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Greetings to each and everyone of you.


This section for English-speaking viewers –
and all those enjoying the culture –

has developed over the months and is now offering materials of all kinds:

texts, images, poems, videos, etc.

It will continue to provide you with rich contents week after week.

 

The Alphabet of Lent – Letter X

19 mars 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: different, disciples, human interaction, Mark 9:38-40, motivation, strangers, teaching of Christ, xenophobia

X for xenophobia

A word that, you have guessed, is not found in the texts of the gospel.
But the reality to which it refers is really there, and Jesus has addressed it openly.
It is about a scene which is perhaps less known, but it has an important message for us (Mark 9:38-40).

“Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name
and we told him to stop,
because he was not one of us.”

Some of us – many of us perhaps? – would react as John did.
John was known as the disciple Jesus especially loved…
Yet, he still needed to learn an important lesson from his Master.

We may feel uneasy at John’s initiative.
To forbid someone to drives out demons in the name of Jesus is not an attitude that is without consequence.
What prompts this act, the motivation that inspires it, is reprehensible.
Jesus does not fail to correct his apostle:

“Do not stop him,” Jesus said.
“For no one who does a miracle in my name
can in the next moment say anything bad about me,
for whoever is not against us is for us”.

A definition of xenophobia, easy to understand, describes it as hostility towards strangers.
In other words: we keep at a distance from those who do not belong to our own group.

Those people are not from among us, and we do not want them to meddle in what concerns us!
Their way of speaking, their manners, displease us.
We suspect them, we consider them ‘strange’ – are they not precisely ‘strangers’?
It can even be that, secretly, seeing them different from us, we may judge them… less good than we are!

The words of Jesus remain as appropriate in this 21st century as they were in the first century:
“Whoever is not against us is for us”.

A lesson that we need to learn and not only as regards religious practice.
Social relations, group interactions, daily meetings –
it is our whole human interaction that must be inspired by the teaching of Christ.

He expects no less from those who call themselves his disciples…

 

Source: Image: Scripture Images

The Alphabet of Lent – Letter W

18 mars 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: beautiful, enthusiasm, good, Luke 10:17, Matthew 11:25-26, Psalm 40:5, well, wonder, wow

W for Wonder

There are words which, while having the same spelling, can have different meanings.
This is the case with the word: WONDER.

One can be wondering in the sense that he/she is asking questions about a certain thing.
He is wondering about the truth of a statement, while she is wondering whether her friend will call her.
But a person can be filled with wonder at the splendor of a landscape.

The second meaning of the word is retained for this reflection.
The word itself is not found as such in the gospel, but its meaning is revealed in certain scenes.
It expresses something which cause enthusiasm.
A situation, an experience that provokes surprise, admiration, awe.
One cannot prevent oneself to voice his/her wonderment!

A scene from the gospel depicts well such a reaction.
It is about the disciples who return after having been sent by Jesus to preach and to heal the sick.
They come back very happy at the result of their apostolic efforts.

“The seventy-two returned with joy and said,
“Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name” (Luke 10:17).

It seems that their positive experience has gone beyond what they had anticipated,
and they describe to Jesus their surprise and their joy.

Jesus himself had, one day, what we could call his ‘WOW’ moment – a moment of real wonder.
He was then expressing to his Father his admiration for the privileged revelation given to the little ones:

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned,
and revealed them to little children.
Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do” (Matthew 11:25-26).

If someone asked you of you ever had such a ‘WOW moment’…
Could you recall, in your mind, a situation when you spontaneously exclaimed: ‘WOW’! ?

Lent can prove a period that is especially appropriate to find again a spirit of admiration –
admiration for all that is WELL, BEAUTIFUL, and GOOD…

And, also, to give thanks to God who gives us to live such moments –
when we are possessed by wonderment, filled with enthusiasm!

The Psalmist had tasted those moments when he said:
“Lord, my God, many are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us…
Were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare” (Psalm 40:5).

It is up to us to make a personalized version of his text…

 

Source: Image: Scripture Images

Global Recycling Day – 18 March 2024

18 mars 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: climate emergency, environment, fire, global temperatures, greener future, natural resources, planet, recycling, throwing away, waste

Every year, the Earth yields billions of tons of natural resources and at some point, in the not too distant future, it will run out.

That’s why we must think again about what we throw away – seeing not waste, but opportunity.

The last decade has been the hottest on record, and we are now facing a climate emergency of unparalleled proportions. If we don’t make significant and rapid changes, we will see continued rising global temperatures, the melting of icecaps, continents on fire and rapid deforestation.

This directly affects humanity with increased poverty, immigration from displaced communities, job losses, waste mountains and natural habitats disappearing. We have the power to make lasting changes to combat this, and with recycling being recognized in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030, we are already seeing many individuals, governments and organisations taking direct action to support the global green agenda.

Recycling is a key part of the circular economy, helping to protect our natural resources. Each year the ‘Seventh Resource’ (recyclables) saves over 700 million tonnes in CO2 emissions and this is projected to increase to 1 billion tons by 2030. There is no doubt recycling is on the front line in the war to save the future of our planet and humanity.

The Global Recycling Foundation is pleased to announce the theme of Global Recycling Day 2024 as #RecyclingHeroes. This will recognise the people, places and activities that showcase what an important role recycling plays in contributing to an environmentally stable planet and a greener future which will benefit all.

Global Recycling Day was created in 2018 to help recognise, and celebrate, the importance recycling plays in preserving our precious primary resources and securing the future of our planet. It is a day for the world to come together and put the planet first.

The mission of Global Recycling Day, as set out by the Global Recycling Foundation, is twofold:

1. To tell world leaders that recycling is simply too important not to be a global issue, and that a common, joined up approach to recycling is urgently needed.

2. To ask people across the planet to think resource, not waste, when it comes to the goods around us – until this happens, we simply won’t award recycled goods the true value and repurpose they deserve.

 

Source: text & Images: https://www.globalrecyclingday.com/

 

5th Sunday of Lent, Year B – 2024

16 mars 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: covenant, forgiveness, Jeremiah 31:31-34, promises, Psalm 119:11.50.133.162, Révélation, sins

God has made himself known to us, human beings, little by little.
Our minds and hearts needed to understand what kind of a God our God is, but this had to happen gradually.
The texts of the Bible show us how this has taken place over centuries.
It is through events and situations, and the people involved in them, that God revealed himself.

The 1st reading of today’s celebration is a very important text in terms of revelation (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
Through the prophet Jeremiah, God makes himself known as a God of covenant and promises.
It gives us a message that is astonishing:

“I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah…
“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God, and they will be my people…
I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

A covenant is a term that is not used frequently in our daily conversations –
we think more in terms of an agreement, or a plan of cooperation.
Between them, heads of states will come to a deal, or an understanding of mutual assistance.
As for promises, they are indeed part of our daily life, for better or for worse, some may say…

As far as God is concerned, it is as if he could not speak… otherwise than promising good things to people!
He knows that in terms of covenant… our own record is not glorious…
And the same can be said about our way of keeping our promises to him…

Yet, again and again, he will renew his plan of a relationship with us –
a relationship that is ongoing, through thick and thin.
God will not abandon us no matter if we go away from him.
He keeps on trying to reach us – wherever we are – to win our friendship.

For that, he is ready to say, to repeat, to promise:
“I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Our response can be that of the Psalmist:

“I have treasured your promises in my heart, I have no wish to sin against you.”
“This has been my comfort in my suffering: that your promise gives me life.”
“Direct my steps as you have promised, let evil win no power over me.”
I rejoice in your promise, like someone on finding a vast treasure.” (Psalm 119:11,50,133,162)

 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/5-e-dimanche-du-careme-annee-b-2024/

 

Source: Image: Scripture Images

The Alphabet of Lent – Letter V

15 mars 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: disciples of Christ, hear and follow, John 10:27, John 10:4-6, Psalm 95:7, shepherd, the 'small voice', voice

V for Voice

The voice of a person is something very particular.
The intonation, the pronunciation, the rhythm – everything is characteristic of this individual.
There are voices which are soft, warm, comforting, seducing…
And there are others which are… completely the opposite!

Even in the distance, the voice of someone can be recognized by its tone.
A familiar voice invites us, or makes us turn back, according to the relationship of the person with us.

Jesus has used this reality to describe precisely our relationship with him.
He takes the example of a shepherd and he says:
 
“He (the shepherd) goes on ahead of the sheep,
and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 
But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him
because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 
Jesus used this figure of speech…” (John 10:4-6).

Jesus continues and makes the text personal:
“My sheep listen to my voice;
I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

This comparison had something familiar to the people listening to Jesus –
some of them were probably shepherds who knew the ways of their flocks.

Even though, nowadays, we may not spontaneously think of ourselves – disciples of Christ –
as sheep, his words reach us and speak to our hearts…
Because this is exactly what he desires: to reach us in the depths of ourselves.

Obviously, his message is not audible as the words of people around us are.
We cannot measure the sound of his words with a precise number of decibels.
It is not the resonance that is important but… the relationship!

This is what God wants: an intimate relationship with us – a relationship that expresses 
his proximity,
his attention to all that touches us,
his desire to answer our needs.

If only we know how to perceive his voice…
discern his message…
and… answer it…

Some people speak of ‘the small voice’ which they perceive in the depths of themselves…
It could be translated as an intimate call, an inspiration, a discreet invitation…

The voice of him who revealed himself as “The Good Shepherd” could manifest itself in this way…

Then, there remains only to follow the advice of the Psalmist:
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7).

 

Source: Image: Public Domain Pictures

World Social Work Day – 19 March 2024

15 mars 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: achievement, planning, profession, raise awareness, social work, support

Celebrated on March 15th is some French-speaking areas

Every year, World Social Work Day is celebrated across the world on the third Tuesday of March, and events are organized throughout the month of March. The day is an opportunity for social workers and others in the social service sector to celebrate their achievements as well as to raise awareness and support for the important role that social workers play in the lives of children, families and communities facing adversity. The day calls attention to the need for further planning, development and support to the profession and social service sector.  

The next World Social Work Day takes place on the 19 March 2024. The theme is ‘Buen Vivir: Shared Future for Transformative Change’, which emphasizes the need for social workers to adopt innovative, community-led approaches that are grounded in indigenous wisdom and harmonious coexistence with nature. 

Source: Text & Image: https://www.socialserviceworkforce.org/world-social-work-day

World Consumer Rights Day – 15 March

15 mars 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: consumer rights, global awareness, needs, pressing issues, UN

The consumer movement marks 15th March with World Consumer Rights Day every year, as a means of raising global awareness about consumer rights and needs. Celebrating the day is a chance to demand that the rights of all consumers are respected and protected, and to protest against market abuses and social injustices which undermine those rights. 

World Consumer Rights Day is globally recognised with support from the United Nations and other international actors. For 40 years Consumers International has run the campaign, uniting the consumer movement to celebrate together. Consumers International Members help to select the campaign topic each year to help mobilise global action on pressing issues impacting consumers.  

 

Source: Text: https://www.consumersinternational.org/    Image: https://www.wincalendar.com/in/Consumer-Rights-Day

The Alphabet of Lent – Letter U

14 mars 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: denominations, groups of Christians, John 11:41-42, John 17:21, Luke 11:1-4, Matthew 11:25-26, prayer of Jesus, Unity

U for Unity

We pray, of course, we all have our favourite formulas to address God.
We present multiple requests to him, and we also thank him.
It is possible that we ask ourselves the question: When he was praying to his father, how did Jesus do this?

One day, his apostles having seen him pray, asked him to teach them to pray.
We know that he then taught them the prayer of the Our Father (Luke 11:1-4).
But we still think: he, himself, how did he pray?

Apart from his prayer during his agony in the Garden of Olives, and his petition on the cross, we know little of his personal prayer.

One day, marveling at the faith of simple people, he exclaimed:
“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned,
and revealed them to little children” (Matthew 11:25-26).

On another occasion, before bringing Lazarus back to life, he addressed his Father, saying:
“Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 
I knew that you always hear me,
but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, 
that they may believe that you sent me” (John 11:41-42).

These two texts are meaningful.
Yet, there is another one which I think of – it is the prayer Jesus pronounced on the eve of his death, a solemn moment indeed.
It was during the Jewish Passover meal and, at the end of the meal, Jesus said:

“That all of them may be one, Father,
just as you are in me, and I am in you. 
May they also be in us,
so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21).

This text makes clearly known to us the desire of Jesus for us, believers.
But more than 2,000 years after he prayed in this way, his desire is still… waiting to be realized…
The groups of those who call themselves disciples of Christ have been multiplied in an amazing manner…

The groups of Christians have become diversified according to their different beliefs…
Worse still, their way of treating each other is sometimes deplorable…
Of course, there are praiseworthy efforts to come really closer to one another but… there is still a long way to go.

Travelling, one day, in a foreign country, I found myself at a crossroads of four streets.
On the site of three of them, there was a church built for the Christians of different denominations.
Of course, all of them claimed that Christ was with them…

We need to learn how to pray as Jesus did, and pray with him, HIS prayer…

 

Source: Image: Scripture Images

The Alphabet of Lent – Letter T

13 mars 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: 2 Corinthians 6:2, God near, God's proximity, invitation to change, Luke 17:22, Mark 1:14-15, time, time of God's favor

 T for Time

Time – we speak about it in many ways:
“The time comes… Time passes… Time flies…
I don’t have time… If you had time… If there is time…”

Obviously, time is measured in different ways according to the beliefs of people.
So there are calendars called: Gregorian, Hebrew, Moslem, Hindu, Chinese, etc.

But why exactly do we strive to measure time?…
Could it be that we have some relationship with time?

Jesus has spoken about time, precisely at different moments of his existence.
One day, he has said to his apostles, in a rather mysterious manner:

“The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man,
but you will not see it (Luke 17:22).

But, at the beginning of his preaching to people, Jesus went to Galilea and he spoke these words:

“The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near.
Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:14-15).

“The time that has come, it is God who is near – this is the “Good News of God”

In Jesus, God has made himself near – year after year, in this our time,
this is what we celebrate at Christmas!
God’s proximity, a piece of good news as none other!

It remains a permanent invitation to change our ways, our attitudes, our behaviour,
to adjust them to God’s own!
Has he not created us in his image?

The period of Lent represents what the apostle Paul speaks about:
“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

“The time that has come… the time of God’s favor…” It is here now!

 

Source: Images: DailyVerses.net    unsplash.com (Towfiqu Barbhuiya)  

The Alphabet of Lent – Letter S

12 mars 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: body language, John 2:1-11, Lent, Mark 8:13, Matthew 21:12-13, meaning, message, signs

S for Signs

Signs are part of communication.
We wave our hand as we leave someone.
We shake our head to refuse something.
We wink to a word spoken in jest.
We open wide our eyes in surprise.
We frown to show disapproval.

All these signs are part of what we call body language.

But there are other signs –
those displayed in an attitude expressing a conviction, or a decision.
In anger, we suddenly leave a meeting with colleagues.
Or, we go out of a room banging the door.

Occasionally, Jesus used such signs in relation to people around.

To the Pharisees who asked him precisely for a sign coming from heaven, Jesus replied that they would not get such a sign; he left them there and got back into the boat (Mark 8:13).
Another very telling example is that showing Jesus chasing the traders in the Temple (Matthew 21:12-13).
 
There are other signs that we could describe as symbolic –
perhaps more difficult to interpret, they may have a deep meaning.

The gospel of John proposes a typical scene which opens up an unexpected perspective.
It is that of the Wedding of Cana (John 2:1-11).
The narrative is well known where we see Jesus who, on the request of his mother, will change water into wine for the feast.
The gospel writer uses precisely this word: “This was the first of the signs given by Jesus”.

Of course, it was a miracle, and the other gospel writers will use this word rather than the one used by John: a ‘sign’.

This sign announces what Jesus will be for us: the presence of God among us to come to our aid.
God sharing our daily life – as it is taking place in a wedding celebration – to reveal his presence to us.

And all the signs that he gives us from day to day…
Do we know how to recognize them, and discover their message?…

The period of Lent is a good time to get used to doing this…

 

Note: In the following video (in French), Nadia Labrecque continues to reflect on this sur scene of the Wedding of Cana : https://youtu.be/j1zn0Tp3B58?si=eHy6N9VdMokPmYz5

 

Source: Image: unsplash.com (Jorge Bermudez)       The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints