How is the Christian religion unique in the world and different from all others (not forgetting that it is also uniquely linked to the Jewish religion)? Already, our big brothers of the Jewish People recognized themselves as a special nation, since God had called them since Abraham.
Then, in this Sunday’s text from Deuteronomy (chap. 4), the Jewish People bear in their faith this revelation from God in the form of a question: “For what great nation is there whose gods are as near to us as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call upon him? But the Christian discovers this “nearness” in Jesus Christ, whom he welcomes as a “member of the Jewish People”, God-made-man, and therefore of an unimaginable and very real nearness. God is present in Jesus Christ, who died and rose to save us.
God is present through His Holy Spirit, who dwells in the Church – God’s people – like His soul, and who opens us up to the 7 sacraments of the Christian life (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Forgiveness, Ordination and the Sacrament of the Sick).
God is present in His living Word, transmitted to us by Christians in the Holy Scriptures (the Bible, especially the Gospels…). We could go on and on about the different ways in which God is present to us.
I’d like to single out the one that most deeply nourished the Saint Curé d’Ars, and which we don’t always think of first: the Word of God.
In other words, the Bible, and in particular the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Didn’t he speak of it as a vital treasure? ” The Word of God is no small thing, ” he said.
He went on to talk about the fruits: God is close, unique, present…
Reaching out to Him, welcoming Him, is vital for mankind, as well as being unique in the universe, since it brings us into communion with Him…
By starting afresh from what God whispers through His Word in the depths of every human conscience when the Gospel is received, the disciple’s life is completely renewed, which is even better than being purified. “He who hears the word of God with a true desire to profit from it is more pleasing to God than he who receives it in holy communion”. Here the disciple experiences communion with God, and also increases his love in return for Him… and obviously this gives glory to God!
And so, we have a tremendous revelation in our hands today… To the question ” How can we make people discover and love God? ” We can answer: ” By giving the Gospel ” to be received, heard and read… And now to live it is the natural mission of the Christian people… witness to human life transformed and entering into the happiness of communion with God, radiating his love.
Incoherence is no longer an option: on the contrary, let the disciple give thanks, to whom the Lord gives this advice through the apostle Saint James in his letter.
Accept with gentleness the Word sown within you”…

Happy back-to-school!

Welcome to all new arrivals, and in particular to the 2 new priests donated to Ars.
(They will introduce themselves in the future).