image-i-nations trésor

13th Sunday of Year A – 2023

The slogan is well known to us that says: “First things first!”
These words express a determination to set priorities.

The gospel text of this Sunday invites us to a different choice (Matthew 10:37-42):
Our priorities should be about putting people first,
more precisely putting someone first.
This someone is Jesus himself who claims the first place.

He tells us clearly:
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me;
anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

Being a Christian, a follower of Christ, is demanding indeed.
As he was teaching people, Jesus did not speak a message that would easily win disciples.
The option he presented was that of… taking up one’s cross to walk in his steps –
not the most appealing offer, some would say.

Yet, to this day, there are many who accept his way of life, demanding as it is.
Those who dare to follow him are convinced that he has “the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
They believe that he is “the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).”

It is not a question of abandoning our loved ones but of setting the right priorities.
And even if they seemed to have lost their life in doing so,
the people who made this choice know that they have indeed found their life.

You may be one of them?… Then, you know!
 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/13e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/

 

Source: Image: Scripture Images

 

2nd Sunday of Easter, Year A – 2023

In this day and age, surveys are commonplace.
People want to know what others think about different subjects.
They want to be aware of how their fellowmen and women feel about many topics.
So, journalists, reporters, and others involved in the media, submit questionnaires –
questionnaires asking about the opinions and reactions to the headlines that make up the news.

What if someone came to you and asked: “What is FAITH for YOU?”

Some people may refuse categorically to answer what they see as a personal question.
Others may say that they do not believe, so they consider this question irrelevant.
There are some who will reply that they believe, that’s all – they do not feel the need to articulate what believing means.
A few may admit that… they do not know the words to explain what faith is really about.

The gospel texts of the Easter season can be a challenge to our faith.
At times, the narratives differ from one another as they present events and people in ways that vary.

This presents us with the option of becoming aware of what our faith is about.
Is it about a series of facts that we consider reliable?
Is it about a list of principles that we hold as true?
Is it about some teachings received long ago and accepted without question?
Is it about a set of values and attitudes that we see worthy of adoption as a way of life?

Or… is it the acceptance of someone we trust and rely upon, sure that he will never deceive us?
Someone we are convinced is truthful, reliable, and concerned about us personally?
Someone who, we dare believe, can never fail us, whatever the situation we find ourselves in?

Someone we are ready to commit ourselves to… for better or for worse?

To this someone, we are ready to say the words of the father of the epileptic boy:
“I do have faith, help the little faith I have.”  (Mark 9:24)

 

Note: In the following video, Arnold Rodriguez personifies Thomas, the apostle, who tells us what happened to him: https://youtu.be/kp1eb-oBH6w

Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/2e-dimanche-de-paques-annee…/ 

Source: Image: Crosscards.com

 

23è dimanche de l’année C, 2022

Faire des choix: nous en faisons constamment et de toutes sortes.
Le menu du jour, la tenue de sortie, le cadeau à offrir, le changement d’emploi, la période de vacances, etc.
Des choix, et encore des choix, s’offrent à nous et exigent une décision de notre part.

Et, si on y pense… DIEU a aussi fait un choix – un choix absolument renversant!
Un choix tout à fait extraordinaire et plutôt… invraisemblable!
Dieu a décidé de nous créer à sa ressemblance en nous faisant des êtres libres!

Dieu n’a pas voulu que nous soyons des marionnettes qu’il manipule à sa guise.
En nous créant libres, Dieu nous a, par le fait même, rendus capables de faire nos propres choix.

Dans le texte de l’évangile d’aujourd’hui (Luc 14:25-33), Jésus nous propose justement un choix.
Un choix exigeant, un choix qui demande un engagement sans condition et sans retour.

Le Christ nous invite à faire le choix de:

  • devenir son disciple,
  • marcher à sa suite,
  • accepter son message,
  • vivre selon les valeurs qu’il présente.

Depuis toujours, les êtres humains voulaient être comme Dieu (Genèse 3:5) –
et nous le sommes!
Mais… encore faut-il vivre selon cette réalité!

Laissé/es à nous-mêmes, nous n’y arriverions pas, mais le texte de la 1ère lecture (Sagesse 9:13-18)
nous assure que l’Esprit de Dieu lui-même nous a été donné.

Alors… l’option demeure présente et… elle nous confronte… au quotidien!

 

Note: Une autre réflexion est offerte sur un thème différent en anglais à: https://image-i-nations.com/23rd-sunday-of-year-c-2022/

 

Source: Images: penserchanger.com    webhub.social

1st Sunday of Advent, Year B

Many of us will have heard the words of a friend calling on his friend : “Wake up! I am talking to you!”
Or, someone addressing a colleague with insistence: “Wake up! I am speaking to you about something important.”
In both cases, what we hear is a ‘wake up call’, literally so.

In some way, we could say that such a ‘wake up call’ is one of the main themes of the Advent period starting today.
A message is addressed to us inviting us to come out of our slumber – mental and spiritual – and to pay attention to what is happening around us and within us too.

In today’s gospel (Mk. 13:33-37), it is Jesus himself who tells us: “Stay awake”!
And addressing his twelve friends, he adds:

“What I say to you I say to all: ‘Stay awake’.”
 
There is a word that, in form and in meaning, is quite similar to the word awake;
It is the word: ‘aware’.
It is good to look at them together and find there the deep meaning of this season of Advent.
In is a time when we should be especially aware – aware of what is taking place around us, aware of what is happening within us.

Aware of God’s message coming to me every day through events and people.
Aware of what I live from day to day, compared to what I would like to live.
Aware of what I do, which may be quite different from what I know I should be doing.
Aware of how I relate to others, and getting to realize that my relationships could be more mutually enriching.

Aware also of what could happen… if only we allow God to reach us and walk with us!
He who chooses the amazing option of becoming a human being like us!
Aware of how close, or how far, I am from him who wants me to live more intimately with him.

Advent: Awake and Aware: the attitude characteristic of this graced season.

Source: Image: lds.org

Note: Another reflection is available in French on a different theme at: https://image-i-nations.com/1er-dimanche-de-lavent-annee-b/

and a video presentation can be seen at: https://image-i-nations.com/1er-dimanche-de-lavent-annee-b-quil-revele/

Vendredi-Saint… S’en laver les mains…

washes hsands, jesus-story.netS’en laver les mains
S’esquiver,
se désister,
ne pas oser,
ne pas témoigner,
se soustraire à un devoir,
abdiquer une responsabilité,
éviter de prendre position,
fermer les yeux pour ne pas voir,
rejeter l’option qui demande du courage,
se laisser vaincre par la peur, la honte, l’indifférence –

C’est tout cela: s’en laver les mains…

Source: Image: jesus-story.net