Wednesday October 13, 2021 - Twenty-eighth week in Ordinary Time - My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 11, 42-46

We find in this Gospel a collection of accusations against the ruling groups of official Judaism: the Pharisees and the doctors of the Law. Sometimes our behaviors are similar to those of these people if we are not careful and prudent. It is important for us to know these people and how they act, because these groups of people still exist today among us or perhaps within ourselves:

  • The Pharisees think they are "better" than everyone else. They do not want to mix with the crowd, seen as unclean and sinful. For them purity is "isolating yourself from people", "scrupulously observing all religious practices".
  • Scribes want to monopolize knowledge of the Law and ordinary people should not have free access to it without their consent.

In the face of these behaviors, Jesus Christ gives us a new way of behaving as disciples:

  • Unlike the Pharisees, authentic purity before God for us is not based on the performance of outer rites, but rather on inner purity as the giving of oneself to God and alms to the most needy without making any noise nor advertising.
  • Unlike the scribes, the authentic interpretation of the Law has as its objective: "to help people enter the Kingdom of God in all freedom and in all truth; to help people to receive the Good News of Jesus Christ".

Message from the Bishops at the end of the Pilgrimage

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, You who have come in such large numbers to take part in this national pilgrimage, as well as all of you who are following it from home through the media. We, the bishops of Madagascar, would like to express our deep gratitude to you for having responded to our invitation and for having brought this jubilee initiated by Pope Francis to life spiritually. With you, we take up Mary's song: ‘My soul exalts the Lord’ and we repeat with her: ‘What shall I repay the Lord for all the good he has done me?’....

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Love and Salvation

Christmas is a great joy, because it is the love of God that has come to us, proclaims Fr. Bizimana Innocent, Provincial Superior of the Salesians Don Bosco of Madagascar and Mauritius, presenting his Christmas greetings. Salvation is accomplished, so life is not in danger of disappearing. It is this love and this salvation that we wish to fill our life so that we have peace.

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Zatti, our brother

The short film "Zatti, our brother" (Argentina, 2020) focuses on one of the most difficult episodes of his life. We are in Viedma, in 1941: at the age of 60, Zatti is forced to leave the hospital he has attended for decades. His faith and strength are tested.

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