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31st Sunday of Year B – 2024

A change of… perspective – this is what we sometimes need…
Looking at something from another angle…
Taking a slightly different view of a situation…
Considering a problem from another viewpoint…
This change may lead to a completely different outlook and influence our attitude in a more positive way.

This reflection is appropriate when looking at the 1st reading of today’s celebration (Deuteronomy 6:2-6).
At first, we may think that this Scripture text is all about observing God’s commandments.
This is correct since the author says clearly:

“These are the commandments which the Lord your God has instructed me to teach you
that you may observe them”.

But it is not, we could say, the whole story!
Many people believe that obeying God’s commandments is something we MUST do –
somehow we have no choice.
But… we have missed something important which changes the whole perspective, indeed!

The writer of Deuteronomy, from which this text is taken, adds:
“Listen then, keep and observe
what will make you prosper and give you great increase,
as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you,
giving you a land where milk and honey flow”.

In other words, the commands that we are given are for our own good!
God knows what is best for us and he shows us the way to follow so we may reach what will make us truly happy.

Many of us believe that WE know which direction our lives should take.
But, often, we end up experiencing problems and misfortunes that we would have escaped if only we had followed God’s way.

It is never too late to… change perspective!…

 

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/31e-dimanche-de-lannee-b-2024/

 

Source: Image: https://www.scriptureimages.com/bibleverse/kjv/deuteronomy-6-3-kjv.php

22nd Sunday of Year B – 2024

In our moments of lucidity and honesty, we are usually ready to admit that…
there is often quite a gap between what we say and what we do!
Our way of acting does not always match our way of speaking…

This is true of many people and shows itself in all kinds of situations.
This thought came to me as I read the gospel text of this celebration (Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23).

We hear Jesus say clearly:
“These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me”.

His words are an echo of what, long before, the prophet Isaiah had proclaimed in the name of God (Isaiah 29:13).
God had already told the people of Israel that he was not satisfied with their repeating religious formulas and performing rituals.
He wanted them to behave as his people, a people faithful to his commands.
He expected them to follow his ways, treating their neighbors as he, God, treats each one of them.

Hundreds of years later, Jesus must repeat the same teaching to correct the attitude of the scribes and the Pharisees.
They are concerned with their own traditions, “human prescriptions’, focusing on small matters, while forgetting the great commandment of love for God and for other people.

It may be that… we also need to hear these words…
It may be necessary to listen to Jesus himself reminding us of… God’s priority!
This is where our ‘heart’ should be!

It is possible that we are more concerned with being attentive to small details and regulations that WE consider important, while leaving aside GOD’S obvious choice of genuine love in action.
We may need to be brought back from pious words to the faithful carrying out of what God asks of us…

Some will say: “It is a difference of perspective”.
It is indeed, but it is much more than that!
It is about the transformation of our thoughts and ways to take on God’s thoughts and God’s ways.

An on-going process… an ever-needed progress…

 

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/22e-dimanche-de-lannee-b-2024/

 

Source: Image: https://www.scripture-images.com/bible-verse/asv/mark-7-6-asv.php

11th Sunday of Year A – 2023

We ask one another many questions, questions about all kinds of things.
But it happens also that we ask questions of… ourselves.
This situation may arise especially when faced with situations which we find disturbing.

At such times, we may wonder:
“Is God unaware of what is happening to me?
Does God not mind how I am suffering just now?
Can God not do something about what I am troubled with?”

In fact, these questions are directed to… God himself!
At such times, it may be good to do what God tells Moses in today’s 1st reading (Exodus 19:2-6):

“The Lord called to Moses and said: “This is what you are to tell the people of Israel: 
‘You yourselves have seen what I did …
 and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself’.” 

God’s words invite us to look back – look back to how he, God, has dealt with us in the past.
To remember, to become aware again – or, perhaps for the first time – of what God has already done for us previously.
Could it not be that God has indeed carried us, pulled us out of difficult situations and, literally, brought us back to himself?

This looking back, this remembering, may not remove the present obstacle, or solve the actual problem.
But the perspective may change, the perception of what I am faced with may take on a completely different aspect.
And I may then feel better able to cope with what seemed overwhelming before…

It is worth a try!…
 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/11e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/

 

Source: Image: Depositphotos

 

À mon réveil…

« Après mon éveil, il me dressera près de lui,
et, de ma chair, je verrai Dieu.

Celui que je verrai sera pour moi,
celui que mes yeux regarderont ne sera pas un étranger. »    Job 19:26-27

Quelle perspective!
Quelle vision!
L’audace de la FOI l’envisage…

 

Source: Image: pxhere.com

 

 

22nd Sunday of Year B

« It is a question of perspective… »
These words are sometimes spoken by someone who does not agree with a statement from somebody else.
That person does not want to express disapproval outright.
He, or she, does not want to manifest too bluntly a difference of opinion, or taste.
But, the person wants to distance him/herself from the affirmation heard.

It could be a temptation to react in this way to the texts of the gospel.
Jesus’ example invites us to a completely different attitude.
In the scene of this Sunday (22nd Sunday of Year B – Mc.7:1-8.14-15.21-23),
we see him responding with force to the Pharisees and scribes who challenge the attitude of his apostles.

What we see happening is, yes, a change of perspective, but much more than that.
Jesus leads them to change their focus from the following of traditions for traditions’ sake
to a genuine faithfulness to God’s message.
He calls his audience to move from appearances to the heart.
It is quite a change indeed!

Nowadays more than ever our society focuses on appearances.
‘Image-making’ has become an art and success in business, politics, entertainment, depends very much on this.
The gospel does NOT!

We are faced with the on-going challenge to move

  • from the outward expressions to the inner reality,
  • from what is manifest to what is hidden,
  • from what is superficial to what lies in the depths of ourselves and others –
    • the place where God is present and where our true self is being shaped by his Spirit…

“Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them,
but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them…
The things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.”

A change of perspective indeed!

Note: Another reflection is available in French on a different theme at: https://image-i-nations.com/22e-dimanche-de-lannee-b/

Source: Image: twitter.com