Mk.9:24

2è dimanche de Pâques, année B – 2021

Dans l’évangile, Jésus parle à toutes sortes de gens et il s’adresse à eux de différents manières.
À certains moments, ce qu’il dit a de quoi nous étonner, et à nous interpeler aussi .

Dans le texte d’aujourd’hui (Jn.20:19-31), nous l’entendons dire à Thomas :
« Cesse d’être incrédule, sois croyant. »

Je me surprends à penser : ‘Comme si cela allait de soi!’
Et une image se présente à mon esprit :
celle du père qui demandait à Jésus de guérir son enfant épileptique
et à qui Jésus semblait reprocher une foi chancelante…

L’exclamation spontanée de cet homme m’émerveille :
« Je crois mais viens en aide à mon peu de foi! » (Mk.9:24)
Aux paroles de correction qu’il adresse à Thomas, Jésus ajoute pour nous tous :
« Heureux ceux qui croient sans avoir vu. »

Croire… nous voulons croire mais…
Nous désirons bien avoir confiance… nous en remettre à Dieu en tout et… malgré tout.
Mais… il y a le questionnement… les doutes…
Il y a la tentation de se fier à quelque chose de plus visible… de moins mystérieux…

Encore en cheminement vers une foi profonde et éprouvée,
nous pouvons déjà prier :
« Je crois mais viens en aide à mon peu de foi! »
Suivra ensuite la proclamation de Thomas :
« Mon Seigneur et mon Dieu! »

Alors, nous serons compté/es parmi ceux-là :
« Heureux ceux qui croient sans avoir vu. »

Note: Une autre réflexion sur un thème différent est disponible en anglais à: https://image-i-nations.com/2nd-sunday-of-easter-year-b-2021/

Source: Image: 17QQ

Feast of the Ascension, Year A – 2020

The gospel texts have much for us to learn, to reflect upon, to be inspired and to be challenged by.
But at times, there are some texts which are also giving us some comfort and encouragement.
It can be a series of verses, but it can also happen that only one line, or even a few words, have some unexpected comforting message.

This is the case in today’s gospel text (Mt.28:16-20) where we are told:
“The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.”

This is surprising indeed.
The apostles had been with Jesus for some three years.
They had seen, heard and touched him (as John would later write: 1 Jn.1:1),
noticing what he said and observing what he did.

In the 1^st reading is is also said:
“After his suffering, he presented himself to them
and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.” (Acts 1:1-11)

Still some of the apostles doubted – is it not quite astonishing?
Astonishing, yes, but also encouraging for us who are struggling to believe.

There are moments when our faith is tested… questions arise in our minds.
We find ourselves in situations where we no longer see God present with us.
Some circumstances see us puzzled and perplexed, wondering and searching for meaning.
We are trying to make sense of some event that seems meaningless.

We should not think that this makes us guilty in God’s eyes.
He knows us, fragility is part of our human nature.
God understands our difficulty in trusting him in all things and at all times.
What he expects from us is that we try, and try again… and again.

And he is pleased when we make ours the prayer of the man in the gospel who said to Jesus:
“Lord, I believe but help my unbelief.” (Mk.9:24)
In other words: Help this part of me which is still struggling to overcome my doubts…

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/fete-de-lascension-annee-a-2020/

Recherche

image-i-nations trésor

2è dimanche de Pâques, année B – 2021

Source: Image: 17QQ

Feast of the Ascension, Year A – 2020

Source: Image: www.joyfulheart.com