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The Nativity of the Lord, Year B – 2023-2024

23 décembre 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Child Jesus, childhood memories, crib, hidden meaning, interprétation, Magi, myth, shepherds

For many of us, our childhood memories of Christmas bring back the images of a crib.
Christmas was indeed the special celebration of the child Jesus lying in a manger.
He was held in the arms of his mother Mary under the admiring gaze of Joseph.

To this simple presentation, a more detailed one was often outlined.
More personages were part of the scene: the shepherds and the Magi.
The shepherds were often seen bringing sheep to the new-born.
The Magi, known as the three kings, carried more precious gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh.

 

Many people would call this a childish representation.
Others would claim that it is all part of a myth.
Some would recognize it as symbolic, evocative…

I would side with this last group – the Nativity scene is truly symbolic and powerfully evocative.
More still, it calls for a deeper interpretation, a search for the hidden meaning…

It even inspires an appropriation of what the personages stand for.
Could it be that there is within each one of us a shepherd?… A Magi?…

Hidden in the depths of ourselves the shepherd –
simple, humble, generous, in contemplation of the amazing reality: God has become one of us, truly so…

Hidden as well within us, the Magi (the Magus, in the singular) –
the wise one, coming from afar, in search of truth and meaning, bent in adoration of the Infant-God…

Both of them, and ourselves, have thus understood something of what is proclaimed in this celebration:
“The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us…”    (John 1:14)

 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/la-nativite-du-seigneur-annee-b-2023-2024/

 

Source: Images: Photos Public Domain   Aleteia

 

 

 

Common Sense Day – 4 November

4 novembre 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: interprétation, judgements, philosopher, practical knowledge, solve problems., thinking

HISTORY OF USE YOUR COMMON SENSE DAY

Common sense as a concept is ancient, first being brought to the limelight by the great philosopher, Aristotle. He described it as the ability with which animals (including humans) process sense perceptions, memories, and imagination to reach many types of judgments. To his thinking, only humans have real reasoned thinking, which takes them beyond common sense. This was then carried forward in the Roman interpretation, which holds that concepts like ideas and perceptions are held by man and make them more sophisticated than animals.

French philosopher, René Descartes, established the most common modern meaning, and its controversies, when he stated that everyone has a similar and sufficient amount of common sense, but it is rarely used well.

Since the Age of Enlightenment, the term “common sense” has been used for a rhetorical effect both approvingly, as a standard for good taste, and source of scientific and logical axioms.

In modern times, common sense is defined as ‘the basic level of practical knowledge and judgment that we all need to help us live reasonably and safely”. Without any doubt, applying common sense could save one a lot of problems.

Common Sense Day was created by Bud Bilanich, a career mentor, motivational speaker, blogger, and author. He’s starred in some leading TV shows and magazines and has written 19 books that highlight how to succeed in life, and how the application of common sense is vital to that success. Common Sense Day was first celebrated in 2015.

 

Source: Text & Image: https://nationaltoday.com/use-your-common-sense-day

International Translation Day – 30 September

30 septembre 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: clarity, communication, interprétation, language professionals, opportunity, role, terminology

The role of language professionals

International Translation Day is meant as an opportunity to pay tribute to the work of language professionals, which plays an important role in bringing nations together, facilitating dialogue, understanding and cooperation, contributing to development and strengthening world peace and security.

Transposition of a literary or scientific work, including technical work, from one language into another language, professional translation, including translation proper, interpretation and terminology, is indispensable to preserving clarity, a positive climate and productiveness in international public discourse and interpersonal communication.

Thus, on 24 May 2017, the General Assembly adopted resolution 71/288 on the role of language professionals in connecting nations and fostering peace, understanding and development, and declared 30 September as International Translation Day.

Why 30 September?

30 September celebrates the feast of St. Jerome, the Bible translator, who is considered the patron saint of translators.

St. Jerome was a priest from North-eastern Italy, who is known mostly for his endeavor of translating most of the Bible into Latin from the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. He also translated parts of the Hebrew Gospel into Greek. He was of Illyrian ancestry and his native tongue was the Illyrian dialect. He learned Latin in school and was fluent in Greek and Hebrew, which he picked up from his studies and travels. Jerome died near Bethlehem on 30 September 420.

Multilingualism, a core value of the United Nations

Languages, with their complex implications for identity, communication, social integration, education and development, are of strategic importance for people and the planet.

There is growing awareness that languages play a vital role in development, in ensuring cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, but also in attaining quality education for all and strengthening cooperation, in building inclusive knowledge societies and preserving cultural heritage, and in mobilizing political will for applying the benefits of science and technology to sustainable development.

An essential factor in harmonious communication among peoples, multilingualism is also regarded by the United Nations General Assembly as a core value of the Organization. By promoting tolerance, multilingualism ensures effective and increased participation of all in the Organization’s work, as well as greater effectiveness, better performance and improved transparency.

 

Source: Text: https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-translation-day

15è dimanche de l’année B – 2021

9 juillet 2021
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Trésor ancien et nouveau
Mots-clés: ajuster, Amos 7:12-15, interprétation, plan B, plan de Dieu, Ps.103, Ps.145

Avoir un ‘Plan B’ pour tel ou tel projet, c’est très important, c’est même essentiel dans certaines circonstances!
Nous le savons bien: nos plans – même les plans les plus prudemment échafaudés – ne réussissent pas toujours.
Nous pensions avoir tout prévu, envisagé toutes les possibilités, et voilà que nous ne parvenons pas à nos fins.
Nous nous voyons obligé/es de changer de direction et d’avoir recours à… un autre plan.
C’est ici que le ‘Plan B’ prend sa place.

Il arrive que ce soit Dieu lui-même qui intervienne et change notre parcours.
Nous avancions tranquillement sur le chemin de notre choix et… la route se ferme devant nous…

C’est ce qui s’est produit pour le prophète Amos.
Il était à la fois gardien de boeufs et jardinier – il le dit lui-même à Amazias, prêtre de Béthel :

« J’étais bouvier, et je soignais les sycomores » (1ère lecture : Amos 7:12-15).

Voilà que Dieu le choisit pour être prophète et l’envoie chez ses frères juifs du Nord où il n’est évidemment pas le bienvenu.
On le chasse sans plus de considération: qu’il aille prêcher aux siens au pays de Juda!

Dieu s’est-il trompé? L’idée fait sourire!
C’est que les… ‘Plans B’ de Dieu sont parfois assez étranges et plutôt déroutants!…
Et surtout… ils nous dérangent.
Ils nous obligent à réajuster notre vision des choses, notre interprétation des situations –
et cela est exigeant!

Comme Dieu est exigeant.
Dieu est bon, patient, indulgent, compatissant (Ps.103; Ps.145),
mais il est aussi exigeant parce qu’il nous aime et ne veut rien de moins que ce qui est le meilleur pour nous.

Il nous faut donc apprendre à… nous laisser déranger par Dieu.
Il nous faut nous laisser initier à ses… ‘Plans B’, si dérangeants soient-ils!…
 

Note: Une autre réflexion sur un thème différent est disponible en anglais à: https://image-i-nations.com/15th-sunday-of-year-b-2021/

 

Source: Image: commons.wikimedia.org