Year A - All the Faithful Departed

All the Faithful Departed - Year A

Wisdom 2, 23 ; 3,1 - 6.9

Psalm 4

Romans 6, 3 - 9

John 5, 24 - 29

To go further

Details

- The grey rabbit thinks of his friend, deceased, and past. He is not looking to the future (the eternal life where he will find him). He looks at the ground, not the sky.

- In the sky, very close to me, his friend is there, visibly happy. He tries to make a sign but it is impossible to communicate with him because the grey rabbit does not look in the right place. His ears are turned in the right direction, but his eyes, without hope, take over.

Questions

- It has already happened to me to meet some young people (and not only young ones) who have refused to go into a church because it reminds them of a funeral. Is the church a place of death? It is true that there are representations of death (crucifixes) pretty much everywhere... and not all that much which represents the resurrection.

So, I speak to believers; friends, YOU are the representation of the risen Christ in your church, and if you are not, you MUST BECOME IT. If nobody represents the risen Christ, if Jesus arisen is not visible in our living rocks who are we, where and how will the non-believers discover it?

- Another question: How should I consider death? Do I dig into the question? Do I avoid it? How should I understand these two affirmations "I believe in the resurrection of the body and the life of the world to come"? Where will I find the answers? Who should I ask? Why?

This 2nd November, I can remember those who have died and who will form the welcome committee when it will be my turn to pass through the door to the eternal life.

Year A - Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Malachi 1, 14 - 2, 2 ... 10

Psalm 130

1 Tessalonians 2, 7 - 9. 13

Matthew 23, 1 - 12

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Details

- The angle of view is situated more or less at ground level. It is the human condition. Humility comes from "humus". He wishes to lift himself, uses an object. When I wish to lift myself, I also use either an object which I value, or a quality (which was given to me, don't forget) or somebody on my path, whom I profit from. And when this object or this person is no longer there, PLAF!

- Second point, the gym is EMPTY.  All my prowess to lift me up serves only myself and does not benefit anyone else.

- Third point, it is not a coincidence if the rabbit hits the bar. A bar which is in the eye and which blinds him.

- Last point, the rabbit at the bottom, it is my conscience. My conscience which knows that which is good, but often, I do not listen, I put myself in the corner. Shame on me.

Questions

No need for questions. The explanation at the top is more than enough.

Year A - Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

Exodus 22, 20 - 26

Psalm 17

1 Tessalonians 1, 5 - 10

Matthew 22, 34 - 40

To go further

Details

- There is the parable in the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 18,28) where he who has lent throws himself upon he who owes him, to strangle him. Here, we see a hand which is used to strangle and another which is ready to hit.

- The rabbit on the left has the "knowledge" (he knows the ten commandments), the one on the right expects a model, a witness, not someone who is judgemental.

Questions

This cartoon also illustrates a saying of Jesus concerning the Pharisees. "Do as I say, not as I do" It is easy to say that the most important commandment is to love. Yet, in what I do, do I show this? Do I live it? Am I a living   "Living Word"?

Year A - Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

Isaiah 45, 1. 4 - 6

Psalm 45

1 Tessalonians 1, 1 - 8

Matthew 22, 15 - 21

To go further

Details

- Last week, the sunglasses signified the holidays on the image. This time, they allow him to see God (« We cannot see God without dying ») In fact yes, this is why we call ; SEE GOD! The holiness of God is great, great by excellence. This is what we acclaim during mass, when we sing "Sanctus". Think about it next time we sing it...

- On the ground, there are three other pairs of sunglasses, one to contemplate each divine being ; one for the Father, one for the Son and one for the holy spirit.

Questions

- The rabbit adores God with all his being, he can present himself to Him, face to face. And I, do I have this same attitude? Is there something which blocks me ?

- Do I adore each being of the Trinity? (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)?

- Is the holiness of God an obstacle for me in my relation with Him?

Year A - Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 25, 6 - 9

Psalm 22

Philippians 4, 12 - 14

Matthew 22, 1 - 14

To go further

Details

- The decor. It is empty except for God and I. On the day of passage, I will take nothing with me, I will have nothing more, I shall be alone with God (and my past).

- The rabbit, visibly, was on holiday on earth (shorts, sunglasses). Now, it is really too late to work in the vineyard of the Lord. He even tries to hide this from the Master who knows all, by holding his sunglasses behind his back.

- The shadow of the rabbit. This should usually be behind him, because the light comes from God ("God is Light" 1John 1, 5). This shadow is the dam (sins) that the rabbit placed between God and him.

Questions

- In the parable,  he who does not have their wedding clothes stays silent when asked the question. And I, what are my wedding clothe? In what, or in whom, do I place my convictions to be saved.

- Being thrown out at the last hour, am I afraid of it? Is it just for the others?

Year A - Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

 Isaiah 5,1-7

Psalm 79

Philippians 4,6-9

Matthew 21,33-43

To go further

Details

-The rabbit is swimming at quite a depth (one can see as the colour of the water is rather dark). He is not afraid of the shark, he even believes that it is a joke, a "red herring".

-The peace which comes from God is not a peace which removes the problem or which makes us believe there is no problem at all. If we treat a problem as a red herring, it is because we do not wish to face it.

-If the shark is the "problem", then the rabbit turns his back to it, but not his head. He points his finger to the problem and continues to swim despite all.

-This is the peace which comes from God. : It does not protect us from problems, but it does allow us to put them in perspective and to treat the seriously bad things at a distance whilst holding them at arms length.

Questions

-This Bible verse is cut at both ends ; Here is the entire verse "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"

-And I, what are my "sharks" (my problems)? Do they scare me to the point that I see only them ? To the point that I no longer wish to even live? Do I ask for the peace which comes from God?

Year A - Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

Ezekiel 18, 25 - 28

Psalm 24

Philippians 2, 1 - 11

Matthew 21,28 - 32

To go further 

Details 

- The rabbit, in prayer, invokes the name of Jesus. This brings the demon to fall (as ever, in my comic strips, there is the number 6 [imperfection] when there is the question of a demon. There are 6 stars).
-  The demon falls from the dizzy heights where he had placed himself. He is now put in his rightful place.

- He doesn't even fall to his knees, but to an even lower level still.

- The blue rabbits' hand is showing uncertainty, but the effectiveness of his word is sure. There is a visible difference between the timidity of the rabbit and the force of his word inspired by God.


Questions 

 - To invoke the name of Jesus is always effective. Yet "Effective" does not mean to say "it works as I wish it to" (nor "it works under certain conditions"). It means "He is acting upon it".
"In every situation, ask yourself: what would our Lord have done? Then do that" wrote brother Charles. "That is your only rule but it is absolutely binding on you"

-If we ask what Jesus would do, it is because we know him at a minimum. I cannot ask myself what my great-great-grandfather would have done, if I did not know him. On the other hand, I can ask myself what Jesus would have done as I have enough elements (in the Gospel) of his actions and gestures.
To know the wish of God, it is to first know the being of God ; To know the wish of God, seek to know God.

- Am I more attached to the result of my prayer than to the he who I pray to?