Meditations

On this night, which for many of us is an opportunity to gather with family, community, and friends in joy and sharing – even if for some of us it is the first time we are spending this night away from our families – we celebrate the memory of the birth of Jesus. The reading from the prophet Isaiah reminds us of the promise that it is in the middle of the night, in the darkness, that God’s definitive intervention in the history of his people will be revealed. The sign of God’s intervention annou

Today, on this fourth Sunday of Advent, the reading presents us with the figure of Joseph. In the Gospels, we do not hear much about Joseph, and the text we have just heard is one of the exceptions. We can easily imagine his confusion, even his despair, when he learned that Mary, his fiancée, was pregnant. All his plans for the future were thwarted. There was not only the personal desappointment, but also the public shame that accompanied such a situation. But the Gospel presents him to us as a

John’s question is surprising: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?” Is this really the same John? The one who leapt for joy in Elizabeth’s womb? The one who pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The one who claimed he was not worthy to untie the straps of his sandals? So… why the doubt? Why this anxiety, this fragility that comes up all of a sudden? This question is not just a weakness on John’s part: it makes sense. It touches on identity – that of Je

In the texts we have just read, we heard about two people who were aware that they were living through a moment in history that dramatically engaged the responsibility of their people. In relation to God, this awareness fully engaged them both in their own time and in the future. And even though the world seemed to be collapsing before them and beneath their feet, they remained grounded in the hope of what the Spirit of God is capable of doing among human beings. John the Baptist was waiting for

This first Sunday of Advent is also the day on which we commemorate the Apostle Andrew. I would therefore like to say ‘Happy Feast Day’ especially to the Sisters of St. Andrew, whose presence in Ameugny for almost 60 years is a gift from God, and also to all the Andrews among us, known or hidden! At the beginning of this new liturgical year, what do the Scriptures we have just heard tell us? The reading from the book of Isaiah announces peace. Isaiah's time was no easier than ours. In the 8th ce

You have all come here with a desire, a longing to spend time with others and also on your own. Is not each one of you seeking something? If Jesus was to ask you, “What are you seeking?” how would you answer? These were the first words he said in John’s Gospel and were addressed to two people who wanted to follow him. During this time, I am preparing the Letter which will accompany the meetings in Taizé next year. To help me prepare it, I asked six of our volunteers to react to these words of Je

Welcome to all of you who are in Taizé these days! We are glad to welcome you, whether you have been here for a week, a few days, or even if you only arrived today. Some of you already need to leave this evening, so I promise our meeting will be brief. Today we celebrate St Francis of Assisi, someone loved by all Christians of the Western tradition and even beyond. We know him above all for his radical choice to leave everything to follow Christ poor, gentle and humble of heart. Far from isolati

While the man [who had been healed] held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, thou

Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not what I want but what you want.” Then he came to

The rain has come to wash away the summer dust and quench the parched land around us. We too are thirsting for what was tired and discouraged in us to be washed away, so that renewal and meaning in our own lives, as we seek to deepen our commitments in faith and also in society, can become reality I would like to say a heartfelt welcome to all of you who have come to share in this week of reflection on the theme of “Justice and Peace”​. I would like to say a big thank you to all who have spoken

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all. He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken. Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. (Psalm 33/34:

Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way