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The Alphabet of Lent – Letter W

W for Wonder

There are words which, while having the same spelling, can have different meanings.
This is the case with the word: WONDER.

One can be wondering in the sense that he/she is asking questions about a certain thing.
He is wondering about the truth of a statement, while she is wondering whether her friend will call her.
But a person can be filled with wonder at the splendor of a landscape.

The second meaning of the word is retained for this reflection.
The word itself is not found as such in the gospel, but its meaning is revealed in certain scenes.
It expresses something which cause enthusiasm.
A situation, an experience that provokes surprise, admiration, awe.
One cannot prevent oneself to voice his/her wonderment!

A scene from the gospel depicts well such a reaction.
It is about the disciples who return after having been sent by Jesus to preach and to heal the sick.
They come back very happy at the result of their apostolic efforts.

“The seventy-two returned with joy and said,
“Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name” (Luke 10:17).

It seems that their positive experience has gone beyond what they had anticipated,
and they describe to Jesus their surprise and their joy.

Jesus himself had, one day, what we could call his ‘WOW’ moment – a moment of real wonder.
He was then expressing to his Father his admiration for the privileged revelation given to the little ones:

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned,
and revealed them to little children.
Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do” (Matthew 11:25-26).

If someone asked you of you ever had such a ‘WOW moment’…
Could you recall, in your mind, a situation when you spontaneously exclaimed: ‘WOW’! ?

Lent can prove a period that is especially appropriate to find again a spirit of admiration –
admiration for all that is WELL, BEAUTIFUL, and GOOD…

And, also, to give thanks to God who gives us to live such moments –
when we are possessed by wonderment, filled with enthusiasm!

The Psalmist had tasted those moments when he said:
“Lord, my God, many are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us…
Were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare” (Psalm 40:5).

It is up to us to make a personalized version of his text…

 

Source: Image: Scripture Images

3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B – 2023-2024

Going on an excursion in unknown territory, people used to take with them a compass.
This small instrument was meant to guide them on the way – it would show them how to guide their steps to reach their destination.
Nowadays a new kind of instrument is available with the same purpose.
It is called a GPS for Global Positioning Systems.

I believe that, sometimes in life, some of us would want such a guiding device to show us the way…
When having to take a decision, or before making plans for the future, we may feel uncertain about what to do.
We may be wondering what is the best option to choose from the different possibilities presented to us.

This also applies to Christian living.

The 2nd reading of this 3rd Sunday of Advent has something to say about this.
The apostle Paul, writing to the Thessalonians, gave them some advice which was a true guideline for them to live as Christians.
He wrote to them in these terms (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24):

“Hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil”.

Simple, clear, precise language – the meaning cannot be misunderstood.
It can be used in all kinds of situations and concerning different people.
Choosing what is good: what will be of benefit, what will achieve the best outcome.
Avoiding – always and in every way – what will damage, hurt, cause injustice and pain.

It is quite demanding, of course!
Nobody can pretend that Christian living is easy…
But the result of such an attitude can be amazing – for ourselves and those around us!

It is worth trying it and… finding out!

 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/3e-dimanche-de-lavent-annee-b-2023-2024/

 

 Source: Images: pexels.com (Tobias Aeppli) unsplash.com    (Henry Perks)    Bible Gems for Friendship

 

 

 

Diwali 2021

diwali againThis year from November 2th to the 6th, our Hindu friends, neighbours and colleagues are celebrating the feast of DIWALI, « the festival of lights ». The festival spiritually signifies the victory of good over evil.

Ahead of the feast, people clean and decorate their homes and offices. They light up lamps and candles inside and outside their homes and they take part in family prayers to LAKSHMI, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. A family feast follows with exchange of gifts.   (Source Wikipedia)

« In Hinduism, men contemplate the divine mystery… They seek freedom from the anguish of our human condition either through ascetical practices or profound meditation, or a flight to God with love and trust. » 

(Vatican ll document on The Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, no.2)

 

20th Sunday of Year B

Going through the readings of this Sunday (20th Sunday of Year B),
I am surprised at the number of… recommendations… injunctions… commands…
we are given to take into consideration!
I note but a few and I find them… quite demanding…

“Leave your folly and you will live,
walk in the ways of perception.”     (1st reading: Proverbs 9:1-6)

“Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord…
Listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord…
Never yield to evil, practise good,
Seek peace, pursue it.”     (Response: Ps.34:23,10-15)

“Be careful about the sort of lives you lead…
Recognise what is the will of the Lord.
Be filled with the Spirit…
Sing the words and tunes of the psalms and hymns…”   (2nd reading: Eph.5:15-20)

I make a summary for myself and it comes to this simple formula:
“Recognise what is the will of the Lord.
Be filled with the Spirit…

Enough there for… a lifetime!

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/20e-dimanche-de-lannee-b/

Source: Images: seton.com

16th Sunday of Year A

There is so much that is wrong in our world today, is it not so?
The powerful bring suffering to the weak.
The selfish – legions of them – grab all they can.
The rich keep adding to their share while the poor have to manage on what they can scrape together.

It seems that evil spreads far and wide, and goodness has a hard time existing at all.
Examples we see every day are only too many and too easy to find.

Poverty, sickness, injustice, suffering – evil under all its forms – everywhere we turn it seems that we see only more of that!
Some people mutter to themselves: “Not much sign of God in a world like this…”
Others get really angry, and yes, angry with God: Why does he not do something to right all that is wrong?
They whisper under their breath: “If I were God, things would be different!”

We have to admit it: we are troubled by the presence of evil in our world, in people…
Perhaps today’s gospel (16th Sunday of Year A – Mt.13:24-43) can bring light to this situation.
At first sight, some would think: ‘More of the same!’
Good seed has been planted and there comes an enemy who spoils the whole thing as the weeds in plenty show.
The workers question the owner of the field about it and they are ready to put things right.

The owner shows wisdom: removing the weeds may destroy the good plants as well.
So, his advice is… to wait.
WAIT – waiting… till the harvest, waiting till all has grown and then… then will be the time to sort out and to separate.

For many of us, this is not our preferred mode of operating.
Yet, surprisingly perhaps, this is the way… of God!
He waits, and waits… for us!
He waits that we change…

The 1st reading (Wis.12:13,16-19) says it beautifully:
“Your sovereignty makes you lenient to all…
You are mild in judgement,
You govern us with great leniency.”

He waits that we recognize him, accept his ways, see him as REAL – really present in our lives.
How much longer will he have to wait for this to happen?…

Source: Images: Wikipedia, Experimental Theology – blogger

 

 

Diwali

diwali againThis year from November 11th to the 15th, our Hindu friends, neighbours and colleagues are celebrating the feast of DIWALI, « the festival of lights ». The festival spiritually signifies the victory of good over evil.

Ahead of the feast, people clean and decorate their homes and offices. They light up lamps and candles inside and outside their homes and they take part in family prayers to LAKSHMI, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. A family feast follows with exchange of gifts.   (Source Wikipedia)

« In Hinduism, men contemplate the divine mystery… They seek freedom from the anguish of our human condition either through ascetical practices or profound meditation, or a flight to God with love and trust. » 

(Vatican ll document on The Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, no.2)