Saturday 26th September 2020 - 25th week of Ordinary Time - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 9, 43b-45 - Omeo fahalalana aho, ry Tompo, hitandremako ny lalànao ary hanarahako azy amin 'ny foko tontolo.

While the crowd marvelled at his deeds, which demonstrate his supremacy over the world in order to save his people by healing the sick, purifying the lepers and feeding the hungry, Jesus drew the attention of the disciples by turning their eyes away from these glorious effects and announcing to them: "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men". In other words, He must go through suffering and death before He can rise again in glory.

It is to this glory that men must concentrate, but this will only come true when He goes up to Jerusalem, is arrested and condemned, delivered up to the cruelty of men, beaten and crowned with thorns, ridiculed and humiliated. He will be judged by men and will be judged according to human judgment and condemned to be crucified. But it is for this person who crucified him that He will implore the mercy of God the Father.

His disciples did not understand the meaning of what he said about this path he must take, they did not want their master to go through suffering and death. What they had in mind was that Jesus is the mighty Messiah who will save Israel. But true love is to give your life for those you love, and Jesus is the first to give the example of this love that gives itself in sacrifice. It is therefore out of love for us that he chose the path of suffering and death. It is our duty to strive to be worthy of our life as Christians because Jesus redeemed it at a high price: he gave his life. Let us not give ourselves over to evil, let us not allow ourselves to be hindered by sin, but let us give ourselves to God as Jesus gave himself on the cross for our salvation. Amen.