Year B - Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday - Year B

Mark 11, 1-10

Isaiah 50, 4-7

Psalm 21

Philippians 2, 6-11

Mark 14, 1-15, 47

To go further

Details

- Scenery: a deserted town, apart from a person passing by and calling.

- A rabbit who's carrying as much as a mule would, who's walking straight on, and climbing...

- For those who don't know about the story, Cana is the place where Jesus turned the water into wine. If the rabbit offers this little detour, that's only because it would benefit him...

Questions 

- Let's say that the rabbit with a jar is called C, like "Christian advanced in his faith" and the one behindis called N, like "neophyte" (newborn in faith).

- C is well ahead, he's carrying something heavy, he's almost reached the top, he's struggling... Difficult!

- N is still at the bottom, quite happy, he looks at the bright side of things, he's following the other one but offers an alternative route. Maybe N is right? Despite the fact he's wrong because he's looking for a simple option, his inner attitude is right because he trusts God.

- What about me, do I listen to whomever is "lower than I"? Are "the poors my masters"? Do I let them challenge me? Do I stand my ground and refuse to move an inch?

- To be specific, when did I listen to someone smaller than I, whether it be on the social ladder, the family ladder, or the professional ladder? Did I take their opinion into account?

Year B - Fifth Sunday of Lent

Fifth Sunday of Lent - Year B

Jeremiah 31, 31-34

Psalm 50

Hebrews 5, 7-9

John 12, 20-33

To go further

Details

- The rabbit on the left is Jesus, he has the power to throw the demon (the red rabbit on the right) out of the world.

- We can see that there is light everywhere, except around the demon. Hell is not a place but a state. Hell is where I have shaded areas, where I lock myself in darkness.

- The demon carries his own darkness. But darkness runs away from the Light of Christ.

- The one-way trip shows that it is something permanent.

Questions

- What are my areas of darkness? There are some which I am aware of, and those that get thrown to my face. Do I give more credit to what I think about myself, or to what others think of me? Why?

Year B - Fourth Sunday of Lent

Fourth Sunday of Lent - Year B

2 Chronicles 36, 14-16, 19-23

Psalm 136

Ephesians 2, 4-10

John 3, 14-21

To go further

Details

- A rabbit trying to move a mountain, using a wheelbarrow. It's exhausting!

- In his wheelbarrow, we can see big rocks which have been trimmed (added effort) and show an inscription "merit", "GA" (good action). THE good action that any Christian has to do during the day (as if there was only one).

- He's just realised that he is saved by grace, free of charge, despite the fact he's already sweated a lot.

Questions

- What about me, what's my attitude towards God's free gift? Do I rely more on my strengths, on my merits, or on God?

- At the end of my life, after working a lot for God, and having used my strengths for Him as well as others, will I be jealous if God gives his graces to those who didn't work as much as myself?

- Am I exempt of any effort simply because Jesus will save me no matter what?

Year B - Third Sunday of Lent

Third Sunday of Lent - Year B

Exodus 20, 1-17

Psalm 18

Corinthians 1, 22-25

John 2, 13-25

To go further

Details

- The "gods" pull us away from God himself. I won't need to give a new line of thought, but only a question. What pulls me away from God?

- On this drawing, if we look carefully, we can see that the rabbit's desk is completely empty (apart from the computer). Only one thing can pull me away from God. Only one thing can really pull me away, if my heart is fully devoted to it. When I say "thing", I can also say "person".

- This rabbit is blinded because he "doesn't see" that he has other gods. His weird gaze shows that he's unable to look elsewhere, as if he was hypnotised.

Questions

- When I drew this picture, tablets didn't exist yet, phones weren't as important as they are now.
- An idol is something we can't live without. What or who can't I live without for a whole week ? Am I dependent on this thing ? In other words, it is manipulating me considering I can't live without it. An idol is not always something external, it can be inside me.

- Everywhere in France, we talk about freedom, but how can someone be truly free if he is chained to something, no matter how little (like this computer on an empty desk)?

- The important thing today is not to feel guilty but to realise "What am I missing?", "What may I miss if I stay focused on something or someone?"

Year B - Second Sunday of Lent

Second Sunday of Lent - Year B

Genesis 22, 1-2-9...18

Psalm 115

Romans 8, 31-34

Mark 9, 2-10

To go further

Details

- It's time for judgement. The demin carries on, quite vehemently, with his accusing work (which explains his name "Akusator". He's the accusation attorney, dressed in red.

- On the other side, there is God, who has the last word. Here, he says "STOP" and he's going to decide.

Questions

- Have you ever noticed that amongst Christians, the defense attorney (Jesus) is also the judge?

- These words, from Romans 8,31 should be known by heart. It's powerful and so true. No-one can take anything for the Father's hands. We're there, and no-one can separate us from God's love, expressed through Jesus Christ.

I won't say more than that, there's already a lot to think about.

Year B - Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday - Year B

A joyful Lent? Easy.

On Ash Wednesday, Christians meet for a celebration where there is an "imposition of ashes". This is a sign of penitence.

The gesture is a cross which the priest makes on each person's forehead, together with some words. "Convert yourselves and believe in the Gospel" or "Remember that you once were dust and you will go back to dust".

Depending on the priest, the gesture isn't always the same...

What about you? Which one of those were you?

If anyone says 6, I may not quite believe him...

Year B - First Sunday of Lent

First Sunday of Lent - Year B

Genesis 9, 8-15

Psalm 24

1 Peter 3, 18 - 22

Mark 1, 12-15

To go further

Details

- When we are baptised, God makes a commitment towards us. We become "Children of God", His children ! Those of you who have children know that we can't have children without committing to feed them, house them, bring them up...
- On this drawing, God commits, he's already signed. He's asking the baptised person for something in return.

- Baptism isn't a stamp that gives your a right to other sacraments (communion, confirmation, confession, marriage…), it's first and foremost a gift. God gives his life for me. God commits for me. Check on the picture, where you're supposed to sign, what can you see ? There's a cross on the cap of the pen. This is God's commitment. He commits to loving me even if I turn my back on Him, loving me even if I betray Him, loving me to the death, even to death on a cross.

- The rabbit is trying to get away from it. "He wasn't told" that you had to give something in return. Maybe I didn't ask to be baptised ? Maybe I feel like I was forced and now I'm forced to commit ? If that's the case, then maybe I should first try to understand the real meaning of baptism. Then, I will probably be quite pleased to have been baptised.

Questions

- The rabbit is accusing the other "I wasn't told". It's often quite easy to say so. It takes away any responsibility. It's just like saying "It's not my fault" and the problem is solved. When I commit to something, do I think about the consequences ?

- If things don't turn out as expected, do I run away from my responsibilities, do I look for answers somewhere else or do I accept my responsibilities ?

- Find an example when you ran away from your responsibilities and one when you accepted them.