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1st Sunday of Lent, Year B – 2021

19 février 2021
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: alliance, believe, Gn.9:8-15, Lent, Mk.1:13-15, near, relationship, repent, time

We have entered a new period of what is called the liturgical year.
We are now in the Season of Lent – a season rich in meaning.

In the gospel text of this 1st Sunday (Mk.1:13-15), we hear Jesus tell us:
“The time has come.” 
 
The time of what? The time for what?
Jesus answers:
“The kingdom of God has come near.”
 
We are often told to turn to God, to go to him, to be near him.
We are reminded that this Lenten period is meant for that.

What if we changed the perspective, turn it right around to…
allow God to come near to us?…
What if… Lent was the time to… allow God to come near to us?…

This is what he wanted from the very beginning when he created human beings.
He wanted to live in a relationship of proximity, of intimacy with us –
this is the meaning of the 1st reading where we see God making a special alliance with his people (Gn.9:8-15).

A time to allow God to come near to us so that he may pour into our lives all that he wants to bless us with!
Of course, we must believe it, believe HIM.
Of course, we must ‘repent’ – this is part of the process of freeing some space in us so as to be able to receive all that he is offering!

What an offering that is!

 

Note: Another reflection on a different theme is available in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/1er-dimanche-du-careme-annee-b-2021/

 

Source: Image: Facebook

2nd Sunday of Year A – 2019

6 décembre 2019
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: adjustment, conversion, correction, follower of Christ, Is.11:1-10, John the Baptist, Mt.3:1-12, repent

When keying in a text on the computer, it happens that we write a word incorrectly.
A red line appears under the faulty text and we know that a correction is required.

Practising a sport of any kind, we know from experience that we must sometimes change our technique.
A type of movement – a shot, a stretch or a sprint – may need to be corrected also.

As we travel to a certain place, we may suddenly realise that we have lost our way.
We need to turn back and take another direction.

We do it constantly and in all kinds of situations: correct, adjust, redress.
Why would we not do it with… our lives as Christians?

In a forceful manner, this is what John the Baptist calls us to do in today’s gospel (Mt.3:1-12).
He repeats that we need to REPENT.
The word may not sound appealing and what it asks of us may not appear promising.
Yet, we know that it happens that our lives need some correction and adjustment.

Another translation speaks of CONVERSION – literally this means a change of direction.
A turning back to find and take a new orientation.
It is as simple as that!
Simple? Yes. Easy? No.

But we are not expected to do this on our own.
God’s Spirit will enable us to take the direction leading us on the way of Christ.
In the 1st reading, Isaiah speaks of this “Spirit of wisdom, insight and power” (Is.11:1-10).
He is always ready to help us if only we ask him to do so…

This is what it means to be a ‘follower of Christ’: walking as he walked in the direction he took.

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/2e-dimanche-de-lavent-annee-a-2019/

 

Source: Images: Free Bible Images   Resources for Catholic Education

 

 

 

 

 

2nd Sunday of Advent, A

1 décembre 2016
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Advent, choices, crooked ways, décisions, judgements, justice, make straight our paths, Mt.3:1-12, opinions, plans, repent, respect, truth, vision of life, winnowing

pinterest-winnowingThe Bible speaks of God in so many ways. It describes his qualities and relates his actions. It also tells of his wishes for us, human beings. Often too, it speaks of his future interventions. All this in a language which is not abstract but quite vivid, one could almost say picturesque.

It is the case in today’s gospel (2nd Sunday of Advent, A) where we are told that the Lord is coming “with his winnowing fan in his hand” (Mt.3:1-12).

In our modern high-tech world we do not see much winnowing being done as it was in Jesus’ time. Such activity can still be observed in some areas of Africa or Asia but many of us would not have seen this otherwise than on television.

This does not mean that the message of the gospel text is no longer relevant. If we ask ourselves why winnowing is being done, the answer is clear: To separate the good grain from the straw or other unwanted material. This example speaks of sorting out, or getting rid of something to keep the good, the best.

Is Advent not a good period to do exactly this in our lives? We could look at it as a ‘Sorting out season’ – sorting out the different areas of our daily living: our opinions, our judgements, our values, our attitudes, our choices, our decisions, our plans, our habits, our expectations…

John the Baptist is calling people to ‘Repent…’ This involves a change, a ‘straightening up’ – the text says it clearly: “Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.” Perhaps the best way to do this is… to make straight our own paths!

To move away from our crooked ways, our distorted vision of life and people, our narrow-minded opinions, all that is us is a deviation from truth, justice, respect of others. Indeed, winnowing can still be part of a ‘modern’ life-style!

Source: Image: Pinterest