image-i-nations trésor

Easter, Year A

« The disciples had failed to understand… that he must rise from the dead. » (Jn.20:1-9)

They had been with him for three years.
They had heard him teach day in, day out.
They had seen him cure so many people, even bringing dead people back to life.
And yet… “They had failed to understand…”

Amazingly, what triggered their faith was… some linen!
Yes, linen folded lying where he had been laid in the tomb.

I find these two short mentions encouraging.
Encouraging because, somehow, they describe what is often our personal experience.
In spite of all that the Lord has already done for us, often we fail to understand…
We cannot make sense of some happenings in our lives, some events in the world.
We simply do not see why things ‘MUST’ take place as they do.
To us, it really does not make sense!

Then, suddenly, we come upon a small thing, insignificant, very ordinary – like folded linen – and surprisingly, some meaning appears that had remained hidden till then.
The tiny piece of the big jigsaw puzzle of life fits into the many awkward ‘holes’ all around!

Life – Death – Resurrection – yes, it is true: He must rise from the dead. »

Source: Images: padredelisle.blogspot;  TurnbackToGod.com

5th Sunday of Lent, Year A

The publicity is well known that says: “A diamond is for ever.”
What is precious is the diamond, yes, but also the ‘FOR EVER’ aspect.
It answers our deep longing for something that will last, something that will endure.

The good and enjoyable experiences that we make, we would want them to last… for ever!
The fleeting moments of happiness are not enough for us.
The joyful moments of reunion are too soon ended, we would want them to go on and on.
And a deeply satisfying relationship, we would not want it to end, it should be… for ever!

In today’s gospel (5th Sunday of Lent, Year A – Jn.11:1-45) Jesus addresses this ‘for ever’ need.
Speaking with Martha who mourns the death of her brother, he opens up the perspective of life for ever –
a life that goes on beyond the grave.

He says: “If anyone believes in me,
even though he dies, he will live.”

The baby born with a rare disease without cure and whose life is ended in infancy.
The child suddenly killed in an accident.
The young person half conscious struggling between life and death.
The father or mother yesterday full of life and now… mysteriously close to death.
The elderly person, not yet ready to let go of the remaining life within a frail body.

For all of them, Jesus’ words are the answer to their deepest need: to live, yes, TO LIVE FOR EVER.

In the first reading, speaking in God’s name, the prophet Ezechiel (Ez.37:12-14) says:
“I mean to raise you from your graves, my people.”

And in the second reading, Paul writing to the first Christians of Rome tells them (Rom.8:8-11):
“He who raised Jesus from the dead
will give life to your own mortal body.”

One can accept a diamond or… refuse it…
One can believe these words… or ignore them…

 

One may also like to see the video at: http://image-i-nations.com/martha-of-bethany/

Source: Images: PNG images; catholicpreaching.com
 

3rd Sunday of the Year, A

‘Turn on the light,’ – it is an expression that we hear very often. All the more so in this mid-January period when the clouds seem to be ever present and darkness more obvious in the mornings and evenings. The solution is close at hand: we switch on the electric lamps which bring the desired illumination.

But, somehow, we sometimes feel that this kind of illumination is not sufficient. Our eyes may benefit from the additional light, but it seems that something else is missing… light for our minds for our hearts. The very kind that the prophet Isaiah speaks of in the 1st reading of this 3rd Sunday of the Year, A (Is.8:23 – 9:3). He says:

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light;
on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone.”

And with this light, come joy and a sense of liberation also provided by God for his people.

Reading these lines, some may think: “That happened long ago…” And it is true. But has God stopped doing this? I like to believe that he has not and that light, joy and a sense of liberation, are also there, ‘at hand’ so to speak, for us as well. Shadows and darkness need not envelop our days like a dark cloud.

And yet… at times, we feel they do… this dark cloud may take the form of our doubts, our worries and our fears. This is where a ‘great light’ is needed to dispel our inner darkness.

So, perhaps our often-repeated words can become a genuine prayer: ‘Turn on the light… please, Lord, YOUR light!’

Source: Images: Pixabay;   1wallpaper.net