During these weeks, we are listening to the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 16:5–12), and what we have just heard is not easy to grasp. Jesus asks those who are following him to be on their guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Who were they? They represented different ways of seeking security: some through renewal involving strict religious observance, others through political or institutional power. Jesus' approach was different.

Notice that Jesus' followers have not understood the sign of the multiplication of the loaves. Yet he asks them to be careful about the teaching of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. What could this mean for us?

With very limited means — simply what his friends had been able to find — Jesus was able to feed the two crowds. By using what was available, in great simplicity, and by offering it to God with thanksgiving, rather than by imposing a teaching or a political standpoint, he gave these signs of God's kingdom. The hungry were satisfied, and there was even food left over.

When we follow Jesus, we follow one who is gentle and humble of heart. What leads us in his footsteps is not the pursuit of human perfection, or even of what we imagine God's perfection to be. By accepting that he walks with us as we are, and by daring to offer the little that we have, we often discover that with him we can do much.

Is this not a path of true freedom? Jesus sets us free so that we can be fully ourselves, no longer constrained by what we think is expected of us. And as we journey with him, little by little, the Holy Spirit transforms us so that we too become gentle and humble of heart.

Yes, this might mean leaving behind paths that seem to offer spiritual or societal certainties. But that is the adventure of faith: the path of risking everything in order to respond to the love with which God has loved us, the path of trust.

On Saturday evening, during the prayer, it is with great joy that we will welcome a new brother into our community. He comes from Switzerland. After spending time as a volunteer in Taizé, he has been living with the brothers for the past few months and now the moment has come to make the next step in his journey with Christ. Please pray for him and for us.

When you leave Taizé, what will you take with you from this experience? How have you listened to the question, “What are you seeking?” If each of you could think of one element of life here that you would like to integrate into your daily life, I would be very grateful.

How can you discover or deepen your commitment in your local churches and in society? In many ways, Taizé is not important. What counts is what happens when you return home.

One thing that I would like to ask of all of you is that you take time to pray for peace in our world — in our families and circles of friendship, in our neighbourhoods, but especially in those countries where there is war. We have among us young people from Ukraine and from the Middle East.

To them, I would like to offer our prayer and our solidarity. Some of our brothers will be visiting these regions in the autumn. We do not forget you.

And that prayer can begin tomorrow, when you join us at 8 p.m. here in the church, where we will pray in silence, as we do every week, for peace.