For December 27, the liturgical calendar lists the feast of Saint John, the apostle and evangelist,
the very one known as « the beloved disciple. »
In the following video, he presents himself and speaks of the Master who had called him…
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.
Christmas, Year C
Some years ago, I saw a Christmas card of a very unusual design. It depicted the star of Bethlehem, shining bright. And the shadow this star cast on the ground had the shape of… a cross.
Quite a prophetic expression and a unique evocation of the meaning of the Nativity. More than once, I searched the web in vain to find back this illustration. But the message has remained with me…
From the darkness of the Christmas night in Bethlehem to the darkness of Golgotha, a LIGHT has shone – the very one which has led the prophet Isaiah to say:
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Is.9:2)
And of the coming of Jesus in our world, the apostle John said with conviction:
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (Jn.1:5)
The light of him who could say:
“I am the Light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (Jn.8:12)
“The light of life” this is the gift of Christmas offered to us by God himself.
A unique gift, the one we can’t do without!
Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/noel-annee-c/
Source: Image: youtube
4th Sunday of Advent, Year C
Just a few days before Christmas, many of us are rushing – hurrying to do this, to go there, to buy that. So many things to do, so many tasks to see to, so many people to contact…
So much, so many – it seems a mountain to climb to accomplish all that we are faced with before…
Before what?… Well… before Christmas!
The gospel text of today (4th Sunday of Advent, Year C – Luke 1:39-45) shows us Mary, precisely before Christmas. She, too, is in a hurry, we are told, and she too has a mountain to climb (at least, a hill, as the text describes it).
“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country…”
She has just been visited by an angel, she has been asked to be the mother of God’s own Son and… she goes – she gets ready and moves on, not for herself but to help someone else. 
Some people would have expected her to stay home and reflect on what has just happened… Reflect, meditate, contemplate, adore – of course! Yes, of course, she will do all that, I believe… on the way!
Perhaps our own way to prepare for Christmas could be similar to hers: Reflect, meditate. contemplate, adore… in the midst of all the chores and duties that we are faced with.
If that way was good enough for her, should it not be good enough for us?!
Source: Image: infovisual.com
Note: another reflection is available on a different theme at:
3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C
There are many things said about God. Teachers and preachers, theologians and scripture scholars, give us much information on who God is. Some of their words may inspire us, others leave us skeptic, or indifferent perhaps.
The first and second readings of this Sunday (3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C) tell us something most important. Something which is, in fact, astonishing.
To the Christians of Philippi (Ph4:4-7), the apostle Paul says: “God is near.”
And the prophet Zephaniah (Ze.3:14-18) adds: “The Lord is in you.”
From ancient times, human beings have tried to reach God. Amazingly, it is God who is trying to draw our attention, more still draw us to himself.
Today’s message, in a nutshell, could read: GOD IS REAL, GOD IS NEAR!
This short text could find itself on the social media.
It should find itself at the heart of… our faith and our lives!
Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/3e-dimanche-de-lavent-annee-c/
Source: Image: HCliffCraig.com
2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C
Daily life imposes on us a fair share of difficult things to do –
- tasks to take care of
- chores to be done
- appointments to remember
- commitments to honour…
Some pleasant perhaps, others much less so.
We feel obliged, day in, day out, to make efforts, to overcome our inclination to take things a little easy.
We may have the impression that we must constantly… stretch ourselves!
So, it comes as good news indeed when someone offers to take his/her share of the burden.
God himself is ready to do so!
This is exactly what is offered to us on this Sunday (2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C – Ph.1:4-6,8-11).
In the second reading, we hear Paul assuring the Philippians of this:
“I am quite certain that the one who began this good work in you
will see that it is finished.”
The good work is the one mentioned in last Sunday’s text of Paul to the Thessalonians (1 Th.3:12 – 4:2):
living a life pleasing to God, aiming at being holy.
Surely not a life-style that is easy to make our own!
But we are not asked, or expected, to do this by ourselves – we forget this so easily!
It is GOD’S WORK IN US.
In the chapter following the one of today’s reading, Paul will repeat to the first Christians:
“It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Ph.2:13)
It cannot be clearer: why are we so reluctant to believe it and… rely on it?!
Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/2e-dimanche-de-lavent-annee-c/
Source: Image: Pinterest
International Volunteer Day – 5 December 2018
The United Nations (UN) annually observes the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development on December 5. The day, which is also known as International Volunteer Day (IVD), gives volunteers a chance to work together on projects and campaigns promoting their contributions to economic and social development at local, national and international levels.
Each year UN General Assembly invites governments to observe the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development on December 5 (A/RES/40/212 of 17 December 1985). As a result of the resolution from December 17, 1985, governments, the UN, and civil society organizations work together with volunteers around the world to celebrate the Day on December 5 each year.
In 2001, the International Year of Volunteers, the Assembly adopted a set of recommendations on ways that governments and the UN could support volunteering and asked that they be widely disseminated. The International Year of Volunteers aimed to stimulate national and international policy debate around, and to advocate for, recognizing, facilitating, networking and promoting voluntary action. The year led to a much better appreciation of the power of volunteerism in its many forms and the ways to support it.
Source: Text: www.timeanddate.com Image: volunteeringnz.org.nz
International Day of Persons with Disabilities – 3 December
The estimated one billion people living with disabilities worldwide face many barriers to inclusion in many key aspects of society. As a result, people with disabilities do not enjoy access to society on an equal basis with others, which includes areas of transportation, employment, and education as well as social and political participation.
The right to participate in public life is essential to create stable democracies, active citizenship and reduce inequalities in society.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities falls on the 3rd of December each year, with the aim of promoting empowerment, and helping to create real opportunities for people with disabilities. This enhances their own capacities and supports them in setting their own priorities.
Empowerment involves investing in people – in jobs, health, nutrition, education, and social protection. When people are empowered they are better prepared to take advantage of opportunities, they become agents of change and can more readily embrace their civic responsibilities.
Source: Text: www.awaarenessdays.com Image: UN
1st Sunday of Advent, Year C
Of all the prophets we are familiar with, Jeremiah may not stand out as a prophet of… joy!
He is well-known for his Lamentations!
Yet on this 1st Sunday of Advent his message is a reassuring one (Jer.33:14-16).
He tells us who our God is as he speaks of him as:
“The Lord-our-integrity”.
Is it not encouraging to know that the integrity we strive for is ours… in the Lord?
The perfection we make efforts to achieve is… a given!
The holiness we are told we should aim at is offered to us –
it is being fashioned in us by God himself!
Of course, we must strive, and make efforts, and do our best,
but all of this in order to welcome God-our-integrity.
This is the true meaning of Advent!
Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/1er-dimanche-de-lavent-annee-c
Source: Image: Chabad.org
34th Sunday of Year B – Feast of Christ the King
If you were to see the Prime Minister helping the janitor to clean the offices,
you would probably be shocked.
If you came to meet the CEO of a big company and found him serving at table during the Christmas party,
you would probably be astonished.
If you saw the General Manager of the National Bank washing dishes in a refugee center,
you would most likely be amazed.
And yet… yet… God, OUR God is a… servant-God!
Are we not amazed? Astonished? Shocked?
He never wore a crown other than a crown of thorns. 
Are we ready to accept this kind of King?
Accept this King and be ready to serve one another as he asked us to do –
having done it for us all his life unto death? (Jn.13:14-17)
Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/34e-dimanche-de-lannee-/fete-du-christ-roi/
Source : Image : 123RF.com
Universal Children’s Day – 20 November
The United Nations’ (UN) Universal Children’s Day, which was established in 1954, is celebrated on November 20 each year to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide. UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, promotes and coordinates this special day, which also works towards improving children’s welfare.
Background
On December 14, 1954, the UN General Assembly recommended that all countries should introduce an annual event from 1956 known as Universal Children’s Day to encourage fraternity and understanding between children all over the world and promoting the welfare of children. It was recommended that individual countries should choose an appropriate date for this occasion.
At the time, the UN General Assembly recommended that all countries should establish a Children’s Day on an “appropriate” date. Many of the countries respected this recommendation and the Universal Children’s Day has since been annually observed on November 20. There are however, some countries, such as Australia and India, which still chose various different dates during the year to celebrate this day.
On November 20, 1959, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and on November 20, 1989, it adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since 1990, Universal Children’s Day also marks the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted both the declaration and the convention on children’s rights.