Year A - Fifth Sunday of Easter

Fifth Sunday of Easter - Year A

Apostles Acts 6, 1 - 7

Psalm 32

1 Peter 2, 4 - 7

John 14, 1 - 12

  

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Details

- The blue rabbit is Jesus who's going from Earth (brown on the floor and green on the walls) to Heaven (blue in the lift). The lift door is red (same as last week for the door handle, it's the same meaning)

- He's pushing a trolley with bookings. The bookings don't mean that everything is played, that it's inevitable (either I am on it or I'm not, depending on what he's decided and that's all). On the contrary, the booking depends on me, on my life. The colour of the bookings is bright yellow, like the holiness.

- If we look at the lift buttons, the one going up has no number but the mathematical sign for infinite (an overturned 8)

- There is a grey rabbit who's going in the opposite direction. He's not coming out of the lift (impossible, it's a one-way system, fortunately !) He meets Jesus' look. What is happening inside him ? It's for you to guess.

Questions

- What about you, how do you hear Jesus' Word : "I am going there to prepare a place for you" ?

Year A - Fourth Sunday of Easter

Fourth Sunday of Easter - Year A

Apostles Acts 2, 14 ... 41

Psalm 22

1 Peter 2, 20 - 25

John 10, 1 - 10

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Details

- The symbolism is mainly in the colours. The room in which the rabbit stands is life on Earth (green floor like the grass, blue wall like the sky)

- The wall which the rabbit is turning towards is pale blue, that's Eternal life.

- The door is Christ. He has the same colour as the wall, because Eternal Life is, before all else, HIM.

- The handle is red (this is Jesus humanity. The access to the sky is possible through his sacrifice. The red represents the blood that was shed on the cross)

- The door is open, Jesus is always welcoming. There's no lock ; he is accessible to everyone without needing to study. The frame is white, like the holiness that covers us, without which we can't see God.

- On this drawing, the rabbit does not dare pushing the door, he stops at the frame. There's a branch of religion which is called « gnosis ». Salute is in knowledge (You « know » so you can be saved, otherwise you have no chance). This rabbit stops at knowledge and he can't go through the door because he's lacking faith and knowledge from the heart.

Questions

- If Jesus opens his door, do I let myself in ?

- If Jesus knocks on my door, will I let him in ?

Year A - Third Sunday of Easter

Third Sunday of Easter - Year A

Apostles Acts 2, 14 ... 28
Psalm 15
1 Peter 1, 17 - 21
Luke 24, 13 - 35

 

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Details

- The grey rabbits are the Emmaus disciples. The blue one is Christ.

- Jesus is opening the disciples' minds to the intelligence of the scriptures. The dark grey is the one who hasn't understood, the light grey has understood. At the origin, he was dark like the other one but he's been enlightened because his mind has been opened by Jesus.

- We can see the opening that's been made to insert the key is heart-shaped.

- We can also see that the inside of the dark grey rabbit is light (look at the contours of his heart) which means the key is inside him.

Questions

- Why draw such a key ? The youngest has never seen one like this. This key used to be used to rewind clocks, for instance, or any other mechanical engine that used to work with a spring in the shape of a spiral. That means you had to tighten the spring and by slowly expanding, it was making the engine work. When the spring was completely loose, the engine would stop and you had to use the key once again to tighten God is there, even if I can't feel anything. It's to believe that he's acting, even if I can't see him. To do an act of faith is free. I don't expect anything from God but I tell him I believe in him.

- There's even a prayer called « act of faith » which we can recite : « O my God, I firmly believe all the truths which the holy Church teaches, because in revealing them you can neither deceive nor be deceived. » This does not mean that we must quite simply believe, because that's a mystery, but that we must start with what has been revealed to us, dig further and understand it a bit more to understand.

- During my day, do I regularly take acts of faith ?

Year A - Second Sunday of Easter

Second Sunday of Easter - Year A

Apostles Acts 2, 42 - 47

Psalm 117

2 Peter 1, 3 - 9

John 20, 19 - 31

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Details

- At a first glance, this drawing could seem disrespectful. That would mean not knowing well the author.

- This rabbit represents the apostle Thomas who's asking to put his hands in the wounds of resurrected Jesus in order to believe he's the same one who died and is now alive.

- On this drawing, his left hand is resting on the cross at the place of one of the nails. Yet, he doesn't believe, because his doubt is not in his hand but in his head.

- The « As you wish » said by the one holding the hammer shows a spiritual behaviour which I describe in the category « questions » just underneath.

- He's going to hit the hand … but without putting a nail in it, as if to give a lesson.

Questions

- The lesson in question is that we sometimes ASK God for suffering. You will probably tell me « That's absurd ». Have you never thought that way : « Lord, please take this person's suffering off him and put it onto me. » Let's be careful with this sort of prayer. He could respond to us « As you wish » (because WE want it, despite the fact that the rabbit's behaviour shows us he's not ready for this kind of ordeal …)

- The Lord doesn't want us to suffer. Let's not ask for extra sufferings even though we're already struggling to accept those that make up our life.

Year A - Easter Vigil

Easter vigil - Year A

Genesis 1, 1 - 2, 2

 Psalm 103 or 32

Genesis 22, 1 - 18

Psalm 15

Exodus 14, 15 - 15, 1

Exodus Cantics 15, 1 - 8 or Psalm 135

Isaiah 54, 5 - 14

Psalm 29

Isaiah 55, 1 - 11

Isaiah Cantics 12, 2 ... 6

Baruch 3, 9 - 15.32

Psalm 18

Ezechiel 36, 16 ... 28

Psalm 41 or 50

Romans 6, 11

Psalm 117

Matthew 28, 1 - 10

 

To go further

Details

- There are spring colours. Only the grave is grey.

- The angel is this snowman. Silly ? Maybe not that much … Its colour is the purest of all we know around us (snow). Its face is made with eight stones (two for the eyes, six for the mouth). The eighth day being the resurrection one.

- In its snow « hands » it's holding lightnings. Logically that's impossible. If it manages, it's because everything is possible for God, including resurrecting his Son.

-If we look at its hands, they are two blocks of snow that open into three fingers. Certain representations also have extremities which widen out or open like on this picture. The symbol is also the one of life, of resurrection, a bit like if the cross was coming into bud.

- There are two bubbles coming from the sky. The left one could be any saint. The right one is God who's answering him. We understood that if that angel looks odd, it's to attract attention.

- Three question marks in the three fundamental colours (yellow, blue and red) pop out of the rabbit who's watching this « angel ». He's asking himself fundamental questions.

Questions

- What if I was witnessing such a thing ? What would I do ? To whom would I tell about it ? Why ?

Year A - Good Friday - Passion service

Good Friday - Passion Service - Year A

Isaiah 52, 13 - 53, 12

Psalm 30

Hebrews 4, 14 - 16 ; 5, 7 - 9

John 18, 1 - 19, 42

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Details

- The blue rabbit (representing the Christ) is resolutely walking towards his Passion. The mountain is grey, the sky is somber.

- On the other side, wealth (money on the buildings), luxury (sports car), glory (camera in front of the castle, orange colour), easiness (castle life), immediacy (fast plane), pleasure (blue sky), ...

- Right in the middle, a simple sign "give your life" with an arrow pointing towards the difficult side

- The cross is higher than everything else (money, plane, ...)

Questions

-In the Bible verse, it is question of "achievement". "My servant will prosper". Indeed he managed to give his life for you. We should put achievement on the left side of the picture. That's not what achievement is. The grey rabbit who's going towards the town can see the other resolute rabbit go past. You can tell he's questioning it. Is he also going to give his life ? What about me ?

Year A - Good Thursday - Mass of the Last Supper

Good Thursday - Mass of the Last Supper - Year A

Exodus 12, 1 - 14

Psalm 115

1 Corinthians 11, 23 - 26

John 13, 1 - 15

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Details

- Foot washing was a job for slaves, for servants. Jesus wants to show his disciples that you must put yourself at the other one's service, that you must consider them as being above yourself. Therefore, he's on his knees, he's "beneath", contrary to St Peter who is "above".

- The only time when Jesus is "above" is when he's being put there, when he is "put up", on the cross, in a state of total despoliation

- Saint Peter is completely stuck in the way he sees Christ. On the picture, he's in a corner and can't move

- What will make him move is when he will disown Jesus three times. Sometimes, to get back on earth, we don't come down, we fall down

Questions

- There's a good thing about falling : you get to see misery. When you've fallen down, you experience the mercy of God who picks you up. When you've fallen down, you become more merciful and more humane towards those who fall. How does that meet my experience ? On which points do I never forgive ? Why ?

- Jesus, to come and meet me, never stops putting himself down. If I try to put myself up, I may miss him. Where are the places or the moments where he can meet me ? How do I encourage these meetings with him in my life ? In my week ? In my day ?

Year A - Sixth Sunday of Lent - Palm Sunday

Sixth Sunday of Lent - Palm Sunday - Year A

Matthew 21, 1 - 11

Isaiah 50, 4 - 7

Psalm 21

Philippians 2, 6 - 11

Matthew 26, 14 - 27, 66

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Details

- The grey rabbit (classically dressed, with neutral colours), wants to melt into the crowd.

- As for the blue rabbit, he has everything to be noticed : pink glasses, red hat, he's screaming in bright colours, to make sure he gets seen. He doesn't look like he has a model lifestyle because he's just drunk a bottle and his teeth show that his food is not healthy. Yet here he is, compromising the other one with unflattering words.

Questions

- The grey rabbit ignores him by a gesture (he turns his back on him and swears with his hand) as well as by his words (I don't know this man)

- How many times do I look like the grey rabbit when conversation starts about Christ, the Church, the Pope, ... in a hostile land ? I don't like to be ignored. Have I ever wondered about Christ's feeling when I behave as such towards him, despite the fact he's perfect and no one can reproach him anything ?

Year A - Fifth Sunday of Lent

Fifth Sunday of Lent - Year A

Ezekiel 37, 12-14

Psalm 129

Romans 8, 8-11

John 11, 1-45

To go further 

Details

- This rabbit who's all wrapped up is Lazarus in his grave who Jesus has come to resurrect. He is embalmed and his bandages make him trip over a branch that is growing inside the grave.

- This picture could be a representation of the purgatory. The purgatory is a state (not a place)where we've made the choice of God instead of death ... except we're not quite ready enough to see it straight away. Him, his absolute Holiness (on the picture, he's the light on the right).

- The rabbit is stretching forward, ears included (the light is the resurrection), his desire to see God is there, and it will be granted after this time of purification. He looks quite impatient.

- Some things are still holding him back (the bandages) which are mainly unforgiveness or the awareness of everything wrong he has done during his existence on Earth. Here, it's close to nothing that prevents him from going further, but there's still something ... 

Questions

- Jesus is asking for him to be released but he doesn't do it himself. Maybe we'll have to ask for forgiveness to those who we've hurt, therefore repairing an insult, and we will then be the instrument that will release and free the other ...

Annunciation

Annunciation

Isaiah 7, 10-14 . 8-10

Psalm 39

Hebrews 10, 4-10

Lk 1, 26-38

  

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Details

- This picture is inspired by the impossible stairs created by Lionel Penrose in 1958

- Four rabbits are forever climbing up

- The blue rabbit, enthusiastic, is counting the stairs. The orange rabbit serenely walks on but looks back. The pink one is starting to get tired and needs the help of his hands. The purple one is sighing, it's starting to be long ...

- These stairs could represent the spiritual life which must never stop. At the beginning we're ardently enthusiastic, we try and evaluate our progress, we count. Then we realise what we've lost by following Jesus. Sometimes with regret or bitterness if we forget to look forward. Then we're starting to struggle. We stick to our humanity, we experience our very down to earth misery. We have the choice to stop or carry on struggling.

Questions

- This picture can also represent how I represent Lent. Never forget that on this picture, all seems to depend on the man's efforts without counting on God's grace.

- What is the proportion between the efforts I make and the grace I'm welcoming (by praying, supplication, listening) ? 50%-50% ? 20%-80% ? 90%-10% ?

- I'll help you, the best solution is 100%-100%. The Virgin Mary tested it first. My turn to follow. Nothing is impossible for God, is it ?

Year A - Fourth Sunday of Lent

 Fourth Sunday of Lent - Year A

1 Samuel 16, 13

Psalm 22

Ephesians 5, 8-14

John 9, 1-41

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Details

- The rabbit giving the  unction is the prophet. The one receiving it will become the king.

- The horn has the colours of a flame. Fire and oil are symbols of the Holy Ghost which resides in the king. The king is praying.

- The oil is being poured in abundance, just like God's grace which flows abundantly.

- The other rabbits are unstable on their legs, they're slipping. The oil is also what wrestlers put onto their body to escape from their opponent. In the spiritual field, it's the oil unction (the baptism, as there are the symbols of water and oil) which allows us to fight against evil forces.

- Oil is also used for lamps (oil lamps ... of course), symbol of foresight and fidelity ("keep your lamps on" Jesus tells us)

- And finally there is an aspect of "permanence". Oil penetrates (try and get rid of an oil stain ...). Unction is indelible, permanent.

-The horn, in the Bible, is a symbol of power.

Questions

- Of all the meanings, which is the one that talks to me the most when I think about the action of the Holy Ghost in my life ? Why ?

Saint Joseph

Saint Joseph

2 Samuel 7, 4 ... 16

Psalm 88

Romans 4, 16 ... 22

Matthew 1, 16 - 24

To go further

Details

- On this picture, there is a contrast between the temple which is imposing and Joseph's house which is very small. Nevertheless, God needs Joseph to be Jesus' adoptive father, to teach him to grow up, to read, to pray.

- If we look carefully, the house, the tree and the rock make us think of the Trinity icon where, above the Father there is the house (heaven), above the Son there is a tree (the Tree of life, the tree of the Cross) and above the Holy Ghost there is the rock (or the wave which leads). This being one og the interpretations and not THE interpretation.

- Still on the picture, we can see that the Temple has one only door whereas Joseph's house has plenty. Where Jesus is, salvation is proposed at the four corners of the world.

- There is only one way that leads to Josep's house. Jesus is the way that leads to the Father's house.

- The rock, on the right of the tree, is shaped like an ear. This is the Holy Ghost listening.

Questions

- In his life, Joseph has constantly been pushed around by the Holy Ghost. Maybe he had planned for a straight well-framed life. Here he is, finding out his fiancée is pregnant, that the child is coming from the Holy Ghost and that God chose him to be his adoptive father. He must flee from Herod who wants to eliminate the child ... His whole life takes a different turn to what he had expected. Yet he keeps trust and staith faithful.

- What about me ? What does Joseph's behaviour tell me about my life ?

Year A - Third Sunday of Lent

Third Sunday of Lent - Year A

Exodus 17, 3-7

Psalm 94

Romans 5, 1 ... 8

John 4, 5-42

 

To go further

Details

- The rabbit makes multiple efforts :

• he's climbing (the mountains in the background accentuate the climb)

• he's carrying something heavy (and quite useless because his jug seems to be 99% empty

- Where God is (we can see his hand) there is no need for water because everything is green, nature is luxuriant

- But between what Jesus says and what we understand, there is sometimes a big difference, for instance when he talks to Francis of Assisi asking him to rebuild his Church. Francis goes to get his tools and works with his hands to rebuild the chapel although the Lord is talking about his Church (the people that it is made of). It's obvious that had he had a fax machine, he wouldn't have made a mistake thanks to the spelling ...

Questions

- Here, Jesus is asking for a drink, he's thirsty to be loved, to be loved for what he is, him the creator of love.

- He's thirsty for my presence, not for my jug. When I'm invited, it's not the flowers, the bottle or the chocolates that I offer which will be at the centre of the evening, it's my presence in front of the other one.

- I can make considerable efforts and realise that they were misplaced. What I think I can hear God say "rebuild my Church" can use up all my energy and close my ears. It's only once I will have accomplished what I thought was God's work (but in fact, it was rather my idea) that I will finally be available to open my ears. But how difficult it is to let go of our idea ...

- What about me ? What is the idea (or the project) which I wouldn't want to let go of ? Something or someone which I care for and that I wouldn't want the Lord to get involved into ? (what image do I have of him if I think that way ?)

Mind your back, that is a real question of Lent !

Year A - Second Sunday of Lent

Second Sunday of Lent - Year A

Genesis 12, 1-4

Psalm 32

2 Timothy 1, 8 - 10

Matthew 17, 1-9

To go further

Details

- Obviously no one has ever seen the reality of such a picture : it NE-VER happens.

- After the Booted Cat, the Booted Rabbit (or Pooted), unaware, hands in his pockets, one ear facing front one facing back, whistling. He has a revealing role. His passage reveals what we really think.

- There are a lot of revealing agents along our way. We are also revealing agents for others, without necessarily knowing.

Questions

- The words "I will bless those who bless you" are words from God adressed to Abraham. At that moment, he doesn't really know God.  

- God's blessing passes through mediations, mediators.

- Today, I have the power to bless (to say nice things or to wish them). Blessing is easy when the sun is shining, when all is well, when I am loved.

- Maybe I believe that the blessing is a consequence of all these causes if they are all happening (all is well so I'm blessing). It's quite the opposite : if I bless, then all may be better. Carfeul, there's no magic. It's only because we decide to put ourselves in a situation where we're not at the centre of ourselves.