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2nd Sunday of Easter, Year A – 2023

14 avril 2023
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: aware, belief, challenge, commitment, Easter season, faith, gospel, Mark 9:24, option, unbelief

In this day and age, surveys are commonplace.
People want to know what others think about different subjects.
They want to be aware of how their fellowmen and women feel about many topics.
So, journalists, reporters, and others involved in the media, submit questionnaires –
questionnaires asking about the opinions and reactions to the headlines that make up the news.

What if someone came to you and asked: “What is FAITH for YOU?”

Some people may refuse categorically to answer what they see as a personal question.
Others may say that they do not believe, so they consider this question irrelevant.
There are some who will reply that they believe, that’s all – they do not feel the need to articulate what believing means.
A few may admit that… they do not know the words to explain what faith is really about.

The gospel texts of the Easter season can be a challenge to our faith.
At times, the narratives differ from one another as they present events and people in ways that vary.

This presents us with the option of becoming aware of what our faith is about.
Is it about a series of facts that we consider reliable?
Is it about a list of principles that we hold as true?
Is it about some teachings received long ago and accepted without question?
Is it about a set of values and attitudes that we see worthy of adoption as a way of life?

Or… is it the acceptance of someone we trust and rely upon, sure that he will never deceive us?
Someone we are convinced is truthful, reliable, and concerned about us personally?
Someone who, we dare believe, can never fail us, whatever the situation we find ourselves in?

Someone we are ready to commit ourselves to… for better or for worse?

To this someone, we are ready to say the words of the father of the epileptic boy:
“I do have faith, help the little faith I have.”  (Mark 9:24)

 

Note: In the following video, Arnold Rodriguez personifies Thomas, the apostle, who tells us what happened to him: https://youtu.be/kp1eb-oBH6w

Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/2e-dimanche-de-paques-annee…/ 

Source: Image: Crosscards.com

 

7th Sunday of Year A – 2023

17 février 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23, aware, home, hope, John 14:23, joy, questioning, relationship with God, surprise, temple of God, wonder

Reading the word of God in the Bible, one can experience all kinds of feelings:

joy and consolation,
hope and anticipation,
wonder and questioning,
regret, perhaps… or helplessness?…

But there are times when the feeling is one of surprise – total and unexpected amazement!
The first lines of today’s 2nd reading can awaken such a reaction.
Writing to the Corinthians, Paul somehow admonishes them in these words (1 Corinthians 3:16-23):

“Didn’t you realize that you were God’s temple,
and that the Spirit of God was living among you…
The temple of God is sacred; and you are that temple.”

These words are truly astonishing.
Just pause for a moment and ask yourself:
If, one day, someone came to you and asked you that very question:
‘Do you realize that YOU are God’s temple’, how would you answer?

I think that, faced with this situation, many people would be taken aback,
possibly unable – or unwilling – to answer!
How many of us, Christians, ARE AWARE of this reality?

A temple is seen as a sacred building since it is the location where worship happens.
It is considered to be a place for ritual celebrations.
In other words: it is reserved for activities related to God.

But, on the eve of his death, Jesus told his apostles (John 14:23):

“If anyone loves me, he(she), will keep my word,
my Father will love him(her),
and we shall come to him(her),
and make our home with him(her).”

With the word ‘home’, Jesus meant more than a building, or a simple location.
Obviously, he had in mind something that goes beyond wood or bricks.
Jesus was speaking of a relationship.

This is what we are called to: a relationship of close proximity with God.

Something amazing, yes, but more still:
something absolutely wonderful that needs to be discovered anew – and lived – day after day…

 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/7e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/

 

Source: Image: Scripture Images

 

6th Sunday of Easter, Year B – 2021

7 mai 2021
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: 1 Jn.4:7-10, aware, blessings, conscious, favors, first things God, initiative, Jn.1:16, prayers

Someone faced with many commitments and countless things to do may suddenly exclaim:

“First things first!”

It may be a good way to look at… our relationship with God!
This thought is suggested to us in the 2nd reading of this Sunday (1 Jn.4:7-10):

 “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us.” 

And, in the gospel, Jesus reminds us: (Jn.15:9-17):
“You did not choose me, but I chose you.”
 
God has loved us first – he is the one who has gifted us in all manner of things.
He has given us blessings of all kinds.
He has poured his favors into our lives, day after day.

The apostle John tells us:

“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (Jn.1:16)

Instead of thinking that we should first turn to God with prayers and offerings,
we should remember that he is the one who first turned to us drawing us to himself!

Remembering this, it is good on this day to say wholeheartedly:

“First things first!”

And… to live accordingly, that is:
to be truly conscious,
to be deeply aware,
to REAL – ize that, when it comes to love, God always takes the initiative!

 

Note: Another reflection on a different theme is available in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/6e-dimanche-de-paques-annee-b-2021/

 

Source: Images: 123RF   Corona SDA Church