Recherche

image-i-nations trésor

lesson

25th Sunday of Year B

22 septembre 2018
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: child, competition, important, Is.43:4, lesson, Mk.9:31-37, parables, precious, servant

Many of the gospel texts are well known to us – we know the stories; we know the people and the facts.
We remember the parables and their message.
The words of Jesus, at least many of them, echo in our memories.
Yet, I wonder if, at times, some important detail does not escape our notice.
This question came to me after reading the text of this Sunday’s gospel (25th Sunday of Year B – Mk.9:31-37).

This scene shows us the apostles who need to be corrected and Jesus is intent on doing so –
He will correct their misguided attitude of competing with one another, showing off,
trying to be seen as more important than the other next to them.

A lesson on being the servant of one another is what they need, obviously.
Jesus will not fail to teach them this in his own typical manner.
He does so in a surprising way.

“If anyone wants to be first he must make himself last of all and servant of all.
He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him…”
 
Another translation says: “He embraced the child…”
This is the detail: the child is important to Jesus, he matters!

There are current social movements with precisely this title:

  • ‘BLACK LIVES MATTER’
  • the corresponding counter current: ‘WHITE LIVES MATTER’.
  • the #metoo = #MoiAussi movement

are all expressions of this deep need within us : we want to matter to other people,
we NEED to be important to other people.

And the good news is that we do matter, we are important to God!
He said it in so many words long ago by his prophet Isaiah:
“You are precious in my eyes… I love you.” (Is.43:4)
 
Perhaps we had forgotten…

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/25e-dimanche-de-lannee-b/

Source: Image: YouTube

 

Holy Thursday, Year B

28 mars 2018
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: attitude, Have you understood, imitate, Jesus washing the feet, Last Supper, lesson, lifetime, meaning, Mt.20:25-28, put into practice, service

 A few days ago, on Sunday, when Jesus entered Jerusalem acclaimed by a crowd, our reflection showed us that his close friends simply did not understand why he was doing this.
They could not figure out what led Jesus to accept this demonstration by the people when he had refused before.
(* See below Palm Sunday).

Today, as we remember the Last Supper he had with his twelve friends (Jn.13:1-15), we see him asking them:
“Do you understand what I have done to you?”

Overcoming Peter’s initial reluctance, Jesus has just been washing the feet of all of them.
A very unusual task which would normally have been performed by a slave or a servant.
Jesus expects that his apostles will be puzzled by his gesture and he wants them to understand the meaning of what he is doing.
An attitude of service,
an attitude, a service, that they themselves are to imitate in the future.

In the past, Jesus had tried a number of times to show them this way of being his disciples (Mt.20:25-28) (Lk.22:27).
But it was a hard lesson, one they needed to be reminded of.
And, it became obvious that putting it into practice was… the task of a lifetime.

It seems the same is true for us as well…
Understanding is one thing, living according to what we understand is another…

Would Jesus need to ask us tonight: “Do you understand?”

Source: Images: LDS.org   vemsercristao.com

 * See      https://image-i-nations.com/palm-sunday-year-b/

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

 

 

 

Feast of the Transfiguration, Year A *

3 août 2017
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
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