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10th Sunday of the Year B

8 juin 2018
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: 2 Cor.4:13 – 5:1, comfort, enjoyment, He.13:14, home, Jn.14:2-3, letting go, moving house, promise of Jesus, security

It is this time of the year when you can see moving vans on many streets around.
People are moving, changing residence, going to another area.
Some may regret the departure, others may be keen to start in a new location.

Whatever the type of accommodation, an ordinary flat, a posh house, or even log cabin,
probably, what people want is that the new place be truly a HOME.
And, of course, a true HOME is meant to provide comfort, security, enjoyment

The 2nd reading of this Sunday (2 Cor.4:13 – 5:1) ends precisely with the evocation of… moving homes!
The last verse says:

“We are well aware that when the tent that houses us on earth is folded up,
there is a house for us from God,
not made by human hands but everlasting, in the heavens.”
 
So, all of us are meant to move one day and… to move for good!
We have been told that our permanent home is not here on earth (He.13:14) –
we know it: we should see ourselves as… pilgrims – people on the move.

But it is not easy to consider ourselves as people on the way to another place –
even if the new HOME has been prepared by God himself.
In fact, writing to the Corinthians, Paul is only echoing the words of Jesus on the eve of his death:

“There are many rooms, in my Father’s house…
I am going now to prepare a place for you,
and after I have prepared you a place
I shall return to take you with me…” (Jn.14:2-3)
 
We can be assured that we will find there all the comfort, security and enjoyment we can dream of.
But, we have to let go – let go of the house which is ours just now…
This human life, here and now, so familiar and… perhaps so ‘cosy’…
The letting go is the difficult part…
It means leaving behind the familiar and moving into the unknown.

But we are expected, the place is ready and…
There is no rent to pay, no mortgage to save for, no insurance to see to.
All has been taken care of for us, promised long ago:
“I shall return to take you with me
So that where I am you may be too…”

Note: Another reflection is available in French on a different theme at: https://image-i-nations.com/10e-dimanche-de-lannee-b!

Source : Images : forksandfolly.com  dom.sanboy.ru  tarriverloghomes.com

Easter Sunday, Year B

31 mars 2018
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: apostles Peter and John, comfort, Easter, Jesus' absence, Jesus' presence, Jn.20:1-9, Mary of Magdala, running, rushing, situations, stop running

It may have happened to you :
In a moment of candid admission, someone will say:
‘I rush all the time; my life is a non-stop running here and there. I can hardly breathe any more…’
Life can be hectic and the demands placed on us often fill our days.
Speed is of the essence if we are to carry out all the tasks we have taken on.

Many of those in such a situation will probably feel some comfort from today’s gospel text
(Easter, Year B – Jn.20:1-9) where people are also running:

“Mary of Magdala… came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved.”
“Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together.”
 
Reading this text, it is good to pause – yes, to stop running – and ask ourselves what our running is for, and where it is taking us to…

We are told that Mary of Magdala set out very early, it was still dark…
Why? She was looking for Jesus. At least, for Jesus’ body as she did not expect to see him alive.
The same can be said of the two apostles who made for the tomb after Mary’s report that Jesus’ body was no longer there.

The Easter celebration is, in fact, all about this: Jesus’ absence and Jesus’ presence.
A new mode of presence to which the disciples – and we – must adjust to.
And this, more than anything else perhaps, demands that… we stop running a little –
long enough to realize that he is always with us and often in the most unexpected situation!

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

Source: Images: children’s chapel.org   padredelisle.blogspot.com

5th Sunday of Year B

1 février 2018
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: comfort, consolation, God's help, hope, Jb.7:1-4, Jb.7:6-7, problems, Remember, suffering, theology, trials, troubles

It is practically every day that we are told:
“Don’t forget – don’t forget to go there, to buy this, to call so-and-so.”
Or, more positively expressed: REMEMBER – remember to do this, to collect that, to pay the bills, etc.

Yes, people around us repeatedly call our attention to the things they want us to remember.
They want to make sure that certain things will be taken care of without fail!

Strangely enough, we have somehow transferred this attitude… to God!
Yes, as if HE could forget!
Well, could he not?…
All through history, this human attitude of calling on God to REMEMBER has been part of our… spiritual DNA!

We see it in Job whom we meet in today’s 1st reading (5th Sunday of Year B – Jb.7:1-4,6-7).
He tells God in no uncertain terms:
“REMEMBER that my life is but a breath
and that my eyes will never again see joy.”

Of course, Job is having more than his share of troubles and pain.
His suffering is continual and he is hard-pressed to keep on hoping.
His fellow-human beings have proved unable to help him or comfort him.
So, he turns to God as he is desperately in need of strength and consolation.

Many of us can easily sympathize with him for we know what he is going through.
Our own problems and suffering may be of a different kind.
Of different shades and intensity, yes, but just as real and trying.
And we, too, desperately need God’s help.

But will he remember US?
Can he remember ME?…
We need a personalized divine intervention, nothing less!

One day, with much conviction, a professor of theology was saying:
“If you remember anything at all in theology, remember that God loves you.”

After all… WE may be the ones who need to REMEMBER!

Source: Images: Clipart Library   loudcanvas.com   Deacons Wife

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme at: https://image-i-nations.com/5e-dimanche-de-lannee-b/

 

 

 

Feast of the Transfiguration, Year A *

3 août 2017
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: apostles, Bible, comfort, Elijah, fear, God's people, God's presence, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Joshua, learning, lesson, light, Mary Mothre of Jesus, Moses, Mt.17:1-9, names, reaction, security, voice

* (This feast takes the place of the 18th Sunday of Year)

The gospel of this Sunday (Feast of the Transfiguration, Year A – Mt.17:1-9) presents us with a scene that is rather unusual in the life of Jesus.
It is no wonder that the apostles are startled and even Peter is lost for words.

The sight of Moses and Elijah present with Jesus – a Jesus so resplendent with light – is already an amazing apparition.
But suddenly there is more: the apostles are covered with a bright cloud and from within comes a voice.
Their reaction is immediate: “They fell on their faces overcome with fear.”

Throughout the Bible, this seems to be the spontaneous reaction of human beings when God comes close to them.
Strange but true: the proximity of God which should be a source of comfort and security is experienced as overwhelming and frightening…

Today’s gospel text goes on saying:
“Jesus came and touched them and said, ‘Do not be afraid’.”

It is said that these very words (or their equivalent: “Fear not”) is repeated 365 times in the Bible.
Yes, as many times as there are days in the year!
It appears that it is a lesson we have never finished learning – not to fear anything, and especially NOT God’s close presence!

God’s people throughout their history, God’s friends and God’s messengers – all needed to learn it:
Moses, Joshua, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Mary: Jesus’ mother herself, Jesus’ disciples, the apostle Paul, to mention but a few.

Perhaps… our own names could be listed as well for we share the same need, do we not?…

Source: Images: Pinterest, tapistryministry,org

 

 

3rd Sunday of Lent, Year A

16 mars 2017
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: cistern, comfort, Ex.17:3-7, guidance, inspiration, Jer.2:13, Jn.14:23, Jn.4:19-26, Jn.4:39-42, Jn.4:5-15, light, prophet Jeremiah, source, strength

There is much in our lives which is expressed in the… conditional form !
Our conversations often run along these lines: ‘If only I had said this…’ ‘If only he had done that…’ ‘If only she had gone there…’

In the gospel of this 3rd Sunday of Lent (Jn. 4: 5-15-19-26.39-42), it is Jesus himself who uses such words: “If you only knew…”
 
As she usually does, a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well and she found Jesus there.
She does not know him and she is astonished – and rather shocked – that he asks her for water.
Their exchange is lively and the woman is not shy to speak her mind but suddenly the tone of the conversation changes… it become somehow much more personal and deeper too.

Then Jesus speaks these words: “If you only knew…” and goes on saying: “what God is offering.”
 
Do we know, REALLY, what God is offering?…
Do we know who our God is – the kind of God he is, the God he wants to be for us?

In the 1st reading (Ex 17, 3-7), we have heard the Israelite asking: “Is God with us or not?”
At times, we may ask ourselves the same question…

Do we know that God is, REALLY with us, having decided to make his home in us (Jn.14:23).
And in Jesus he offers us the water that satisfies our thirst.

This can take the form of light in our dark moments…
Inspiration when we should make a choice or take a decision…
Strength when we just can’t cope any longer…
Comfort when we feel unable to face life’s problems…
Guidance when we are wondering which direction to give our lives…

Long before the time of Jesus, in the words of the prophet Jeremiah, God was lamenting:
“My people have abandoned me, the fountain of living water,
only to dig cisterns for themselves,
leaky cisterns that hold no water.” (Jer.2:13)

Are we doing the same… when the source of living water is offered to us?…
IF WE ONLY KNEW………..

Voir aussi: http://image-i-nations.com/the-samaritan-woman-2/

Source: Images: www.danburr.com

 

 

Feast of Epiphany, year A

5 janvier 2017
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: 'God-with-us', comfort, encouragement, Epiphany, foreighners, invitation, Is.60:1-6, light, Magi, outsiders, reproach, strangers

Day after day, week after week, the Bible texts call to us in different ways.
We believe that this is God’s message addressed to us.
We are convinced that the words we hear are not simply human words but God’s own words.

They may be words of invitation, or words of comfort;
words of reproach, or words of encouragement.

 God’s messengers speaking to us in his name sometimes ask us to do something.
In the first reading, this is what Isaiah does today (Is.60:1-6). He tells us:
“Lift up your eyes and look around.”
 
Did you notice how many people go about doing… exactly the opposite?!
Many walk around head bent down, with stooped shoulders…
Their steps are heavy… and, possibly, their hearts as well.
 
Through Isaiah, God invites us to lift up our eyes to see what?
He wants his people to realize:
“The nations come to your light… all are assembling.”
 
This is the meaning of today’s celebration on this feast of Epiphany.
It is a celebration for all nations, all peoples are called to recognize God in our midst, “God-with-us”.
The Magi – those Wise Men from the East –are the symbol of all the many we may see as strangers, foreigners, outsiders.
They are all called to be God’s people.
 
They, from afar, who come close to this new-born Child, represent already the Samaritan woman, the Roman soldier, the Syro-Phoenician woman, to whom He will make himself close to.
This will be… Epiphany continued!…
God’s revelation to each and everyone, notwithstanding their nation or language, their origin or belief.
 
God is the GOD OF ALL – by His own choice!

Source: Images: Daily Record; The Well Community Church

 
 

4th Sunday of Easter, C

14 avril 2016
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Care, close communion, comfort, Concern, Good Shepherd, Jn.10:27-30

Jesus-Good-Shepherd-wide-i vividscreen.incoMany of us like to have some pictures in our missal or our Bible; this makes it easy for us to find a special text or a reference we often come back to. The pictures may have been there for months, even years and… we do not pay much attention to them any longer. We may not notice anymore what the picture represents, at least many of the details do not retain our attention. They are printed papers…

The same could be said of the statues in a chapel or a church – we are so used to seeing them there that they do not catch our eyes any more. We know they are there, but… while some of us will stand before one of them, many of us pass by. These are plaster representations, or works of art like sculptures or carvings.

But what about another type of representation? What about a ‘word-picture’ – a live description by someone who introduces himself? This is what today’s gospel (Jn.10:27-30) gives us, a picture in words, a vivid description, an introduction to oneself and… it is given by Jesus himself! In a few words, in short sentences, Jesus gives us a summary of who he is and what he wants to be for us.

“I know my sheep…       I give them eternal life;       They will never be lost.      No one will ever steal them from me.”

It is all there, in what I call the 4 Cs: Care, Concern, Comfort, Close Communion – there for each one of us, there for today and every day, there… if only we accept to be… his sheep.

Source: Image: vividscreen.info

World Bible Day – 24 November

20 novembre 2015
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Bible, comfort, inspiration, prayer, Psalm, strength, World Day

images-8

November 24th has been set aside – globally – as World Bible Day. One day a year assigned to the Word of God. Really ?
Is it not daily that we need to find there inspiration, strength, comfort, all that enables us to be and to live as we are meant to?

The Psalmist had understood this as he prayed with utter conviction: « Remember, Lord, the word you pledged your servant, on which you have built my hope. » « Your word is a lamp to my feet, Lord, a light on my path. »  (Ps.119:49,95)