Walking to the well, as usual, what was she thinking this Samaritan woman?
She could not imagine what was awaiting her there!
A man, a Jew, a teacher, no, THE Teacher
and the giver of the water she was thirsty for!
See also: http://image-i-nations.com/3rd-sunday-of-lent-year-a/
There is much in our lives which is expressed in the… conditional form !
Our conversations often run along these lines: ‘If only I had said this…’ ‘If only he had done that…’ ‘If only she had gone there…’
In the gospel of this 3rd Sunday of Lent (Jn. 4: 5-15-19-26.39-42), it is Jesus himself who uses such words: “If you only knew…”
As she usually does, a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well and she found Jesus there.
She does not know him and she is astonished – and rather shocked – that he asks her for water.
Their exchange is lively and the woman is not shy to speak her mind but suddenly the tone of the conversation changes… it become somehow much more personal and deeper too.
Then Jesus speaks these words: “If you only knew…” and goes on saying: “what God is offering.”
Do we know, REALLY, what God is offering?…
Do we know who our God is – the kind of God he is, the God he wants to be for us?
In the 1st reading (Ex 17, 3-7), we have heard the Israelite asking: “Is God with us or not?”
At times, we may ask ourselves the same question…
Do we know that God is, REALLY with us, having decided to make his home in us (Jn.14:23).
And in Jesus he offers us the water that satisfies our thirst.
This can take the form of light in our dark moments…
Inspiration when we should make a choice or take a decision…
Strength when we just can’t cope any longer…
Comfort when we feel unable to face life’s problems…
Guidance when we are wondering which direction to give our lives…
Long before the time of Jesus, in the words of the prophet Jeremiah, God was lamenting:
“My people have abandoned me, the fountain of living water,
only to dig cisterns for themselves,
leaky cisterns that hold no water.” (Jer.2:13)
Are we doing the same… when the source of living water is offered to us?…
IF WE ONLY KNEW………..
Voir aussi: http://image-i-nations.com/the-samaritan-woman-2/
The International Day of Action for Rivers ( former titel International Day against Dams, for Rivers, Water, and Life) was inspired and mandated by the 
participants of the First International Meeting of People Affected by Dams that took place in March, 1997 in Curitiba, Brazil.
The decade since the mid-1980s has seen the emergence of an international movement against current dam-building practices. The movement is comprised of thousands of environmental, human rights, and social activist groups on all the world’s continents except Antarctica. It coalesced from a multitude of local, regional and national anti-dam campaigns and a smaller number of support groups working at an international level.
Dam builders recognize and bemoan its effectiveness. ICOLD President Wolfgang Pircher warned the British Dam Society in 1992 that the industry faced ‘a serious general counter-movement that has already succeeded in reducing the prestige of dam engineering in the public eye, and it is starting to make work difficult for our profession.’ The earliest successful anti-dam campaigns were mostly led by conservationists trying to preserve wilderness areas. Until recently, resistance from those directly impacted by dams was usually defeated.
Since the 1970s, however, directly affected people have gained the power to stop dams, mostly because they have built alliances with sympathetic outsiders – environmentalists, human rights and democracy activists, peasants’ and indigenous peoples’ organizations, fishers and recreationists. The rise of environmentalism has greatly helped the opponents of dams – and anti-dam campaigns have in many countries played an important role in the growth of national environmental movements. Other factors contributing to the emergence of the international movement have been the overthrow of authoritarian regimes and the spread of modern communication technologies.
Source: ERN European Rivers Network Image: FacebookLEAVING… there is much leaving in a human life, we know it.
We leave our house for another as we want better accommodation.
We leave a means of transport choosing another more efficient one.
We leave perhaps our job having been offered a better salary somewhere else
We leave some old clothes, looking for more appropriate ones.
We leave, of course, this old software for a more up-to-date one.
It is hard to imagine the situation described by the 1st reading which shows Abram told plainly and simply: “Leave your country…” (Gn.12:1-4).
And for which country? He is not told, he only receives the promise that he will be shown where to go when the time comes.
Other promises are given to him but everything is expressed in the future tense…
Yet, when God stops speaking, the next sentence says: “Abram went as the Lord had told him.”
No doubting, no questioning, no hesitation – he leaves.
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews will say: “It was by faith that Abraham set out… that he set out without knowing where he was going” (He.11:8).
We may leave… with difficulty perhaps, some old habits, some cherished customs.
We may leave… with hesitation probably, some traditions favoured by people around us.
We may leave… or do we? Our long-held beliefs, our pseudo-values…
But perhaps the ‘country’ we are to leave is our… ‘old self’ – the selfish, arrogant, narrow-minded self, the one needing to be transformed by the One who, himself, has been transfigured.
LENT time, a time of setting out, of moving, of LEAVING all that prevents us from being the person God meant us to be. Indeed!
« The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights, » says world-renowned feminist, journalist and social and political activist Gloria Steinem. Thus International Women’s Day is all about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action – whatever that looks like globally at a local level. But one thing is for sure, International Women’s Day has been occurring for well over a century – and continues to grow from strength to strength.
2017 and beyond
The world has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women’s and society’s thoughts about women’s equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation may feel that ‘all the battles have been won for women’ while many feminists from the 1970’s know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women’s visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality.
The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women’s education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men. However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices.
And so each year the world inspires women and celebrates their achievements. IWD is an official holiday in many countries including Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother’s Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.
A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more. Many global corporations actively support IWD by running their own events and campaigns. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google often changes its Google Doodle on its global search pages to honor IWD. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status.
So make a difference, think globally and act locally! Make everyday International Women’s Day.
On March 3, 2017, Christians in more than 170 countries and in 2,000 communities across Canada will gather to learn about, pray, and celebrate in solidarity with the women of The Philippines through the World Day of Prayer.
Observed on the first Friday in March, World Day of Prayer is a global, ecumenical movement of Christian women joined together to observe a common day of prayer.
Through World Day of Prayer, we affirm our faith in Jesus Christ and engage with the whole world, are enriched by the faith experience of Christians of other countries and cultures, share the burdens of other people by praying with them and for them, and use our own talents in the service of God’s world. Prayer and action are inseparable and both have immeasurable influence in the world.
We are all familiar with the use of magnets. A mechanic finds very useful a screwdriver with a magnet to gather screws and bolts.
A seamstress also sees as very practical her scissors with a magnet to pick up pins scattered on the floor.
And many of us have those small magnetic items stuck on the door of the fridge as ‘Bear in mind’ 
message holders.
These items exert a strong pull on different objects and, as such, I find them an excellent example to illustrate what… temptation is!
For this is very much the theme of this 1st Sunday of Lent, Year A.
What is a temptation really?
We all know it… from experience!
It is a strong pull, a powerful urge awakening in us a desire.
It leads us to want, to want urgently, absolutely, something… someone…
The scene of Jesus’ temptations in today’s gospel (Mt.4:1-11) shows temptation emerging mostly in 3 areas – the areas of… the 3 Ps: Pride – Power – Pleasure.
And our own lives will provide occasions a-plenty, for temptation to manifest itself in the same 3 areas:
PRIDE: Too much arrogance – Not enough respect for others.
POWER: Too much domination – Not enough compassion.
PLEASURE: Too much selfish enjoyment – Not enough true joy shared with others.
Lent is a good period to look precisely at this: the too much and the not enough aspects of our lives and… to increase and to diminish the respective amounts according to the gospel message!
Last Sunday (8th Sunday of the Year, A) we were reflecting on the idea of ‘painting’- painting with colours and paintbrushes.
Throughout history people have tried to paint even… GOD – at least, what they thought God was like!
Still today, artists try to do the same.
But we said that we also ‘paint’ with words.
Describing things, situations and people and thus creating an image of them.
We said that we do this also with… GOD.
Saints, spiritual writers, religious leaders, all of them try to give us a picture of God.
At the beginning of this period of Lent, the same theme comes again.
The prophet Joel, in the 1st reading (Joel 2:12-18), is the one who gives us an idea – a picture – of… God’s personality!
The text says:
“Your God is all tenderness and compassion,
slow to anger, rich in graciousness,
and ready to relent…
Who knows if he will not leave a blessing as he passes.”
Simple words, a clear message, a description in human terms, with concepts familiar to us, telling us who God is. God’s character, if we can speak in these terms, is one of tenderness, of compassion, of graciousness, of readiness to forgive and forget our failings and failures.
Who would not want to experience personally such acceptance, such mercy, such love?
Only one thing is required for this experience to be ours:
“It is the Lord who speaks,
‘Come back to me with all your heart’…”
What Rare Disease Day is about
28 February 2017 marks the tenth international Rare Disease Day coordinated by EURORDIS. On and around this day hundreds of patient organisations from countries and regions all over the world will hold awareness-raising activities based on the theme of research.
What is a Rare Disease?
A rare disease, also referred to as an orphan disease, is any disorder that affects a small percentage of the population. Although the disease may be rare, patients and families share a common struggle.
Living with a Rare Disease, Day-by-day, Hand in hand Theme for 2017
Research is key. It brings hope to the millions of people living with a rare disease across the world and their families.
Rare Disease Day in Canada
Patient organisations in Canada have engaged in Rare Disease Day since its first year in 2008, arranging gala dinners and exchanges between researchers and patients, as well as regional events across Canada.
Highlights in 2016 included an event in Ontario where people blew over 7000 bubbles to represent the total number of rare diseases. In Ajax, there was also a rare disease Expo, which offered potential solutions to create inclusive, accessible communities.
The Canadian National Alliance, the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD), serves as the voice for the estimated 1 in 12 Canadians affected by a rare disease. They can be contacted directly to help you find a patient organisation locally which may have more information about a specific rare disease or disorder.
We can paint pictures – with paintbrushes and colours.
A stroke here, a line there, a brushing here, an addition there and… we get an image, a representation of something, of someone.
But we can also paint… with words: the description of a scene, the evocation of an event, the allusion to a reality and… we also get an image.
An image that suggests, that recalls, that recaptures what is in the mind.
We do it for all kinds of things, and situations, and people.
We do it also for… GOD!
Many artists have attempted to give pictures of the Almighty in his glory surrounded by angels and saints.
They have created, literally, images of God as their imagination suggested.
We may feel inspired, or not, by their work, but their aim was to present us with something of God’s personality, if we can speak in those terms.
Spiritual writers have attempted the same: give us a ‘portrait’ of God as they saw him.
They have been trying to provide us with a picture of God that could inspire us.
The glimpse of God which their writings were giving was meant to awake within us sentiments of awe, of trust, of hope.
Perhaps one of the most tenderly descriptive images of God is that which Isaiah give us in the first reading of this 8th Sunday, Year A (Is.49:14-15).
“Does a woman forget her baby at the breast,
or fail to cherish the son of her womb?
Yet, even if these forget,
I will never forget you.”
God caring, God remembering the needs of a beloved child, God unable to forget his precious one.
If only we, too, could… never forget!