“The Word of God cannot be chained!”

Dear Friends,

Some of you will have already received a letter from us to tell you about the cancellation of retreats for the first part of 2021. Just this once, the health crisis has forced us to start the year as we finished the last: by advancing step by step in line with the decisions made by the government. For now, we do not see how we can start retreats again, as we are subject to the same regulations as restaurants and cannot bring people together in a conference room.

These vital restrictions are however not impossible: it means much to us to continuing to share the nourishment of the Word with you and just like the first Christians did, we have inexhaustible resources to help our endurance on this long path...The writing we are sharing with you today has a special meaning, as today, the Church celebrates the “Sunday of the Word”, at the end of a week of prayer to unite Christians, a week that culminates in the feast of the conversion of Saint Paul. “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” claimed the Apostle (1 Co 9,16), although he was often emprisoned, tied-up, ill or persecuted...The life of this apostle with a burning heart teaches us about the formidable power of freedom of the Word: “The Word of God cannot be chained!” (2 Tim 2,9).

For this reason, during these times where the night seems to last too long, we would like to show you this magnificent and fervent text by Florin, who shares the secret of the power of the Word: Make use of your Gospel, take “the lit lamp and be dressed and ready for service.” and within these words of the Gospel, the Lord will appear in the middle of the night!

As we wish you a wonderfully profound and enjoyable read, we would like to reiterate our closeness, from within...

Olivier Sournia

French to English translation by Debbie Garrick and Cécile Simon

 

The Word: the fire that keeps us awake and makes us see!

Luke 12,35-38 : Jesus told his disciples: “Be dressed and ready for service and keep your lamps burning.”…

A little further on in this twelfth chapter of Saint Luke, you have this famous passage which you should know by heart. (Luke 12, 49) : “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” It is as if these two passages were holding hands or linking arms, they go together so well. What does this passage mean? [Read more...]