Monday 11 January 2016

Year C - Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

Year C – 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Isaiah 62. 1-5
Psalm 95
1 Corinthians 12. 4-11
John 2.1-12
 
To go further
Details

- In the story of the wedding et Cana, there is no more wine. Jesus asks the servants to fill six jars with around a hundred litres of water and to bring them to the the head waiter. When the latter tastes it, it is a delicious wine.
- In this image, we see a rabbit in the background. He has tasted the wine and signals to another rabbit to come and try it. The rabbit sporting a dickey bow is receiving wedding guests, but the rabbit on the right has not come for the wedding but for the wine. He even has an excuse to offer : He has come for his purification.

Questions

- In this gospel, it is curious that Jesus uses purification jars in which to place wine. Imagine if He were to transform holy water into wine. Some people may be quite perturbed to not find holy water that they would look elsewhere until they found some. When Jesus asks us to look for something else.
- If we think about it, Jesus prevents people from purifying themselves... because it is no longer the water which purifies them, but Jesus himself.
- Sometimes, I am reassured by the elements of religion that I employ (signs, rites, prayers)and I forget to look beyond them. Jesus is He who perturbs our life, our signs and codes. Yet am I ready to look further ? Am I open to that which perturbs me or do I block it?

Monday 4 January 2016

Year C - First Sunday of Ordinary Time - The Baptism of Christ

First Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year C
Isaiah 42.1-7
Psalm 28
Luke 3,15-22


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Details

- John the baptist is baptising with water and Jesus is in the the Holy Spirit and in fire. This image shows a modern baptism. To the right, we see the priest welcoming the child with open arms, as Jesus did. The child is very receptive.
- The child is carried by his Godmother, for whom, her outfit may count for more than the baptism itself.
- The Godfather hold a fire extinguisher, in the event that a fire starts at the baptism. This is proof that he has heard the Word but has not understood.
- If we look closely, the cartoon is imbalanced between the exterior and the interior. The Godfather and Godmother show a richness in their clothes and a poverty inside because they do not understand the signification of a baptism. The child and the priest are clothed simply but with beaming smiles because they know that it is THE most important moment in the life of a Christian. The young child does not know it completely, but he is ready to welcome it all the same.

Questions

- Do I remember the date of my baptism ? Do I celebrate it ? Is it more or less important than my birthday ? Why ?
Questions for Godmothers and Godfathers :
- Do I understand my responsibilities towards my Godchild ? (I must be a solid believer, capable and ready to help the newly baptised child or adult, on their Christian path). Now that I know it, what must I do to be a solid believer ? Am I capable of helping my Godchild in this way ? How can I help them grow up in Faith ?

Tuesday 29 December 2015

Year C - Epiphany


Epiphany - Year C

Isaiah 60.1-6
Psalm 71
Ephesians 3.2…6
Matthew 2.1-12



To go further

Details

- As ever, upon first view, it is quite funny, yet there is something deeper beyond first glance...
- The kings are looking for the star. One has a map with a hole in it, the other doubts somewhat.
- Yet if we follow the stare of the first king, he sees much further than the map. With his right eye, he looks at you, and with his left eye, he seem to look further still, to the sky. You decide...
- The star which he seeks has six points, just as the star of David.
- In the cartoon, all the stars have 5 points, except for two. One has 8 and we can easily find it.
- If you are still looking for the star with 6 points, read on and I will tell you where it is.
We find it above God, represented in the cartoon (no really). He is represented by the question mark found in the bible verse, right up top. We cannot imagine God, so I have represented Him in this way.
- Last point, in the hole in the map, behind the rabbits head, there are no stars to be seen, because the brightest star here is the illuminated face of the rabbit who has found God.

Questions

- When you have found the star in the cartoon, can you now find the star in your life?
- How is it that the rabbit points his finger towards the star, even though the star is behind him ? I will leave that question open to you.



Monday 19 October 2015

Year B - Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year B

Jeremiah 31,.-9
Psalm 125
Hebrew 5.1-6 
Mark 10.46-52



To go further

Details

- The rabbit who makes his praise echo is behind (in an orchestra the percussion section is in the last line).
- The cymbals are red, and the "DZIM" too.
- The trumpet player, although on a lower step, now finds himself higher than he who plays the cymbal. The praise of the other has awaken him.
- The blue rabbit finds himself at his place of praise and he holds it loyally. Just look at his face.
- It is his instrument which speaks, his mouth is closed.

Questions

Do not confuse praise (or thanks to God for what He is) and that action of grace (where we thank Him for what He has done). It is easy to give grace then to praise. Yet mankind was created to praise God.
- Do I stick to my role of Christian in my praises ?
- How ?

Monday 12 October 2015

Year B - Twenty-Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Twenty-Ninth Sunday of ordinary time – Year B

Isaiah 53.10-11
Psalm 32
Hebrews 4.14-16 
Marc 10.35-45



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Details

- Imagine somebody who is truly brilliant, who has all diplomas in all domains. Somebody who knows everything, and knows how to do everything. This person would have nothing missing on their CV, and when (if they manage to) they are recruited in a company they take the broomstick to clean the floor. 
We could interpret this in saying "What a waste, we are not using the qualities of this person !"
Yet the logic of man is not that of God.
This truly brilliant person, it is Jesus. He is so brilliant that he is the light of the world (He, par whom the world is created don't forget !...) He puts himself in last place.
Is He timid, introverted ?No, He is God, and God does not make a noise. He tames men by hiding among them.

Questions

- And I , how am I placed ? What speaks to me in what I have just read ?
- In all of my diplomas and talents, which have I placed at the service of God and humanity ?
- How can I use them, in my place, in daily life?

Thursday 8 October 2015

Year B - Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)

28th Sunday of ordinary time – Year B

Wisdom 7.7-11
Psalm 89
Hebrews 4.12-13
Mark 10.17-30



To go further

Details

-This rabbit as infinite patience. He is passive. He knows that he will manage to untie the knots, it is only a question of time.
 -If we look at his right hand we can see quite a level of dexterity.
-He works with all of his being (hands, feet, ears)

Questions

-If all is possible to God, that doesn't mean that he will give me anything and everything. Sometimes, we have very specific demands in our prayers, and despite our faith, God does not give us what we have asked of Him. In this case, how should I react ?
-If God does not give me my Ferrari or my castle, do I ask Him why, or do I conclude that God simply does not listen to me ?
-I ask for what I wish, et God gives me what I need (knowing that my gift is not in the immediate but in the eternal life). That which he gives to me, is to prepare me for that life.
-Knowing this, does it stop me from asking the impossible from God ?

Monday 5 October 2015

Year B - Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

28th Sunday of ordinary time - Year B

Wisdom 7.7-11
Psalm 89
Hebrews 4.12-13
Mark 10.17-30


To go further

Details

The word of God is alive, we see this thanks to several points:
-1. The letters "a l i v e" are very warm and sporting an array of colours.
-2. The Bible has yellow pages inside, and a more modern fiery cover, with a light cross design. This signifies that its pages, although ancient, are still relevant now.
-3. The Bible bounces. I had thought about drawing it flying, but when it touches the ground, it gives more of an impression that it is down to earth, easy to reach.
-4. The Bible speaks. Jesus is the creator of words. Each of his words has logic. Jesus goes towards those who do no know them.
The blue rabbit who runs after the words, it is he who wishes to master them, to tame them and dress them up. Yet the word of God is not something one can chain up, it escapes from him. Nobody has a monopoly on the word of God, nobody has the one unique interpretation. 

Questions

-Do I have a real example of whereby the word of God is alive ?
-When did His word touch my heart profoundly ?
-When did it set me moving, to give my life direction ?