land. I will feed you on the heritage of Jacob your father. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85:1-6
R/ Show me, Lord, your way, so that I may walk in your truth.
Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am faithful; save the servant who trusts in you.
You are my God, have mercy on me, Lord, for I cry to you all the day long. Give joy to your servant, O Lord, for to you I lift up my soul.
O Lord, you are good and forgiving, full of love to all who call. Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my voice.
Gospel Acclamation : cfPs94:8
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God! Harden not your hearts today, but listen to the voice of the Lord. Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Gospel : Luke 5:27-32
Jesus noticed a tax collector, Levi by name, sitting by the customs house, and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything he got up and followed him. In his honour Levi held a great reception in his house, and with them at table was a large gathering of tax collectors and others. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples and said, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus said to them in reply, ‘It is not those who are well who need the doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, we pray, O Lord, the sacrifice of conciliation and praise, and grant that, cleansed by its working, we may offer minds well pleasing to you. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Mt 9: 13
I desire mercy, not sacrifice, says the Lord, for I did not come to call the just but sinners.
Prayer after Communion
Nourished with the gift of heavenly life, we pray, O Lord, that what remains for us a mystery in this present life may be for us a help to reach eternity. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Is there anyone who does not need conversion? One of the tragic aspects of humanity in the 21st century, as stated in the Desiderata, is that “…there will always be greater and lesser persons than us.” Consequently, there are some who may question, ‘why should I undergo conversion when I believe I’m better than everyone else?’ Reflecting on the example of Jesus calling Levi, we see a profound transformation. Levi leaves everything – his job, changes his way of seeing things, stops judging others, and undergoes a radical shift in lifestyle. True conversion necessitates a refusal to compromise our Christian values and half-formed ideas; it requires a deep introspection. Those who believe that others need more conversion than themselves are in need of serious conversion themselves.
by L'équipe de publication | Mar 7, 2025 | Agenda Biblique
Saint jean de dieu, Religieux
BVM
Psautier: IV
Violet
Jean Ciudad (1495-1550), fils d’un artisan portugais, fut berger, voyageur, soldat et marchand avant de se convertir à quarante-deux ans. Il créa un hôpital à Grenade et jeta les fondements d’un ordre hospitalier. Mort victime de son dévouement, il est le patron des infirmiers et des malades.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 68, 17
Ecoute-nous, Seigneur, toi dont l’amour n’est que bonté ; en ta grande tendresse, regarde-nous.
Prière d’ouverture
Dieu fort, Dieu éternel, regarde notre faiblesse : pour nous protéger, étends sur nous ta main toute-puissante. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : Is 58, 9b-14
Ainsi parle le Seigneur : Si tu fais disparaître de chez toi le joug, le geste accusateur, la parole malfaisante, si tu donnes à celui qui a faim ce que toi, tu désires, et si tu combles les désirs du malheureux, ta lumière se lèvera dans les ténèbres et ton obscurité sera lumière de midi. Le Seigneur sera toujours ton guide. En plein désert, il comblera tes désirs et te rendra vigueur. Tu seras comme un jardin bien irrigué, comme une source où les eaux ne manquent jamais. Tu rebâtiras les ruines anciennes, tu restaureras les fondations séculaires. On t’appellera : « Celui qui répare les brèches », « Celui qui remet en service les chemins ». Si tu t’abstiens de voyager le jour du sabbat, de traiter tes affaires pendant mon jour saint, si tu nommes « délices » le sabbat et déclares « glorieux » le jour saint du Seigneur, si tu le glorifies, en évitant démarches, affaires et pourparlers, alors tu trouveras tes délices dans le Seigneur ; je te ferai chevaucher sur les hauteurs du pays, je te donnerai pour vivre l’héritage de Jacob ton père. Oui, la bouche du Seigneur a parlé.
Psaume : 86, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R/ Le Seigneur est tendresse et pitié
Écoute, Seigneur, réponds-moi, car je suis pauvre et malheureux. Veille sur moi qui suis fidèle, ô mon Dieu, sauve ton serviteur qui s’appuie sur toi.
Prends pitié de moi, Seigneur, toi que j’appelle chaque jour. Seigneur, réjouis ton serviteur : vers toi, j’élève mon âme !
Toi qui es bon et qui pardonnes, plein d’amour pour tous ceux qui t’appellent, écoute ma prière, Seigneur, entends ma voix qui te supplie.
Acclamation
Tes paroles, Seigneur, sont l’esprit et elles sont vie. Je ne prends pas plaisir à la mort du méchant, dit le Seigneur. Qu’il se détourne de sa conduite, et qu’il vive ! Tes paroles, Seigneur, sont l’esprit et elles sont vie.
Évangile : Lc 5, 27-32
En ce temps-là, Jésus sortit et remarqua un publicain (c’est-à-dire un collecteur d’impôts) du nom de Lévi assis au bureau des impôts. Il lui dit : « Suis-moi. » Abandonnant tout, l’homme se leva ; et il le suivait. Lévi donna pour Jésus une grande réception dans sa maison; il y avait là une foule nombreuse de publicains et d’autres gens attablés avec eux. Les pharisiens et les scribes de leur parti récriminaient en disant à ses disciples : « Pourquoi mangez-vous et buvez-vous avec les publicains et les pécheurs ? » Jésus leur répondit : « Ce ne sont pas les gens en bonne santé qui ont besoin du médecin, mais les malades. Je ne suis pas venu appeler des justes mais des pécheurs, pour qu’ils se convertissent. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Accepte, Seigneur, le sacrifice de louange et de pardon, afin que nos cœurs, purifiés par sa puissance, t’offrent un amour qui réponde à ton amour. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion : Mt 9
C’est la miséricorde que je désire et non les sacrifices, dit le Seigneur. Car je ne suis pas venu appeler les justes, mais les pécheurs. »
Prière après la communion
Le sacrement de ta vie, Seigneur, nous a fortifiés ; qu’il nous achemine aux biens éternels dont il est le signe en notre vie. Par Jésus Christ.
Méditation
L’image de Jésus en tant que médecin divin nous impressionne beaucoup. À travers elle, nous le contemplons offrant à tous le remède de son salut qui guérit et sauve tous ceux qui se reconnaissent pécheurs, et non pas ceux qui se considèrent comme justes. En effet, Jésus guérit les pécheurs par sa Passion. Il est le bon pasteur qui, en donnant sa vie pour ses brebis, guérit celle qui est blessée et réconforte celle qui est malade. Sa sollicitude ne connaît pas de limite, il sort chercher la brebis perdue jusqu’à ce qu’il la retrouve et il la porte sur ses épaules. Cette tâche rédemptrice est confirmée par Jésus lui-même qui, en s’appropriant les paroles d’Isaïe 61, 1-2 (dans Luc 4,16-21), affirme qu’il est venu guérir ceux qui ont le cœur brisé. Pour cela, le Seigneur nous invite à reconnaître avec humilité et simplicité notre faiblesse, il nous invite à croire en son amour de Père infiniment miséricordieux qui nous pardonne et nous guérit en Jésus et par Jésus.
