blessings

23rd Sunday of Year A – 2023

8 septembre 2023

Nicole Gregoire

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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles

Mots-clés: blessings, God's call, God's message, harden not your hearts, If, listen, Psalm 95:1-2, Psalm 95:6-9

The reflection on the Sunday celebration is usually focused on one of the readings.

However, this Sunday, the Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 95:1-2,6-9) has been chosen.
The text calls to us in these words:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”

This text could be interpreted as some kind of advice, a recommendation, or an exhortation.

But there is a ‘IF’… if you hear…
It implies that you may, or you may not, perceive that God is speaking to you…

But there is a different translation available and what it says is somehow different:

“If only you would listen to God today,
do not harden your hearts…”

It expresses something of a regret, it has the tone of a lamentation.
As if the writer realizes that, somehow, his people are not listening to God.

The author of the Psalm may imagine the blessings that those who listen to God would receive.
He possibly regrets that those who fail to listen will miss much…
He may be aware of what happens to those who are attuned to God’s voice –
how they come to know God, and they may then draw closer to him.

In both instances, the writer insists, adding:
“Do not harden your hearts…”

This may be a recurring temptation: not to pay attention, not to listen to God speaking to us.
We may be drawn by many other voices…
seduced by different invitations…
tempted to follow other calls…

We do as if…
As if God did not really speak.
As if his message was not truly addressed to us personally.
As if his words did not concern our own situation.

Hardening our hearts can be a slow, a subtle process,
but it can lead us very far from what we would like to become…

If only we would listen…

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/23e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/

Source: Image: Stray Thoughts (Barbara Harper)

22nd Sunday of Year A – 2023

1 septembre 2023

Nicole Gregoire

Aucun commentaire

Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles

Mots-clés: "real' world, believers, blessings, choice, friends, God's invitation, Matthieu 21:12-13, prophet, relationships

Our lives are woven with all kinds of relationships:
family, relatives, friends, neighbours, colleagues.
There are also the specialists we are referred to, or the technicians who fix things for us.

Our relationship with each one of them can be very different.
Some neighbours may become friends, but we may not develop a friendship with certain colleagues.
Some relatives may remain quite distant, while the specialist who treated us has become a close friend.

At a certain moment in time, a choice has been made.
A decision has been taken to accept this, or that person, in our life in a closer way.

Have you ever thought that the same is true about… God!
As you read this, it may happen that you stop and think…
Slowly, you realize that it is true…
You had never thought about it in this way, but you see it now: God invites himself into our lives.

Some people may not want to see God ‘interfering’ in their existence!
It is a little what we see in today’s 1^st reading where the prophet Jeremiah is not eager for God to come too close! (Jeremiah 20:7-9).

“You deceived me, Lord, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed…
I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name.”

Jeremiah laments the choice God has made of him to be a prophet.
The message he must pass on to the people in the name of God brings him insults and abuse.
But he cannot resist fulfilling his mission.

Looking at our own lives, we may somehow feel disappointed as well.
We may have thought that accepting God in our lives would bring us blessings of all kinds.
But we are sometimes faced with being laughed at, or rejected, for being believers.
We may be seen as naïve, or out of touch with the ‘real’ world.
We may lose friends because of our being followers of Christ.

God does not impose himself on us, but he proposes a life of relationship with him.
The choice to accept, or to reject, God’s invitation, God’s presence in our life, is ours.

Much depends on our decision…
A more meaningful life, and a more promising afterlife…

God’s offer is a permanent one… and the choice always remains ours…

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/22e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/

Source: Images: unsplash.com (Helena Lopes) pexels.com (Andrea Piacquadio) https://www.encounter247.com Wikipedia

2nd Sunday of Lent, Year C – 2022

11 mars 2022

Nicole Gregoire

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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles

Mots-clés: blessings, crédit, faith, Genesis 15:17-18, Genesis 15:5-12, God's help, trust

In times of need, in times of shortage of money, some people risk using the ‘credit’ option –
they decide to get some commodities on credit and… pay later.
Different forms of advertising invite them to do precisely that.
Some shopkeepers will accept to extend credit to customers, others will not.

It is interesting to note that God himself is ready to go along with the ‘credit option’ in our favor!
He did it for Abram, as the 1^st reading of this Sunday tells us:

^“Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:5-12,17-18).

God gives credit… on one condition, could we say, and that is: that we believe in him.
It is as simple as that.
God is ready to give us – abundantly – his blessings of all kinds provided we trust him.

He will count it as credit for us that we rely on him with a faith that does not waver.
A faith that does not doubt either his power, or his readiness to come to our help.

Confident belief, trustful reliance on God, this can obtain so much!
Just see for yourself…

Note: A blog, in French, gives another perspective of the 1^st reading: https://image-i-nations.com/le-jour-ou-dieu-a-invite-abraham-a-faire-de-lastronomie/

Published 3 years ago for a special occasion, its message remains still valid:

And another reflection, on a different theme, is available in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/2e-dimanche-du-careme-annee-c-2022/

Source: Image: youtube.com

17th Sunday of Year B – 2021

23 juillet 2021

Nicole Gregoire

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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles

Mots-clés: (Is.55:8, blessings, food, gifts, Jn.6:1-15, methodology

The methodology of… God can be quite surprising and sometimes rather upsetting – we have all experienced it!
He has told us about this long ago through his prophet, Isaiah, when he said openly:

“My ways are not your ways” (Is.55:8).
But it seems that we do not get used to this easily…

This thought came to me as I read the gospel text of this Sunday (Jn.6:1-15).
A crowd has been listening to Jesus’ teaching for a long time and he does not want to send them back without giving them something to eat.

So, he asks his apostle, Philip, where they could get food for all those people.
The text says:

^“He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do”.
A little frustrating for poor Philip, if he knew… he, too, has to learn God’s ways!

But then, Jesus provides the food and we are told that the people were given “as much as they wanted”.
I said Jesus provides but, in fact, a child has made this abundant feast possible with his contribution.

So, after all, God’s methodology is not one of refusal, or measured provision, but an abundance of gifts and blessings.
And, often through our own sharing with those around us!

How long do we still need to understand?…

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/17e-dimanche-de-lannee-b-2021/

Source: Images: Jesus Film Project

6th Sunday of Easter, Year B – 2021

7 mai 2021

Nicole Gregoire

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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 2^nd 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

28th Sunday of Year C – 2019

11 octobre 2019

Nicole Gregoire

Aucun commentaire

Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles

Mots-clés: blessings, gifts, Lk.17:11-19, services, taking for granted, Thanksgiving

There is an English expression used quite often by people.
It refers to the situation of ‘taking something for granted’.

It describes the attitude of making use of something as if it was ‘normal’ to have it.
We think that a certain object is meant to be at our service.
We assume that somehow we have a ‘right’ to dispose of this item.

This may not be a mistake if the object in question is ours and nobody else has a claim to it.
It is true that our possessions are meant for our own use.

But… what is seriously wrong is when we adopt the same attitude towards people.
And we do, sometimes… take people for granted!
Time and again we expect some people to do things for us, to render services to us,
as if we had a right to their help.
We take their assistance, their kindness, their patience, we take THEM for granted…

Today’s gospel (Lk.17:11-19) shows us 9 men who did exactly this with… Jesus!

And, amazingly, does it not happen that WE, also, take… God for granted?!
His tremendous generosity can be so much part of our lives that we fail to notice it.
We get used to the outpouring of his gifts and blessings, day after day, and we do not acknowledge this with thanksgiving.

This Sunday – and the Feast of Thanksgiving following on Monday – may be ideal occasions to become aware of this
and to say, wholeheartedly, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU to God who delights in showering on us so many good things!

Note: This gospel scene is presented in a video at: https://image-i-nations.com/the-grateful-leper/

Another reflection is also available on a similar theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/28e-dimanche-de-lannee-c-2019/

Source: Image: permahaus.com

Feast of Mary, Mother of God, Year C

31 décembre 2018

Nicole Gregoire

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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles

Mots-clés: blessings, grâce, happiness, health, Nb.6:22-27, peace, Ps.67:2-8, saint Irenaeus, wishes

During this festive Season we have been exchanging good wishes of all kinds. We wish one another good health, happiness and peace, and many more good things. We sometimes summarize them in telling people that we want for them God’s blessings.

The first reading of today’s celebration (Nb.6:22-27) is, in fact, an extended blessing. The text tells us that God himself has chosen the words of it, so to speak.

30th Sunday of Year B

26 octobre 2018

Nicole Gregoire

Aucun commentaire

Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles

Mots-clés: blessings, blind, gifts, God calling, gracious God, Mk.10:46-52

Let us imagine for a moment that someone would tell you: “God is calling you.”
What would your reaction be?
Many people would possibly think: “What does God want from me?”
But should the question not rather be: “What does God want FOR me?”

This thought came to me as I read the gospel of this Sunday
(30^th Sunday of Year B – Mk.10:46-52).
This text presents us with the scene of the blind man of Jericho named Bartimaeus.
Hearing from the crowd that Jesus is coming, he shouts asking Jesus to have pity on him.

“Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him here’.
So they called the blind man.
‘Courage,’ they said ‘get up; he is calling you’.”

Many of us often suppose that God wants something from us –
prayers, good deeds, sacrifices, offerings of different kinds.
How many of us, thinking of God’s call, would immediately conclude:
’God wants to give me something!’

Yet, this is the deep meaning of God calling us:
he wants to provide us with his gifts.
He wants to shower on us blessings of all kinds.
We often speak of God’s ‘grace’ forgetting that he is a ‘gracious’ God –
a God so generous that we have never finished discovering all the wonders he has worked for us!

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/30e-dimanche-de-lannee-b/

Source : Images : mdevega.blogspot.com youtube.com

25th Sunday of Year A

22 septembre 2017

Nicole Gregoire

Aucun commentaire

Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles

Mots-clés: Asking, assistance, blessings, expectations, friend, giving, help, hope, image of God, Mt.20 :1-16, neighbour, relative, The Father

EXPECTATIONS – we all have them and plenty of them, do we not ?
And they fill our lives with more than a touch of hope and anticipation!

Expectations of…
– recovery after sickness,
– success in a coming exam
– a promotion at work,
– the partner we dream of to start a new life!

When we are in need, some expectation may arise of receiving help from a relative, a friend, or a neighbour.
Just recall for a moment the last time you went to someone with a request for his or her assistance.
You may have been hoping for help, or… fearing that help would not be forthcoming.
But did you expect that you would be given much more than what you asked for?

Among us, people, this is not usually the case.
But, with God, it is!
In fact, this is a characteristic of God : He gives more than we would ask for.
He is a generous God who delights in showering on us his gifts and blessings.

This is what today’s gospel text (25th Sunday of Year A – Mt.20 :1-16) is meant to remind us of.
In the parable that Jesus tells the people around him, he gives us a wonderful and true picture of what his Father – and our Father – is :

a bounteous God,
a God who enjoys giving lavishly,
a God who does not know how to measure what he wants to bless us with.

I wonder how many people treasure this image of God…
Perhaps many of us think that we have to ask, and beg, and repeat our requests for help, never too sure that we will be heard.

This Sunday may be the ideal moment to correct our image of God !

Source: Image: Youtube

23rd Sunday of Year A

7 septembre 2017

Nicole Gregoire

Aucun commentaire

Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles

Mots-clés: blessings, expérience, Father in heaven, gospel texts, inventory, Mt.18:15-20, needs, prayer, Prophets, Psalms, wishes

We know and we believe that the word of God in Scripture tells us about him and his will for our lives.
His message comes to us, ‘clothed’ if I may say, in all kinds of ways reaching us as light and guidance, strength and comfort.

The prophets and the Psalms, the gospels texts and the epistles – all of them are meant for our instruction, says Paul (Rom.15:4).
But, personally, I must confess that I am rather partial to texts which offer us promises, yes, promises from God himself.

The last verses of today’s gospel (23rd Sunday, Year A – Mt.18:15-20) give us exactly that: a two-fold promise from Jesus himself.
Words that are powerful and, yes, really promising!
This is what he says:

« I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all,
it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven.
For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.”

Some will say: “Wonderful!”
Others will think: “It did not work out for me!” meaning that they asked, and asked, with relatives and friends, and they simply did not get what they were asking for…
And many would endorse this statement and the experience it describes.

Perhaps most of us have made this experience – that of praying with our whole heart, convinced that God hears our prayers but, in the end, what we were hoping for did not materialize.
Did our praying bring about anything? We wonder.
We think to ourselves: If it did, it was surely not what we had asked for.

Perhaps this is because we have yet to identify our real needs… which can be quite different from our wishes and…yes, our whims…
God, who knows us better than we know ourselves, knows also what is best for us, even if we find it very difficult to admit to that.

Today may be a good occasion to make some kind of inventory – the inventory of all that we have received from God recently and see if some of those blessings were not – in disguise – what we were most in need of at the time…

Recherche

image-i-nations trésor

23rd Sunday of Year A – 2023

Source: Image: Stray Thoughts (Barbara Harper)

22nd Sunday of Year A – 2023

Source: Images: unsplash.com (Helena Lopes) pexels.com (Andrea Piacquadio) https://www.encounter247.com Wikipedia

2nd Sunday of Lent, Year C – 2022

Source: Image: youtube.com

17th Sunday of Year B – 2021

Source: Images: Jesus Film Project

6th Sunday of Easter, Year B – 2021

Source: Images: 123RF Corona SDA Church

28th Sunday of Year C – 2019

Source: Image: permahaus.com

Feast of Mary, Mother of God, Year C

30th Sunday of Year B

Source : Images : mdevega.blogspot.com youtube.com

25th Sunday of Year A

Source: Image: Youtube

23rd Sunday of Year A

Source: Image: justice-and-peace.org.uk