In what Jesus shares with us now, there’s a clear contrast between the smallness of the mustard seed and its growth:
“It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants.” Matthew, chapter 13, verse 32
To welcome Jesus in our life seems to be nothing at first. Sometimes it can take time, years to develop like mustard seed. While the Lord is preparing our heart, he invites us to patience before discovering the result. It’s official that the Lord works in our life. Let’s allow time and improve with good values, waiting for the results.
Let’s learn to feel the presence of Jesus in us. Let’s get small by inner observation. May Jesus grow in us. Then let him touch people’s hearts.
We don’t think we have a lot of resources in view of the scale of evangelization. Let’s take one step at a time. Let’s be silent in ourselves for months and years. Let’s listen to Jesus. Then we’ll be able to better observe and to evangelize the world. We’ll only have to discover …More

As soon as we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, that we are baptized, and decide to follow Jesus and allow others to discover the gospel, we progress in faith. We progress in the faith as we live a personal and progressive involvement with Jesus, for the world. Paul supports this idea:
“With Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.” Ephesians, chapter 2, verse 20
Everything is built from and on the foundation of Christ:
“Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord” Ephesians, chapter 2, verse 21
More clearly, it is Christ who is the real builder of his Church. But what is exceptional is that he needs us all, without exception. He needed Antony of Padua, the present Pope, Catherine of Siena, Bernard of Clairvaux, and many holy persons whom we may know. Paul confirms it to us:
“In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians, chapter 2, verse 22
Let’s be assured that Jesus has come for us all …More

The mission of evangelization is the summit of what a person can bring to the world. Evangelization is taking the beauty of the Word of God, of his Eucharist and transmitting holiness to each person. John shares his testimony:
“What we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us.” 1 John, chapter 1, verse 3a
John is precise: “We proclaim now to you.” To announce Jesus, to announce the message that he offers us, to announce his presence in the Word and the Eucharist, saves us. The world needs to hear it. This is the ultimate need of the world.
We’re privileged people to go to Mass, to receive the word of God and the Eucharist, the Body of Christ. We cannot imagine how much we receive graces on graces in abundance. God fills us up.
We’re called as John to announce the Love of God for every person, without exception. John knows what he’s talking about:
“It is this disciple (John) who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that …More

We wish this, as Paul asks:
“We do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” Colossians, chapter 1, verse 9b
We want the world to be filled with the holy presence of God. So, continues Paul:
“Live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians, chapter 1, verse 10
That’s how we become true christians. Always receive from God, to share with the people around us, helps us to become saints.
When we’re alone and we don’t ask for God’s help, we’re fishing in the void. This is what happens when the Apostles don’t invite God in their boat.
Jesus says to Peter and to us too:
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Luke, chapter 5, verse 4 They understand the difference between being alone with lost efforts and being with Jesus, he who multiplies the efforts and whose work becomes as …More

God draws our attention:
“Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples.” Isaiah, chapter 49, verse 1
We have moved away or too far away. God invites all peoples to his table, his sharing, his tenderness, his listening.
Our existence is called to flourish under the grace of the Holy Spirit. To open ourselves to God is to let ourselves be Loved and let God inhabit our existence. The more space we give to the Trinity in the world, the more we’ll see God’s actions in our lives, and we’ll be delighted to see him act in others.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

Gamaliel is a man with his mind adjusted to the will of God. It makes one believe that there are good Pharisees, Pharisees who have faith. He’s also a doctor of the law. Gamaliel managed to change the idea of the few who wanted to kill the Apostles. He’s very enlightened and he says to the Temple officials, concerning them:
“‘For if this endeavour or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.’ They were persuaded by him.” Acts, chapter 5, verses 38b to 39
Gamaliel has what it needs to be holy. And they are wise to be convinced.
Let’s not go against God. Let’s observe the fruits of those who announce the dead and risen Christ. Gamaliel has grasped how to discern the presence of the Holy Spirit in these missionaries. Let’s look at the fruits. If the fruits are related to the will of God, they will be beneficial for all and if the fruits are bad, they will destroy …More

Paul and others are choosing people who can continue the mission of evangelization. Paul met Christ on the road to Damascus and since then he wants the Church to continue what Jesus started in him and in different christian communities. He says:
“We have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts, chapter 15, verse 26
By dedicating their lives to Jesus, they can ask the Father everything they need to continue the mission.
Let’s also ask the Father, through Jesus, to give us the solutions to find other people who have faith and sow together. May faith increase in our parishes and in our hearts.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

Jesus says:
“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” John, chapter 15, verse 16
Jesus speaks to the people he has chosen. At the same time, these people, just like his Apostles, must also accept Jesus, receive him, as their Lord.
Jesus gives everything to those who ask the Father in his name. When we’re with Jesus, we’re with the Father. Jesus unites us to his mission and he wants us to be comfortable asking the Father, in the Spirit, everything we need for his mission.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

Paul reminds us of a proverb:
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 2 Corinthians, chapter 9, verse 6
How do we sow too little or how to sow widely? We see that the harvest is tied to the way we sow.
Sowing a sample means that we don’t let God go through our lives. And by protecting us from the presence of God, we’ll reap little. Our spiritual generosity will increase when we let the grace of God increase in our life.
That said, we could put a lot of effort, make multiple facial expressions to the point of becoming actors, without God or with little relationship with God, and not succeed, eventually.
What to sow? It’s time to give God his place. Let’s watch him work. Let’s work with him to learn from him how to live a blooming life of faith that will yield abundant and quality crops.
If we go there with our own means, we’ll build in a vacuum. God invites us to more than that. He invites us to become more converted to …More

Paul tells us:
“Whenever a person turns to the Lord the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians, chapter 3, verses 16 to 17
We have a veil on that keeps us away from Jesus. Paul adds that when we accept conversion, when the veil falls:
“All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 18
We reflect “the glory of the Lord” more and more by being with him. To reflect the Light, let’s store it in us. To reflect on the glory of the Lord, we must receive it. When this glory increases, we’re transfigured, as the light covered Jesus during the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. Carrying this light within us touches the heart of others. We then become full-time prophets.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

Why:
“Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery?” Habakkuk, chapter 1, verse 3
This question is on the lips of the majority, if not all humans of all time. Well yes, Lord, why do we see all these injustices, this evil, and the innocent ones dying? Why don’t you do anything?
It’s quite normal to have this question, not to be satisfied with what we see, hear, of distress, fears, anxieties when there should be plenty of opportunities, chances, achievements, but these opportunities are lost and too often annihilated. We are quite normal to question this way: “Why Lord?”
It’s because we become more and more prophets and christians. We become a little more like the Lord when we realize that the reality of our world isn’t as he wishes.
God offers his Love, peace, joy, hope and in return we observe, day after day, what destroys these possibilities. These are all the graces received from God that are not lived because they are not welcomed or transmitted.
We’re on the right path! The …More

There are many other kinds of poverty in the world, such as the lack of true spirituality, the refusal to let God Love us, the ego, the sadness and many other issues that keep the human being subjected to thousands of closures and traps.
Jesus knows the greatest poverty that human beings can suffer; the refusal of God, to believe that God is lying and go so far as to eliminate the Loving God from their lives. The greatest poverty that exists is to not welcome God into one’s life.
Let’s notice that if all the people in the churches of the whole world lead charitably one person to Jesus, one day everybody would be in the service of the neighbour and that would engage them on the way reserved for them.
Let’s accept to follow Jesus, let him cleanse us and transform us. Let’s find ways to increase our faith and invite people to follow Jesus.
Jesus will do the work in their hearts. It will transform their hearts and these people will be freed from intoxication, from their wounds and their …More

Who are the poor in the Church? Whom should we give to? And most importantly, what do we have to offer?
James allows us to think about it. He talks about what he sees in his time:
“You pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘Sit here, please,’ while you say to the poor one, ‘Stand there,’ or ‘Sit at my feet.’” James, chapter 2, verse 3
There should always be a constant concern for the poor and the poverty of these people would be almost non-existent. It takes a little discernment and charity to help them. Helping a poor person takes a little time. Valuing it can lead to being much better in society.
But also, some poorly-minded people are causing further poverty to other poor people. They use what is sent to the poor to provide themselves with wealth. Although rarer, there are some who stockpile money, live in well-off apartments, do not work and benefit from others, who are poorer.
This may seem simple, but in practice it isn’t guaranteed to be continually close to …More

The poor have many faces. The rich are poor of something. People who are in the middle class are poor of something. The poor also lack something.
Jesus called Matthew who did not seem poor. He joined him in front of a counter of one of the riches of the country. The fishermen, Peter and Andrew, John and James, were also rich because fishing was a necessary food for families.
What was their poverty then? At the beginning of their mission with Jesus, they all lacked a real and meaningful experience with him. Now, they live the grace of being on the road and following Jesus. Jesus chose them for the mission.
We are all poor of Jesus. We need to live a personal relationship with him.
Real poverty touches every person in their deepest being. If we don’t have Jesus, we are really poor. If we do not live on God’s Love, we are very poor.
What is true wealth? True wealth isn’t found in what we usually have. What we have isn’t all we have.
True wealth is in the heart of the human being. True wealth …More

Paul is an artist of the good evolution. He gave a new meaning to the word “slave”. Let’s read:
“as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, willingly serving the Lord and not human beings.” Ephesians, chapter 6, verses 6 to 7
Instead of associating the word “slave” with forced submission, Paul introduces it to a higher level of goodness.
Jesus washed the feet of his Apostles like a slave. And Paul understood it in that sense. With all our hearts, let’s freely become servants (slaves) of our neighbour for the glory of God and the salvation of the world.
Let’s work voluntarily for the sole purpose that souls turn from their ways of destruction and take the path of faith following Jesus Christ.
Let’s take the opportunity to be with the weakest of us, in all dimensions of their poverty, to practise our relationship with Jesus. Perhaps we’ll discover that we are the weakest. Let’s restore the dignity that belongs to every person.
Let’s ask God to open our hearts and to lay …More

Far from publicly denouncing personal mistakes, it would be nice to invite people to let themselves be Loved by God. Real Love is a reality rarely recognized today. The Love of God allows the person himself to discover his faults. The light illuminates the life of the person and reveals the dens of evil.
Then the people of Israel say this:
“Why do we fast, and you do not see it? afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?” Isaiah, chapter 58, verse 3
We could add: When we pray, why don’t you hear it? Because we don’t fast for God or for others, but we fast for ourselves. It’s good to fast, to pray and to do penance for us, but most of all this must lead to thinking about the world in general. If people around the world improve, we are progressing.
God always hears us, but we’re not always watchful to the presence of God with us.
We have thousands of distractions that keep us away from the goal, from our relationship with God. However, everything we do to bring ourselves closer to God …More

It would seem that the Lord is asking to denounce the faults as it is written here:
“Cry out full-throated and unsparingly, lift up your voice like a trumpet blast; Tell my people their wickedness, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah, chapter 58, verse 1
If we start doing this, we risk disappointments. This text is nearly three thousand years old.
In the generation we are in, it would be difficult to begin to shout sins out to everyone. In a group, we can still talk about sin in general, and let people self-observe.
On the other hand, it seems easy for many people to tell their sins in the media. It may be good for these people, but the publicly announced evil can become a trampoline where others will develop bad habits. For, the announcement of sins in the public square gives evil ideas to other ill-intentioned people.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

It’s a shame to be at this point to want to surprise the just, to want to test honest people. It’s known, we have some fears about new people we still don’t know.
The righteous disturb them because they do not follow the easiest way. When they walk on a path, they always invite the Presence of God with them. And when there is the Presence of God, they can feel the resistances, the significant distances of the grace of God from others.
The just will be repulsed, he will be reproached, he will be despised, trapped and accused. This is also what happens with Jesus:
“Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, ‘You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.’” John, chapter 7, verses 28 to 29
And they do not want to get their hands on Jesus, because the world would see them. They know they are wrong with their false thoughts about him.
They …More

The unjust ones say:
“Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.” Wisdom, chapter 2, verse 12
There are people who do not see how just some are. They may have difficulty discerning between good and bad and then they will have difficulty discovering the good, the real and what’s true in people.
Often they are people who are afraid of being hurt again, or they think everyone resents them. Often they are people who are proud and manage the lives of others. Basically, they don’t know how to find peace in their own hearts. They place their fears on people around them.
We are invited to be charitable and pray for them.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas