Year B -Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

25^th Sunday in ordinary time - Year B

Wisdom 2.12,17-20

Psalm 53

James 3.16-4,3

Mark 9.30-37

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Details

-The grey rabbit tests the blue rabbit. He pretends to look the other way by turning the head, but he still keeps an eye on the reaction of the blue rabbit.

-He taps his left hand against the hammer, to make sure how hard it is.

-He whistles two notes at the same time (which is impossible - try it !)

This means he is two things (his innocent attitude and his action, which is less so).

-The other rabbit, the blue one, the one who is beating the world record for the high jump, he says nothing. His silence makes less noise than the two notes of the whistling rabbit. (Careful, don't think for a moment that I am trying to say that one must always suffer in silence and say "Amen" to everything. I am merely placing the spotlight on another point)

Questions

-This verse from the Bible is the thoughts of the villain who wants to test to find out if God will help.

-What tests have fallen upon me ? Provoked by people who wished to see my Christian reaction when pushed to the limit ?

-How do I react to the violence which is aimed at me ? What are the limits which one must not pass with me ? Do I ask God to help me in these moments is it my nature to take it all for myself ?

-Was my reaction a good example for others ? In what way was it a success

PS. We see that the blue rabbit ascends to the skies very quickly, looking at it that way...

:)

Year B - Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

24^th  Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B

Isaiah 50.5-9

Psalm 114

James 2.14-18 :

Mark 8.27-35

To go further

Details

-This rabbit has a remote controlled cross on a race car (convenient to transport it).

-The cross is not behind him, but in front. He wants to show it off. He wants us to see it.

-Also, he evaluates it by putting a digit (1) which means "I am the best, my cross is the heaviest, nanananana!!!"

-But he is not fooled by his little game, because looking at his expression, once  unmasked, he feels guilty.

Questions

-To take ones cross is not too choose one. It is, first of all, to accept the one that we have (to accept our defects, our old age, our dependence on others, our family or marital situation, unemployment, handicap, failures...)

-A cross made to measure, it is not a cross. We have many ideas to add to the cross, to make it aesthetically pleasing, to add effort and control the thing. A cross is not something to control.

-Did I choose my little crosses while doing all I could to forget the one that I should be carrying ?

-Do I await a call from the Lord to walk in his footsteps, or do I work away at my little personal comfort as long as no one says anything?

Year B - Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

Isaiah 35,4-7

Psalm 145

James 2,1-5

Mark 7,31-37

To go further

Details

-A little surprised this rabbit ... surprised at the promise of God that seems like science fiction ...
-The horizon is flat; he is calm, in the desert, on his camel. There is no relief in his life.
-Suddenly, the torrid country turns into a lake (I know someone who will surf a camel!)
-And here Giddyup galloping to escape the water, because Giddyup is a camel who has plenty of reserves in his hump. No need for more water.
And of course, the rabbit has to find a culprit for this unexpected situation. The first one that comes to him, the weather ...

Questions

-Jesus is the source. Source of life, source of the gift, source of love, source of freedom.
When I seek my source elsewhere, inevitably, I feel a great void after an intense moment of life, love, giving, freedom, since when apart from God, it only lasts for a fleeting moment.
And I will even flee from God, thinking that it is He who prevents me from living, loving, giving, to be free. Could God be so sadistic in harassing humans?
If that's what I think, then the God I imagine is not the true God.

As a complement from the Bible, this reading of Isaiah prophesies the return of Israel to its land, whilst having spent the last 50 years in exile in Babylon. And in order to return home, he has to cross the Arabian Desert. It is not only the purpose of the journey that is a joy, but the journey itself, where the desert will bloom again. How often do we wear ourselves out seeking a goal (for example to accumulate money or to go away on vacation). We then only see the goal, we forget the path to get there. The encounter with God does not happen only at the end of our lives, but throughout. This is the time it takes to get to know him.

Year B - Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

Isaiah 35,4-7

Psalm 145

James 2,1-5

Mark 7,31-37

Year B - Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

Deuteronomy 4,1…8

Psalm 14

James 1,17-27

Mark 7,1…23

To go further

Details:

-This rabbit has clean hands, that is for sure ! He has a pair of lovely white gloves.

-His tongue is forked like that of a snake and deep red as blood.

-Visibly, his intentions are less than pure, otherwise what would he be doing with a submachine gun and a balaclava ? His approach as he walks is also suspect ...

-The submachine gun fires quickly, with only one barrel. Also, his tongue could fire some deadly bursts.

-The rabbit points his finger accusingly. We do not know who at, or what he is doing. Free judgement...

-The rabbit is covered from head to toe, so that the outside world does not dirty him. On the other hand, we have our doubts about the cleanliness of his thoughts.

Questions

-If my hands are pure, is my heart also ?

-Are my weapons inside or outside ? Which are the most dangerous ?

-In which circumstances do I use them ? For what reason ?

Year B - Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

Joshua 24.1-18

Psalm 33

Ephesians 5.21-32

John 6.60-69

 

To go further

 

Details

-There are not really any details that could help in reflecting on this one.

Questions

-In response to the question "You do not want to leave too, do you?" , the answer is clear: YES, straight away even, and quickly !
-When did I want to leave ? By whom or what had I been disappointed? What made me doubt (or makes me doubt now) ? Do I speak about it, or do I carry it alone ?
-If we read again the life of Jesus, he had many reasons to leave, to be disappointed,  betrayed by men. He could have said "OK guys, there is no point in my being here, you don't listen to me. See you ! ". However, he stayed.
-What keeps me here ? What makes me persevere in my faith? What makes me live ?

Year B - Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

Proverbs 9.1-6

Psalm 33

Ephesians 5.15-20

John 6.51-58

To go further

Details

-A rabbit is insulted over the telephone. I purposely drew an old telephone to show that it is heavy to carry, just like the words he hears.

-He clenches his teeth, looks to the side, and puts his hand on the mouthpiece so as not to respond. He uses all of his efforts to not respond.

-Underneath the telephone, there is a stack of paper sheets ; « spoken words fly away, the written remains" except that at times, the spoken words that hurt us stay deep within us just as much as the written words.

Questions

-Have I experienced a spoken word which hurts? which denigrates ?

-And I, am I innocent of all harmful words ? The last time that I managed to hold my tongue of such words, when was it ? What good did I take away from the experience ? This means that I am capable. Perhaps I was pushed by a certain Holy Spirit ? Do I think to call Him in these cases, or do I moreover play tit-for-tat ? Why ?