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World Sight Day – 12 October 2023

12 octobre 2023
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: blindness, eyes, preventable, treatable, vision, visual impairment

World Sight day is an annual awareness day that falls on the second Thursday of October. Its objective is to bring attention to blindness and vision impairment. WSD is coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness under the VISION 2020 Global Initiative. 

World Vision Facts from IAPB:

  • Approximately 285 million people worldwide live with low vision and blindness
  • Of these, 39 million people are blind and 246 million have moderate or severe visual impairment
  • 90% of blind people live in low-income countries
  • Yet 80% of visual impairment is avoidable – i.e. readily treatable and/or preventable
  • Restorations of sight, and blindness prevention strategies are among the most cost-effective interventions in health care
  • The number of people blind from infectious causes has greatly reduced in the past 20 years
  • An estimated 19 million children are visually impaired
  • About 65% of all people who are visually impaired are aged 50 and older, while this age group comprises only 20% of the world’s population
  • Increasing elderly populations in many countries mean that more people will be at risk of age-related visual impairment.

CAO encourages all Canadians to think about their eyes on World Sight Day and every day. 

 

Source: Text: https://opto.ca/world-sight-day    Image: Operation Eyesight Universal, Calgary AB

Good Friday, Year C – 2022

14 avril 2022
Nicole Gregoire
2 Comments
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: 1st century, 21st century, actors, betrayal, blindness, denials, guilt, innocence, Isaiah 53:12, John 18:1 – 19:42

The Good Friday celebration includes, of course, the text of the Passion of Jesus (John 18:1 – 19:42).
The version is that of John, he who was present up to the very end as events unfolded.

He was there at the time… we come more than 2000 years after.
We know well – too well, perhaps – what happened.
Reading about the Passion on the left page of our Bible,
we know that, on the right page, we will read that Jesus rises from the dead!
Can were capture something of the reality of what Jesus has experienced?

The Passion of Jesus – it is… humanity at its most contemptible… and at its most noble, its most… divine!

Some people call this… a drama… they identify the ‘actors’…

‘Actors’ of the 1st century…
Betrayal (Judas)
Triple denial (Peter)
Blind religious leaders (scribes and Pharisees)
Escapist authority in power washing its hands (Pilate)
The guilty freed, his condemnation assumed by the innocent (Barabbas)
Sycophant attitude of a servant who slaps the innocent (an official at the High Priest’s residence)
Shameful absence of friends (the apostles)

‘Actors’ of the 21st century…
OUR betrayals…
OUR denials…
OUR blindness…
OUR escapism and lack of responsibility…
OUR substitution of guilt for innocence …
OUR subservient attitude…
OUR shameful absence…

The contemporary scene can take on all the shadows and dark aspects of the original one.
But this is not the ending… it has never been…

“Because he poured out himself to death,
the righteous one, my servant, shall make many to be accounted righteous.”  (Isaiah 53:12,11)

The innocent one, the righteous one, has made us innocent and righteous.
His humanity betrayed and beaten has uplifted and ennobled our humanity.

Being saved… is nothing less!
And the cost to Him… was no less!
                                                             

Note: Another reflection, on a different theme, is available in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/vendredi-saint-annee-c-2022/

 

Source: Image: Fox Nation – Fox News

3rd Sunday of Easter, Year A – 2020

24 avril 2020
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: blindness, fear, indifférence, Luke 24:13-35, path, présence, recognize, road, shame

The scene of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, today’s gospel (Luke 24:13-35)
offers many interesting aspects for reflection.

One especially retains my attention; the text says:
“Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 
but they were kept from recognizing him. »

Many writers have been speculating on the cause of this:
what was it that prevented the disciples from recognizing Jesus?
What caused them to be blind in this way, unable to see that the man walking with them was Jesus?

Different commentators have proposed different reasons.
As far as their explanations are concerned, the usual expression can be used:
‘On this matter, the jury is still out.’
In other words, nobody knows for sure! 

The reason why this verse keeps me thinking does not belong to exegesis.
It is more personal, much closer to ‘home’, one could say.
The question then becomes formulated in a different way,
and it is addressed to me directly:
‘What is it that prevents ME from recognizing Jesus in my own life?

What prevents me from perceiving Christ, the Risen Lord, present with me from day to day?
What is the cause if this unusual blindness,
this failure to be aware of the obvious presence –
even though hidden from the eyes of my body?

An impediment of what kind?
An obstacle of what sort?

Fear of seeing something within myself that I would prefer not to see?
Shame for something of the past which I do not want to acknowledge?
Inattention? Indifference?

Perhaps simply forgetfulness?
Whenever I walk alone on whatever road or path, perhaps I could find out?…
 

Note: A video presentation of this scene can be found at: https://youtu.be/4QwKU442-80

And another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/3e-dimanche-de-paques-annee-a-2020/

 

Source: Image: Catholic online

4th Sunday of Lent, Year A – 2020

20 mars 2020
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: (Is.55:8, blindness, Ezechiel 18:23, forgiveness, healing, Jn.9:1-41, Ps.145:8, sin

The question of the apostles to Jesus in today’s gospel (Jn.9:1-41)
reflects something of our own thinking at times:
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
 
But long ago, God has told us:
“My thoughts are not your thoughts.” (Is.55:8)
 
And he questions us:
“Am I not pleased when sinners turn from their ways and live?” (Ezechiel 18:23)
 
We think: Sin means punishment.
God thinks: Sin means forgiveness in waiting.

We are so slow, so stubborn in refusing to accept God’s revelation of himself:
“The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.” (Ps.145:8)
 
LENT may be the time, at long last, to recognize him for who he is,
for what he wants to be for us still in need of… being healed of OUR blindness…

Note: A video showing this scene is offered at: https://youtu.be/cWtb_kH2Lf0
And another reflection on a different theme is available in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/4e-dimanche-du-careme-annee-a-2020/

 
Source: Image: churchofmormon.org
 

 

 

World Sight Day – 11 October

11 octobre 2018
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: awareness, blindness, eye care, global action

World Sight Day (WSD) is an annual day of awareness held on the second Thursday of October, to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment. World Sight Day 2018 is on 11 October 2018.

2018 is the sixth year of the WHO Global Action Plan and IAPB encourages our members and partners to continue with our rolling theme:

Universal Eye Health

This year, the ‘Call to Action‘ for World Sight Day is: Eye Care Everywhere.

  • 1.2 Billion people need #glasses to see better.
  • More than 75% of visual impairment is avoidable.
Source: Text & Image: IABP