Recherche

image-i-nations trésor

events

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

Palm Sunday, Year B – 2024

22 mars 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: décision, events, Luke 19:39-40, Mark 11:1-10, objections, situations, suggestions

The scene of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey is rich in colorful details.
Bible commentators and spiritual writers, each picks up the aspect of the text which he/she finds deserves more attention.

Just now, one point strikes me – it is expressed in the first part of the narrative in Mark’s gospel (Mark 11:1-10).
Jesus tells the two apostles he is sending:

“Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it,
you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden.
Untie it and bring it here.
If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’
say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly’.”

The same scene of Jesus entering Jerusalem is  reported also by the evangelist Luke (Luke 19:39-40).

He has recorded a detail not mentioned by the other writers –
it is about the reaction of the Pharisees to the shouts of acclaim of the people welcoming Jesus.

“Some Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Master, check your disciples’.
But he answered, ‘I tell you, if these keep silence the stones will cry out’.”

Amazing how people can put objections to… God.
And we can sometimes be among such people!

In the first instance, Jesus had, in fact, foreseen the objection – he warns his apostles about it.
In the second case, he replies to the Pharisees with his usual aplomb –
a self-assurance his opponents do not appreciate!

At the beginning of the Holy Week, it may be appropriate to reflect on our own… objections to God…

– When some situations suggest that God may expect this, or that, from us…
– When, through certain events, God calls us to reappraise some of our choices…
– When, through people around us, God invites us to make a courageous decision…
– When a gentle but persuasive inner voice inspires us to follow a certain path…

Do we offer God objections that we judge valid and reasonable?
Do we try to cleverly escape God’s challenge presenting him with good reasons not to answer his desire?

Perhaps, as Mark’s gospel states:
‘The Lord needs this…’

 

Note: In the following video (in French), Diane Dargis pursues the reflection on this scene at: https://youtu.be/Txjh2LJK_-o?si=lXy1CFkR8FB2QCEo

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

Source: Images: unsplash.com (Dmitriy Serafin)        FreeBibleimages

Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, Year B –2024

5 janvier 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: décision, dreams, events, happenings, intuition, Matthew 2:1-12, situations, stars, Wise Men

A star… a sign… an intuition…
A question… a dream… a decision…

Our lives are made of such, are they not?
The situations we find ourselves in are often made of these elements.
It happens that things are clear-cut and obvious.
But, very often, we are faced with events that are puzzling and confusing.
We ask ourselves questions, we wonder about the best course of action.

On this feast of the Epiphany, we meet Wise Men who were faced with this (Matthew 2:1-12).
They received a sign which they interpreted, and they set out on a journey.
They later received a dream, and having discovered its meaning, they acted accordingly.

A new year has just dawned, and we will most probably have to do the same.
Happenings and events will call for some interpretation.
Situations and circumstances will demand of us decisions of different kinds.

We will be asked to set out on a journey – the journey of life –
and, from day to day, we will need to keep on going on the way…

The stars in the sky, and our nightly dreams, may not show us the path to follow.
But God’s Spirit who has moved the seers and the saints of past times, can do so.

And HE WILL, if we only ask him to guide us on the way…

 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/fete-de-lepiphanie-du-seigneur-annee-b-2024/

 

Source: Image: Aleteia

 

 

 

Easter Sunday, Year C – 2022

16 avril 2022
Nicole Gregoire
2 Comments
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: believe, body, conversations, encounters, events, John 20:1-9, linen cloths, meetings, Risen Lord, see, stone

A stone rolled away…
A corpse… missing…
“Strips of linen lying there”…
Cloth wrapping the body “still lying in its place”…
All these are seen, noted, but…

No body lying there, NOBODY present!
Yet, the gospel text tells us that when John had witnessed this scene,

“He saw and believed.”  (John 20:1-9)
                                                             
Daily events…
Regular meetings…
Occasional encounters…
Ordinary situations…
Unexpected happenings…
Unusual occasions…
Overheard conversations…
Surprising details…

Which of these?
All of these?
At times… sometimes… could be… will be… the signs that could lead us
to make the personal experience that John made.
We will see and believe.

We will NOT see any body – not ANYBODY – but we will perceive a presence.
We will recognize the Risen Lord with us as surely as he was 21 centuries ago!

 

Note: And another reflection, on a different theme, is available in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/dimanche-de-paques-annee-c-2022/

 

Source: Image: christianity.com

 

 

 

3rd Sunday of Advent, Year A – 2019

13 décembre 2019
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: commitment, confusion, events, Is.35:5-6, Jesus message, Mt.11:6, values, ways

Periods of questioning… 
Situations when one wonders…
Events that cause bewilderment…
Happenings that leave us perplexed…

We all know this from experience, repeated experience, we could say.
John the Baptist has gone through this as well – his cousin, Jesus, somehow brings confusion to him.
So, he sends some of his disciples to inquire from Jesus himself if he is truly God’s special messenger…

Jesus’ answer will be meaningful to John as it is the realisation of a prophecy of Isaiah (Is.35:5-6).
But what can bring questions to OUR minds is the last sentence of Jesus’ reply:
 
“Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” (Mt.11:6)
 
Translators are also puzzled by the words and come up with different texts:
“Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
“Happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.”
 
Is this beatitude ours? Or…
Are we put off by Jesus words, his attitude, the message he speaks, the values he proposes?…
Are we offended by his ways, the options he suggests, the commitment he expects?

This period of Advent may be a good period to ask ourselves questions…

Note: Another reflections is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/3e-dimanche-de-lavent-annee-a-2019/

 

Source: Image: Free Doodle Illustrations   graspinggod.com

22nd Sunday of Year C – 2019

30 août 2019
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Ben Sirach, Ecclesiasticus 3:17-18, Ecclesiasticus 3:20, Ecclesiasticus 3:28-29, events, on the run, purpose, reflecting, taking time, wise

People speak of the tyranny of ‘should’, the slavery of ‘must’, the compulsion of ‘ought to’ –
all the things I should be doing, the people I must see, the commitments I ought to honour!

All these lead us to get busy, and always busier, being constantly on the run, out of breath
and, at the end of the day, find ourselves empty and dispirited.

In today’s 1st reading (Ecclesiasticus 3:17-18,20,28-29) the wise man Ben Sirach offers us another lifestyle.
He gives us the picture or someone he qualifies as ‘intelligent’ and ‘wise’ as he says

“The mind of the intelligent man will ponder a parable,
and an attentive ear is the wise man’s desire.”

Pondering, being attentive, in other words: 
pausing, taking time, reflecting on serious matters and important issues.
Looking at life and events and finding the true purpose of our human existence…

Those looking for a slogan for a poster would start writing:

STOP RUNNING – START THINKING !

The perfect ad to stop people in their tracks and, perchance, direct them to the path of the wise!

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/22e-dimanche-de-lannee-c-2019/

Source: Image: oosteo.com

Palm Sunday, Year B

22 mars 2018
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: accept not to understand, apostles, events, God's time, God's ways, Jesus acclaimed as king, Jesus disciples, Jn.12:12-16, Mk.7:17, standards

As an introduction to the celebration of Palm Sunday, we are given a choice between two gospel texts:
one from Mark (11:1-10) and the other from John (12:12-16).
In the shorter text from John, one verse caught my attention:

“At the time, his disciples did not understand…
Later… they remembered.”
 
It was not the only time that the apostles were puzzled by what Jesus said and did.
At times, back at home, they would question him and asked for explanations (Mk.7:17).

I often think they were lucky to have Jesus answer their questions!…
Yet, even seeing Jesus with their own eyes and sharing daily life with him, it seems that this did not enable them to understand everything…

On the day when Jesus entered Jerusalem acclaimed by the crowd as king, his close friends could not figure out how and why he agreed to this display of admiration.
In fact, people were welcoming him as king and Messiah – the promised Saviour God was to send them one day.

Now, they believed that this day had come and Jesus was the one they had been waiting for to free them from the domination of strangers.
Of course, they did not understand either!

Looking at life and events, it is all too obvious that there are many situations when we simply do not understand God’s ways.
He does not conform to our standards.
He does not fit into our categories.
He does not act as we would expect God to do.
And that is because… he is GOD.

This answer seems too easy and yet… is there any other that can explain God’s ways?
The apostles understood what had happened only LATER… “after Jesus had been glorified.”
For us, too, often some time must elapse before we come to see the purpose of what has happened in this or that situation…

Accepting not to understand, not to see clearly right there and then.
Accepting God’s… delays, God’s time, God’s rhythm for our lives, for our world…

 

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

Source: Image: YouTube

2nd Sunday of Lent, Year B

22 février 2018
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: (Is.55:8, Abraham, events, Gn.22:1-2.9-13.15-18, God's ways, let go - let God, meaning, need to learn, outcome, rely on God, Trust me

In our conversation, some words have a special meaning, they can have an impact of their own.
Usually, such words do not leave a person indifferent.
When someone says: “Trust me!” the expression catches our attention and calls for a decision: to trust, or not, the person before us…

These words came to me as I read the 1st reading of this Sunday (2nd Sunday of Lent, Year B – Gn.22:1-2.9-13.15-18).
This is, in fact, the title I would give to this dramatised account of what is known as: ‘The sacrifice of Abraham’.
The story is indeed quite dramatic and, if we did not know the outcome for having heard or read it so often, we would judge it to be rich in suspense!

“Trust me!” Yes, this is what God did not say, but what he really asked of Abraham:
a deep, unconditional, total trust in him.
God’s request must have appeared to have no meaning, at least no meaning that Abraham could understand.
Had God not promised him an heir?
And now he was to give him up in a very cruel way.

Much later, through the prophet Isaiah, God was to tell us clearly:
“My ways are not your ways” (Is.55:8).
Something we are in constant need to learn anew.

Learning to trust God, to rely on him, to surrender to him,
no matter how deprived of meaning a situation seems to be.
Wanting to understand, trying by all means to make sense of events, is a very human attitude, and legitimate also.
But we must learn to… LET GO and LET GOD as a poster reminds us!…

And the outcome can be… absolutely amazing!

Images: artcommission.me

Note: A reflection on the 2nd reading of this Sunday is available in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/2e-dimanche-careme-annee-b/

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

 

 

Easter, Year A

15 avril 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: believe, events, folded linen in the tomb, happenings, Jesus' miracles, Jesus' teaching, Jn.20:1-9, John and Peter, not understand, personal experience, rise from the dead

« 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