image-i-nations trésor

26th Sunday of the Year C – 2019

Some people who find it hard to believe the Christian message will sometimes say:
“If someone came back from the dead to tell us how things are after we die,
then we would believe.”

This statement describes the attitude of people searching for a convincing answer –
an answer that takes away questions and doubts about where our human life is heading to.
But then, where would faith come in?

Amazingly, an answer has been given long ago.
We find it in the last words of Jesus’ story in the gospel text today (Lk.16:19-31):

If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets,
they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”
 
If we do not accept God’s message spoken by his messengers,
neither will we be inclined to accept this message from someone returning from the world of the dead.

But the strangest thing is that, in fact, someone HAS returned from the dead!
Jesus has – we affirm this when we recite the Creed saying:
“He has risen from the dead.”
 
He has told us about where we are going: to the very place he has prepared for us (Jn.14:2-3).
What else do we need? 

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/26e-dimanche-de-lannee-c-2019/

 

Source: Image: GOD IS REAL

 

 

10th Sunday of the Year B

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