Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year B

# In Christian churches, a pastor is one who performs management and teaching functions within his or her congregation. The term is most often used in the context of Protestantism, with Protestant pastors providing leadership and ministry of the word within Protestant and evangelical churches. Christian saints Shepherd of Alcalá (?-304), with Juste, children martyred in Complutum during Diocletian’s persecution under Dacian. Pastor of Nicomedia (4th century), Victor and five other companions, martyred in the East during the persecution of Diocletian.

Pastor of Orléans (?-557), bishop of Orléans. Palestinian, born at the beginning of the Christian era, he was professed by Christians as the Messiah, the Son of God and the Redeemer of mankind. In chronological order, he was born before the year 4 under Herod, began his apostolic activity around the year 28, was arrested, condemned to death and crucified under the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate on 30 April and, according to the testimony of his apostles, was proclaimed resurrected three days later. This resurrection of Jesus is considered by Christians to be a historical fact that transcends the realm of history to that of faith. The Messiah (χριστός / Christos in ancient Greek), the anointed one of the Lord is announced in the Old Testament of Judaism.

Most Christians recognise Jesus Christ as the only Son of God and as one of the three persons of the Triune God. His mother is Mary of Nazareth. Since the 19th century, critical research by historians has gradually dissociated Jesus of Nazareth, the historical figure, from Jesus Christ, the religious figure. According to John Meier, this methodological distinction has its roots in the distinction made by numerous Germanic authors, including Bultmann (1884-1976), between two meanings of the term historian in German.

On the one hand, historical, in the sense of an event corresponding to a simple fact whose existence is attested by history, and on the other hand, historical, in the sense of an event that has a lasting impact and corresponds to a significant reality. This chapter on Jesus Christ is placed within the framework of this second historical perspective, leaving the former to the chapter entitled Searching for the Historical Jesus. Muslims recognise Jesus of Nazareth as an eminent prophet of God with the name ʿĪsā.

From the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark

 At that time, after their first mission, the apostles gathered with Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them: ‘Come to a deserted place and rest a while. For many people were coming and going and there was not even time to eat. 

So they set out in a boat to a deserted place. The people saw them leave and many understood their intention. So from all the towns they ran there on foot and arrived before them. When Jesus went ashore, he saw a great crowd. He had compassion on them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them at length. (Mk 6,30-34)

Come to a deserted place and rest for a while

On this day, Jesus, I too come, like the apostles, to listen to you. Yes, it is only in your presence that we can truly rest. Only by listening to your words can I truly regain my strength. Form in me, Lord, the heart of an apostle. Today’s Gospel invites us to discover the importance of resting in the Lord.

The apostles were returning from the mission that Jesus had entrusted to them. They had cast out demons, healed the sick and preached the Gospel. They were tired and Jesus said to them: ‘Come to a deserted place and rest a while’ (Mk 6, 31). 

One of the temptations to which every Christian can succumb is that of wanting to do many things and neglecting one’s relationship with the Lord. The Catechism reminds us that when it comes to praying, one of the greatest dangers is to think that there are other more urgent things to do, and one ends up neglecting one’s relationship with God.

This is why Jesus tells his disciples, who have worked hard, are tired and are happy because everything went well, that they must rest. The Gospel tells us that ‘they set out in a boat to a deserted place’ (Mk 6, 33). The first is to be with Jesus, because it is with him that we will speak.

We must be sure of his presence. Therefore, every moment of prayer generally begins, and this is the most difficult part, with becoming aware of God’s presence. Becoming aware of being with Him. The second thing is the necessary solitude. If we want to talk to someone, to have an intimate and deep conversation, we choose solitude. St Pierre Julien Eymard recommended resting in the Lord after communion.

And he warned against the danger of filling our thanksgiving with words or phrases we know by heart. He said that after receiving the Body of Christ, the best thing was to remain silent for a while, to recover our strength and let Jesus speak to us in the silence of our hearts. Sometimes, instead of telling him our plans, it is better to let Jesus teach us and give us courage.

Lord, be my guide in everything. Be the shepherd of my life. Teach me to be taught like the crowds. Send me to those who do not know you and who seek you. After this time of prayerful rest, I know that I too will be sent to those I meet today. Inspire me, Lord, with the right words to announce that you are the good shepherd.

Deacon Michel Houyoux

Links to other Christian websites

Loyola Press : click here to read the paper → Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B | Loyola Press

Sacred Space : click here to read the paper → Living Space Sunday of Week 16 of Ordinary Time (Year B)

Video Pastor Michael Cesar : click here → https://youtu.be/b5Vn2Gdgjo

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B

# In the Christian churches, a pastor is someone who carries out management and teaching functions within his community. The term is most often used in the context of Protestantism, with Protestant pastors forming the leadership and ministry of the word within Protestant and Evangelical churches. Christian saints Pastor of Alcala (?-304), with Juste, children martyred at Complutum, during the persecution of Diocletian, under Dacian. Pastor of Nicomedia (4th century), Victorin and five other companions, martyred in the East during Diocletian’s persecution.

Pastor of Orléans (?-557), Bishop of Orléans. A Palestinian born at the beginning of the Christian era, he was professed by Christians to be the Messiah, the Son of God and the Redeemer of mankind. In chronological order, he was born before the year 4 under Herod, he began his apostolic activity around the year 28, he was arrested, condemned to death and crucified under the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate in April 30, and, according to the testimony of his apostles, he was proclaimed to have risen three days later. This resurrection of Jesus is held by Christians to be a historical fact that transcends the realm of history to reach that of faith. The Messiah (χριστός / Christos in ancient Greek), the Lord’s anointed is announced by the Old Testament of Judaism.

Most Christians recognise Jesus Christ as the only Son of God and as one of the three persons of the Triune God. His mother is Mary of Nazareth. From the 19th century onwards, critical research by historians gradually dissociated Jesus of Nazareth, the historical figure, from Jesus Christ, the religious figure. According to John Meier, this methodological distinction is rooted in the distinction made by numerous Germanic authors, including Bultmann (1884-1976), between two meanings of the term historical in German. On the one hand, historical, in the sense of an event corresponding to a simple fact whose existence is attested by history, and on the other, historical, in the sense of an event that has a lasting impact and corresponds to a significant reality. The present chapter on Jesus Christ is situated within the framework of this second historical perspective, leaving the first to the chapter entitled Quests for the Historical Jesus. Muslims recognise Jesus of Nazareth as an eminent prophet of God under the name ʿĪsā.

From the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark

At that time, after their first mission, the Apostles gathered to Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place and rest for a while. In fact, many people were arriving and leaving, and there was not even time to eat. So they set off in a boat for a deserted spot. The people saw them going away, and many understood their intention. So they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there before them. When Jesus went ashore, he saw a large crowd. He felt compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them at length. (Mk 6, 30-34)

Come away to a deserted place and rest for a while

On this day, Jesus, I too have come, like the apostles, to listen to you. Yes, it is only in your presence that we can truly rest. Only by listening to your words can I truly regain my strength. Shape in me, Lord, the heart of an apostle. Today’s Gospel invites us to discover the importance of resting in the Lord. The apostles were returning from the mission Jesus had entrusted to them. They had cast out demons, healed the sick and preached the Gospel. They were tired and Jesus said to them : ‘Come away to a deserted place and rest for a while’ (Mk 6, 31).

One of the temptations to which any Christian can succumb is that of wanting to do many things and neglecting our relationship with the Lord. The catechism reminds us that when it comes to prayer, one of the greatest dangers is thinking that there are other more urgent things to do, and we end up neglecting our relationship with God. That’s why Jesus tells his disciples, who have worked hard, are tired and are happy because everything has gone well, that they need to rest. The Gospel tells us that they ‘set off in the boat for a deserted place’ (Mk 6, 33).

In order to pray well, we need at least two things: the first is to be with Jesus, because it is with him that we are going to speak. We need to be sure of his presence. To do this, every moment of prayer generally begins, and this is the hardest part, by becoming aware of God’s presence. Becoming aware that we are with Him. The second thing is the solitude that is necessary. If we want to talk to someone, to have an intimate and deep conversation, we choose solitude. Saint Pierre Julien Eymard recommended resting in the Lord after communion. 

And he warned against the danger of filling our thanksgiving with words or phrases that we know by heart. He said that after receiving the Body of Christ, the best thing was to remain silent for a while to regain our strength and let Jesus speak to us in the silence of our hearts. Sometimes, instead of telling Him about our plans, it’s better to let Jesus teach us and give us courage. Lord, be my guide in everything. Be the shepherd of my life. Teach me to let myself be taught like those crowds.

Send me to those who don’t know you and who are looking for you. After this time of rest in prayer, I know that I too will be sent to those I meet today. Inspire me, Lord, with the right words to proclaim that you are the good shepherd.

Deacon Michel Houyoux

Links to other Christian websites

Loyola Press : click here to read the paper →Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Youngs Catholics : click here to read the paper → 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

 Vidéo  Father George Maloney S.J. : click here → https://youtu.be/_rbDv8znzpM

Jeudi de la quinzième semaine du Temps Ordinaire – Année Paire

 

# Jésus de Nazareth est un Juif de Galilée, né entre l’an 7 et l’an 5 av. J.-C.. Il apparaît dans le cercle de Jean le Baptiste avant de s’engager, entouré de quelques disciples, dans une courte carrière de prédication itinérante de deux à trois ans, essentiellement en Galilée, en pratiquant guérisons et exorcismes. Il suscite engouement et ferveur, s’attirant la méfiance des autorités politiques et religieuses, avant d’être arrêté, condamné et crucifié vers l’an 30 à Jérusalem pendant la fête juive de la Pâque, sous l’administration du préfet Ponce Pilate.

L’annonce de sa résurrection par ses disciples, qui le reconnaissent comme le Messie ou Christ et transmettent son histoire et ses enseignements, donne naissance au christianisme. Pour les chrétiens, Jésus-Christ est le Fils de Dieu, le Messie annoncé dans l’Ancien Testament et envoyé aux hommes pour les sauver. Dans l’islam, Jésus de Nazareth, appelé ʿĪsā, est considéré comme un prophète majeur. Le retentissement de son message, transmis par les différentes Églises chrétiennes, et les interprétations auxquelles il a donné lieu, ont influencé différentes cultures et civilisations au cours de l’Histoire.

Il a inspiré une importante production théologique, littéraire et artistique. Sa naissance est prise comme origine conventionnelle des calendriers julien — depuis le VIe siècle — et grégorien, et le dimanche, devenu jour de repos hebdomadaire en célébration de sa résurrection, adopté au-delà de la chrétienté. Cette importance contraste avec la brièveté de sa prédication et le peu de traces historiques conservées à son sujet, essentiellement au travers de la littérature néotestamentaire. Ainsi, lorsqu’il aborde la question de Jésus de Nazareth, l’historien « sait qu’il n’est nullement en mesure de révéler ce qui a vraiment été fait ou ce qui a vraiment été dit par ce personnage »x

Jésus est nommé de multiples façons dans la littérature néotestamentaire, chacun de ses noms et titres suggérant une façon dont ont pu l’appréhender ou le considérer ses différents interlocuteurs : « Rabbi », ou le terme proche en araméen « Rabbouni »n 7, qui signifie au Ier siècle le « maître » pharisien, au sens « maître et philosophe » d’un groupe pharisien21 ; on trouve également « Maître » au sens d’« enseignant », « Prophète », « Serviteur », « Juste », « Saint », « Fils de David », déjà employés pour des personnages de la Bible hébraïque, « Grand prêtre », « juge », « pasteur », « Rédempteur » ou encore « Sauveur ».x

L’Évangile selon Jean rapporte que la croix de son exécution était surmontée d’un titulus qui portait l’inscription INRI signifiant « Jésus le nazôréen, Roi des Juifs »n 8,22. On trouve plusieurs fois l’expression « Fils de l’homme » que s’attribue Jésus lui-même dans les évangiles23. Elle se trouve précédemment dans la littérature hébraïque, dans le Livre des Psaumes24, où elle désigne l’homme ordinaire. x

De l’Évangile de Jésus Christ selon Matthieu

En ce temps-là, Jésus prit la parole et dit : « Venez à moi, vous tous qui peinez sous le poids du fardeau, et moi, je vous procurerai le repos. Prenez sur vous mon joug, devenez mes disciples, car je suis doux et humble de cœur, et vous trouverez le repos pour votre âme. Oui, mon joug est facile à porter, et mon fardeau, léger. »(Mt 11, 28-30)

Appel à ceux qui sont fatigués et chargés

« Venez à moi, vous tous qui êtes fatigués et chargés, et moi je vous soulagerai. » (Mt 11, 28) : douce et précieuse invitation,  offerte sans autre condition, que de se sentir fatigués et chargés ! Travail auquel un homme se livre en vain pour satisfaire aux exigences de sa conscience souffrante et de la loi qui l’accuse, et ce lourd fardeau de misère morale et de peines amères que porte celui qui mène une vie sans Dieu. Ce fardeau était rendu plus accablant encore par les prescriptions légales et pharisaïques de la propre justice  :  « Maintenant donc, pourquoi tentez-vous Dieu, en mettant sur le cou des disciples un joug que ni nos pères ni nous n’avons pu porter ? (Ac 15, 10) 

Ce que Jésus offre (et moi, par opposition à tout autre), c’est le soulagement ou le repos en d’autres termes, la paix, doux et précieux fruit du pardon et de l’affranchissement. Un joug est l’image de la soumission, de l’obéissance. Jésus vint de promettre le soulagement, le repos. Il rappela la condition de cette délivrance. Après avoir promis un repos heureux aux pauvres consciences misérablement travaillées, il admoneste qu’il est leur libérateur à cette condition qu’elles se rangent sous son joug. (Calvin)

Qu’est-ce que se charger de ce joug ? : c’est apprendre de Jésus, être instruit par sa parole, et imiter son exemple, vivre de sa vie. Il faut entrer dans cette voie sans hésiter, dit Jésus, parce qu!il est doux, et humble de cœur. Ce motif peut être entendu  comme un encouragement : ne craignez pas de vous mettre à mon école, je suis plein de support, de patience, mon joug n’est pas difficile à porter ; ou comme indication du seul moyen de se charger de son joug, qui est d’apprendre de Jésus la douceur et l’humilité qu’il avait lui-même.

Pour les orgueilleux qui cherchent leur propre justice, ce joug sera intolérable, il ne sera bon, bienfaisant que pour ceux qui seront doux et humbles de cœur. « Comment se fera-t-il qu’un chacun y ploya et baissa le col volontiers et paisiblement, sinon qu’étant revêtu de douceur, il fut conformé à Christ ?» (Calvin)

Diacre Michel Houyoux

Liens avec d’autres sites web chrétiens

◊ Sermon.net : cliquez ici pour lire l’article → Appel à ceux qui sont fatigués et chargés

◊ vie chrétienne : cliquez ici pour lire l’article → L’ANTIDOTE AU DÉCOURAGEMENT

Vidéo Suivre Jésus: cliquez ici → https://youtu.be/wV3DCUTdYcU