Dans certaines régions, le 27 juin on célèbre ‘Helen Keller Day’ – la Journée Helen Keller.
Cette journée est considérée comme étant d’un intérêt particulier pour la société.
Helen Keller a été une femme exceptionnelle et ses réalisations sont à la fois surprenantes et des plus intéressantes.
Dans la vidéo qui suit, l’un des épisodes de la série ‘Les mardis de Lise’,
Lise Massé nous présente cette femme remarquable qu’a été Helen Keller.
The first reading of this Sunday is quite astonishing (Ezechiel 37:12-14).
Only three verses but they offer six promises – promises from God himself.
Promises of resurrection,
of life,
of a homeland,
of the gift of God’s Spirit,
of knowing God himself.
Promises repeated, for good measure!
And the text concludes with these words:
“I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”
God speaks, God promises, God commits himself.
Why would we not take him at his word?!
And… dare to reply to his promises…
Lord, astounding God,
I trust your words,
I rely on your promises,
I dare hope to live for ever,
I surrender to you…
This should suffice for… a lifetime!
Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/5e-dimanche-du-careme-annee-a-2023/
You may have overheard a conversation when, suddenly, one of the speakers said:
“It’s a matter of life and death.”
You knew immediately that they were speaking about some serious matter.
In life, there are situations which are that important and we are aware of it.
The 1st reading of today’s celebration leads us to think of such situations (Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20).
The writer, Ben Sira, says clearly:
“Man has life and death before him;
whichever a man likes better will be given him.”
Some people may think that this arises as a sudden happening and that a choice has to be made instantly.
Most often, it is not so.
The choice is in fact a multiple one, spread over months and years.
Options are offered to us leading to decisions, one after the other.
And… these decisions fashion the person we become.
The options vary in kind and their impact is also different in intensity.
They open up different opportunities…
and the list can go on, every time offering a challenge –
the challenge to become a better person, more truly human, more essentially Christ-like, or… the opposite.
LIFE… or DEATH options, this is what they are.
Of course, they lead to a more meaningful and happier life or… the opposite.
The choice remains ours: what we like better will be given to us –
this is the astonishing gift of freedom!
Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/6e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/
The texts of the gospel come to us in different ways.
They reach us under different expressions and translations.
And they can provoke in us different reactions…
The last verse of today’s gospel text (Luke 18:1-8) does precisely this:
it awakens in us thoughts and questions.
Jesus has been teaching about prayer and about the need to persevere in prayer.
Obviously, this requires faith.
The text goes on to quote Jesus’ last words on the matter:
“When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
An astonishing statement!
Is it not amazing that Jesus himself would ask this?
It is a question that is not addressed to anyone but is possibly a reflection on Jesus’ part.
I should perhaps correct this statement…
The question of Jesus not addressed to anyone IS ADDRESSED to EVERYONE, everyone of us.
It is from each one that he expects FAITH.
It is with each one that he hopes to enter a special relationship…
A relationship
A relationship where one is
It may be was Jesus’ surprising question, his seemingly strange reflection is all about…
Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/29e-dimanche-de-lannee-c-2022/
May 22 is celebrated as International Day for Biological Diversity to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. The day also marks the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The United Nations General Assembly took this decision in December 2000. The day is celebrated every year with different themes to create awareness about the importance of biodiversity. This year’s theme is “We’re part of the solution”.
The International Day for Biological Diversity is an annual event that celebrates the importance of biodiversity. It is held on May 22nd each year.
The day was first established by the United Nations in 1993. The goal of the day is to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity and the need to protect it.
Biodiversity is essential for the survival of all life on Earth. It helps to provide food, water, and other resources that we need to live. Biodiversity also helps to regulate the Earth’s climate and provides a home for millions of species of plants and animals.
The International Day for Biological Diversity is a chance to learn about the importance of biodiversity and what we can do to protect it.
There are many different types of biological diversity. Some of the most important types are:
1. Genetic diversity. This is the diversity of genes within a species. It is important because it helps a species to adapt to changing conditions.
2. Species diversity. This is the diversity of different species in an ecosystem. It is important because it helps to maintain the balance of an ecosystem.
3. Ecosystem diversity. This is the diversity of different ecosystems on Earth. It is important because it helps to maintain the planet’s overall biodiversity.
4. Landscape diversity. This is the diversity of different landscapes on Earth. It is important because it helps to provide habitats for different species of plants and animals.
5. Human cultural diversity. This is the diversity of cultures within humanity. It is important because it helps us to understand and appreciate the variety of ways that people live around the world.
Building a shared future for all life
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is pleased to announce the Biodiversity Day 2022 slogan: “Building a shared future for all life”.
The slogan was chosen to continue building momentum and support for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework to be adopted at the upcoming UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15).
Questions are asked of us throughout the day and every day.
Some are about minor things, or small matters, and they require little thinking.
Other questions are about more serious aspects of our lives
and we may need to pause before we give an answer.
Of course, much depends also on… who is asking the question.
What about if it is… GOD who is asking us questions?!
Because he does ask us and these questions reach us personally and intimately.
In the text of the 1st reading today, God’s question is addressed to us through the prophet Isaiah (Is.55:1-11).
We hear him say:
”Why spend money… and your labor on what does not satisfy?”
This question may reach us when we did not expect it and yet…
it involves something that touches us closely:
our money, our labor, ultimately, our choices and our values.
In simple words: What do we live for?
From what do we expect to find satisfaction, in fact: where do we look for happiness?
After questioning us, God invites us:
“Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.”
At the beginning of a new year, this invitation opens up for us the path to follow –
to listen to the Lord and find the path to LIFE, a life full and meaningful.
Personally, I believe that if this is what God offers, it is the best that can truly SATISFY us.
Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/bapteme-du-seigneur-b-2021/
An author of spiritual books (Gerard W. Hughes) has published one under the title: The God of surprises.
His reflections are pertinent and helpful.
After reading it, I was thinking to myself: ‘Were I to write a book of spiritual reflections,
I would give it the title: The God of… paradoxes’.
This is one aspect of God that I find fascinating and sometimes… more than a little disturbing!…
He is a God who has decided to… become a human being – He took on our flesh (Jn.1:14).
He who knows all things had to learn how to speak.
He who is all-powerful had to depend on a woman of our race to answer his needs as a child.
He who created the world and all it contains had nowhere to lay his head (Lc.9:58).
What triggered this reflection of mine is the text of the 2nd reading of this Sunday
(14th Sunday, Year B – 2 Cor.12:7-10) where God tells the apostle Paul:
“My power is made perfect in weakness.”
It is Paul who tells us again:
“The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” (1 Cor.1:25)
This is the God who enabled Paul to say from experience:
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses…
For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Paradoxes… but then, is Christian living not a life of paradoxes?
The God of PARADOXES… my God… your God?
Note: Another reflection is available in French on a different theme at: https://image-i-nations.com/14e-dimanche-de-lannee-b/
Over 1:1000 Canadian men, women and children are living with lupus and while we work towards our vision of life without lupus we want to ensure people living with lupus are living well.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation in one or more parts of the body. A complex disease, it can target any tissue or organ of the body including skin, muscles, joints, blood, lungs, heart, kidneys and the brain. Men, women and children can be diagnosed with lupus but between the ages of 15 and 45, nine times more women than men are diagnosed.
Lupus is under-funded and under-recognized and is life-threatening and life-altering. While lupus is a serious condition, in most cases it can be treated and controlled. Diagnosis and treatment are improving, allowing people to live increasingly active and productive lives.
The words we use can express different levels of meaning.
Some words go deeper than others, we know it.
To get a glimpse of something or to catch sight of someone, is different from truly looking at the thing or the person.
Looking at a scene, staring at somebody, this too is different.
Seeing itself is also different from perceiving which implies something more…
And we all know that we may be looking… without seeing!…
This reflection came to me as a few words of today’s gospel caught my attention (15th Sunday of Year A – Mt.13:1-23).
A single line suddenly caught my sight.
It is the one which gives Jesus words as he says:
“Happy are your eyes because they see.” (v.16)
I stopped reading, there and then I paused…
I paused and… I asked myself whether this ‘beatitude’ is mine!
My questioning led me to ask whether I truly see the sights, the scenes, the situations of my daily life, as God would want me to…
More still, do I perceive there God’s presence?
Do I discern God’s message?
Perhaps much of life is about SEEING… as God sees!…
“FIRST THINGS FIRST”!
We hear these words from time to time.
They usually come from someone who has a lot to do already and to whom someone may ask to do something more…
The person may feel that too many tasks demand his attention, too many commitments claim her time and energy.
There is the obvious need to set priorities and, yes, to decide what should come first!
I would say that this Sunday (13th, Year A) is the day for doing exactly that: set priorities!
In fact, it is Jesus himself who asks us to do so and in no uncertain terms! (gospel: Mt.16:37-42).
His message is demanding, exacting, challenging!
We are to… stretch ourselves beyond the here and now.
We must extend our concern from the present to the ever-present = the everlasting!
We want life to be brimming with happiness and success and we are asked to… let go of it.
Let go of what we are trying to reach – at times, desperately so – to receive a life “in abundance” (Jn.10:10) promised to us.
It is a promise… Some may be tempted to say: ‘Only a promise…’
Yes, but from the one who never fails to make them come true!