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believing

2nd Sunday of Easter, Year B – 2024

5 avril 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: believing, Ephesians 3:20, events, facts, God's power, John 10:10, John 20:30-31, propositions


We have four different versions of the gospel.
Matthew and Mark, Luke and John, have each written an account of Jesus’ life.
They have recorded for us the words and actions of Jesus.
We can read about his preaching, his travelling through Palestine, his healing people.

The evangelists have not written in the form of what we call nowadays ‘a biography’.
Their purpose was not to relate all the details of Jesus’ life.
Coming close to the end of his text, John reveals to us his aim in writing:

“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples,
which are not recorded in this book.
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,
and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31).

Believing, not in a set of propositions – even if they are true.
Believing, not in a series of facts – even if they can be proved.
Believing, not in a list of events – even if they have really happened.

But believing ins SOMEONE – “Jesus as the Son of God”.

Believing in him… Trusting him… Relying on him…

John assures us that believing in this Man-God, Jesus, we will have life.
This is the very reason why Jesus came to live among us – he said it openly:

“I have come so that they (the people – all of us) may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Life now… Life later… Life for ever…
A life that exceeds all we could dream of, or hope for…

“God whose power works in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine…” (Ephesians 3:20).

 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/2e-dimanche-de-paques-annee-b-2024/

 

Source: Images: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

19th Sunday of Year B

10 août 2018
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: believing, certainty, daydreaming, dreaming, eternal life, John 6:41-51, real, sleep, trusting Jesus

There is… dreaming and dreaming!
When we are asleep, our unconscious has its own ways to bring to our slumber pictures and scenes that come unbidden.
But many of us also practise the art of… daydreaming and it is quite interesting what can come out of it!

A fertile imagination can place before us wonderful situations that we could only dream of.
While indulging into fancying successful activities, rewarding expeditions, and fascinating adventures of all kinds, most of us remain aware that it is purely that: fancying, imagining…

But, what if our wildest dreams turned out to become realities?
What if these things we hardly dare to picture were suddenly becoming REAL?

These thoughts came to me as I read the gospel of this Sunday (19th Sunday of Year B – John 6:41-51).
In that text, we hear Jesus speak astonishing words.

He says: “Everybody who believes has eternal life.”

Notice the verb is NOT in the future tense but the present.
Jesus is not promising something that will happen only later, only when certain conditions will have been met.
We want to go on living, we dream of remaining alive, enjoying life… without end.

And, amazingly, Jesus assures us that this happy situation is… already ours!
What he proclaims is not something that belongs to daydreaming or fancying.
It is not wishful thinking, it is REAL, here and now.

Reading this, many will shrug their shoulders saying: ‘How can we be sure of this?’
Of course, it is a reality that we cannot see or touch.
We cannot assert its truth with our human ways of ‘proving’ things.

The only way we can be… ‘sure’ of it is by trusting the one who said so – there is no other way!
But it is a ‘sure’ way indeed.

Note: Another reflection is available in French on a different theme at: https://image-i-nations.com/19e-dimanche-de-lannee-b/

Source : Image : Gostica.com

26th Sunday of Year A

28 septembre 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: attitude, behaviour, believing, change one's mind, events, Jesus, judging, Mt.21:28-32, opportunity, parable, relationships, situations, thinking

« What is your opinion? » 

These are not my words but those of Jesus himself in the gospel of this Sunday (26th of Year A – Mt.21:28-32).
He was speaking to the people who had come to hear him, but he is now addressing also each one of us today.

I imagine that when Jesus started speaking to the crowds in this way, they must have been wondering what was to follow.
They might have guessed – as we do – that, in fact, Jesus did not only want to know what they thought.
What he wanted them to be aware of was how they, themselves, would act in a given situation.

This is the case with this gospel text.
He uses strong language to reproach them their attitude.

What is it exactly that Jesus condemns?

  • They saw, but they did not believe.
  • They heard, but they did not change their way.

“You refused to think better of it,” says Jesus.
In other words: You did not change your mind… and your behaviour.
An indictment that many would deserve nowadays as well.
Perhaps even some of us, at some time… in some circumstances…

Changing, accepting to correct, to amend, to improve our ways – our ways

  • of thinking,
  • of judging situations,
  • of reacting to events,
  • of relating to people.

A time to change our minds… and our ways – this is God’s gift today.
An opportunity to identify with the first son of Jesus’ parable.

Source: Image: viewsfromthetreehouse.com