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5th Sunday of Easter, Year A – 2023

5 mai 2023
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: home, John 14:1-12, John 14:23, restlessness, satisfaction, serenity, unease

Someone may have chosen to live in a luxury apartment.
Another person has found the ideal family house.
Yet another has bought a summer residence.
A friendly shack is reserved for sport activities for still another.

All these locations serve as some kind of residence where rooms are available.
Yet often the people who own, or rent, these places do not seem to enjoy fully the time they spend there.
Is it not true that may of us experience some kind of restlessness wherever we may find ourselves?
We had thought we would be fully happy at the cottage, or condo, we have acquired, but…
Somehow it seems that something is missing.

This is possibly the result of… being human!
Full happiness, total satisfaction, seem to elude us.
Most times we experience some kind of unease…
We long for something else, for more…

In today’s gospel, Jesus tells his friends that he is going to prepare a place for them (John 14:1-12).
They are unaware of what he means and they ask themselves where he is going.

Our own reaction may be quite similar whenever we think of what lies ahead…
Ahead at the end of our lives here on earth…
Because there are moments when we think of this… trying to imagine what is awaiting us.

In simple words, we could say that what is waiting for us, what Jesus has prepared for us, is our real HOME.
A place of complete happiness, where pain, anxiety, misfortune, have disappeared.
Satisfaction and serenity will be ours for ever.

Perhaps we could add that a foretaste of this is already offered to us if…
If we make God ‘at home’ with us.

Jesus has said:
“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word,
And my Father will love him,
And we shall come to him
And make our home with him.”     (John 14:23)

It is as simple as this… if…

 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/5e-dimanche-de-paques-annee-a-2023

 

Source: Images: pexels.com   (Pixabay,   Kelly,  Jack Redgate,   Bianca)

 

18th Sunday of Year C – 2019

2 août 2019
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23, meaning, need, pleasure, Qohelet, satisfaction, vanity

“I have s tried everything and I could not get satisfied.”

These words spoken today correspond to the experience of Qohelet
(this Hebrew word refers to someone addressing an assembly, or ‘the Preacher’)
described in today’s 1st reading (Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23). 

What did this man really want?
Satisfaction from all his efforts – efforts to achieve a life of contentment:
he was trying to taste some enjoyment and pleasure.

But his experience is one of suffering, dissatisfaction, restlessness,
as he realizes that he has worked much and…
what he has gained he must leave to someone else who has not done anything to obtain it!

But in fact, that man was looking – not for pleasure – but for MEANING.
This is what a human being is most in need of: meaning.
The meaning of life… and the meaning of death too!

Who among us has not, one day, asked those existential questions:

  • Where do we come from?
  • Why are we here on this earth?
  • Where are we going?

Qohelet complains that: “Everything is vanity” – in this context vanity means futility.
It refers to something pointless, useless, meaningless…
 
What is the point of getting up in the morning, rushing to work, laboring the whole day.
returning home at night to find there… many problems… go to bed to start again the next day…
Indeed what is the point?

There is NO point unless one has found… the meaning.
An on-going search perhaps?…

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/18e-dimanche-de-lannee-c-2019/

And in a video, (also in French) Rachel (personified by Nathalie Ménard) asks herself: ‘Is that all there is to life?’ ‘Est-ce tout ce qu’il y a dans la vie?’ https://youtu.be/k6wStCaBH6U
 

Source: Image: Knowing-Jesus.com

World Quality Day – 8 November

8 novembre 2018
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: assistance, creative ideas, économies, innovation, inspiration, satisfaction

Ever picked up a product, excited to get it home, only to find out that when you open the box and put it to its intended task for the first time it just falls apart? Or called in to get technical support and you pretty much just get a set of read out responses rather than the assistance of people who are actually knowledgeable in their subject? These terrible experiences just enhance the absolute necessity of quality in every aspect of business.

History of World Quality Day

Quality Day was established in 2008 at the Imarsat Conference Centre to create a place and time to discuss techniques of innovation, inspiration, and creative ideas. With Quality serving as a fundamental part of the GDP of first world economies, striving to improve customer satisfaction while finding ways to reduce the cost involved with increasing quality have been an essential part of business strategy.

Source: Text: DAYSoftheYEAR Image: Twitter

 

18è dimanche de l’année B

3 août 2018
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Trésor ancien et nouveau
Mots-clés: aventure, défi, durable, éternité, gratification immédiate, impérissable, Jean 6:24-35, Nourriture, pari, permanent, satisfaction, temporaire

Certains disent que l’une des caractéristiques de notre époque est le désir de gratification immédiate.
On veut la satisfaction ici et maintenant – sans avoir à attendre la réalisation de nos souhaits dans un avenir incertain.

Il y a sans doute un peu de vérité dans cette affirmation mais… il y a déjà longtemps le proverbe disait :
« Un je tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l’auras. »
Cette attitude est peut-être inscrite dans nos gènes ?

Et voilà que l’évangile de ce dimanche (18è dimanche de l’Année B – Jean 6:24-35) nous suggère quelque chose de bien différent.
Le texte nous invite à… voir les choses à plus longue échéance.

Jésus s’adresse à la foule qui, la veille, a mangé à satiété les pains qu’il a multipliés.
Pas étonnant que tout ce monde revienne le lendemain pour… un autre festin !
Le prophète de Nazareth leur a donné de manger à leur faim, de se rassasier littéralement !
Qui ne voudrait pas jouir davantage d’une telle générosité ?
C’est facile, c’est immédiat, c’est satisfaisant !

Jésus leur dit alors:
« Travaillez non pas pour la nourriture qui se perd,
mais pour la nourriture qui demeure jusque dans la vie éternelle. »
 
Sûrement pas ce qu’ils désiraient entendre.
Eux aussi anticipaient une… gratification immédiate.

Mais Jésus les invite à :

  • Passer à un autre niveau ;
  • envisager la réalité à une autre échelle ;
  • utiliser une autre mesure de satisfaction.

Le même message s’adresse à nous aussi, à nous qui désirons
succès, réussite, bonheur, richesse, tout de suite, oui : ici et maintenant.

Mais le défi de l’évangile est de chercher ce qui est durable, permanent.
Anticiper l’impérissable au lieu du corruptible.
Rechercher, au lieu du temporaire, ce qui s’ouvre… sur l’éternité.

Un défi, un pari… toute une aventure!

Note: Une autre réflexion est disponible sur un thème différent en anglais à: https://image-i-nations.com/18th-sunday-of-year-b/

Source : Images : mvcweb.org   vozportucalense.pt