Tuesday 20 December 2016

Year A - 4th Sunday of Advent

4th Sunday of Advent – Year A
1st Reading: Isaiah 7.10-14
Psalm 23
2nd Reading: Romans 1.1-7   
Gospel: Matthieu 1.18-24




To go further

Details

-The rabbit is alone. There is no hill, no bottom of a valley. He does not think that God could send him a sign.
-A little explanation of the Biblical text from which this is inspired. Ahaz is a young king, pulled every which way. He turns away from God to adore his idols. He even goes as far as to offer his own son in sacrifice to the god Moloch. Isaiah, the prophet, finds the king and reprimands him in the name of the Lord. He says this to him "Ask the Lord your God for a sign… " God is everywhere ( in the deepest depths and in the highest heights). Ahaz asks God for nothing.
In the cartoon, we see 6 ears. Six being the number of imperfection. The rabbit has "deaf ears". These ears are turned in all directions. He has not finished "paddling".

Questions

-Some of us look for signs from God as if they would be lights that clear the way ahead. Then, as soon as there is no more light, we stop and wait for the next light. It is not what we should be looking for. When the sign is there, we take it. When it is not we follow the previous sign.

-Some of us simply don't dare look for the signs, because it could have serious implications in our lives, and we would have to change something.

Am I looking more for signs than for God?
Do I prefer to not look for signs? Why?

Thursday 13 October 2016

Year C - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

1st Reading : Exodus 17.8-13
Psalm 120
2nd Reading : 2 Timothy 3.14 – 4.2
Gospel : Luke 18.1-8


To go further
Details

This rabbit is on the pendulum of a metronome. The metronome is an instrument that gives a signal to measure the tempo, or speed, at which the music must be played.
This kind of metronome has a a pendulum, and the heart (on the pendulum) can be adjusted up or down. The lower the heart, the quicker the tempo.
The pendulum has graduations marked by musical terms denoting tempos from slow to fast. In this image, everything is fast (grouillo, rapido, presto, magno) however, the rabbit does not seem to be too shaken.
-One colour is common: red. We see it on the bible, in the heart, with the rabbits' tongue. The three are in harmony. "Preach the word", this is done with the heart.
-Behind the metronome, there is a key to wind it up. We can each ask ourselves, which is the key that lifts us up to proclaim the word of God.
-The side of the metronome is graded between red and blue. Blue is cold, red is hot. To proclaim the word when things are going well (red) and when things are not going so well (blue).
-The background is also graded: grey at the bottom, light yellow at the top. The rabbits' head is in the yellow. The rabbit is in the light when he speaks of God.

Questions

-A setback, in my day, it is something that was unexpected, and which bothers me
-A setback, in my Christian life, it is something unexpected, but which could help me grow tremendously.
Which are the setbacks that helped me grow? Why?
Which are the ones that made me fall off my feet? Why?


Thursday 18 August 2016

Year C - 18th Sunday of ordinary time

Ecclesiastes 1.2 ; 2.21-23   
 Psalm 89   
 Colossians 3.1-5 & 9-11   
 Luke 12.13-21
 

To go further

 

Details

-Inheritance, it is the ice cream cone: which is intended to be used to hold 2 scoops of ice cream (an inheritance for 2 people)
- The number of scoops and the different flavours show that inheritance is important. The yellow rabbit is eating everything, mockingly it seems (the nasty villain!)
- The green rabbit pulls on the arm of Jesus, asking Him to make His verdict. Notably, this rabbit is turned towards his brother and he is not even looking at Jesus. He is "caught up in his thing." He wants Jesus to serve him to his own advantage, rather than to serve Jesus.
- And from a little further away, comes death, looking very perky. He proposes a ready-made solution ; cut everything in two. Inheritance or not, case closed !
- The inheritance "melts" (just look at the scoops of ice cream on top). In other words, the inheritance will "pass". It is not eternal.
Questions
-The green rabbit becomes a practising Christian on the day when he feels he has something to gain. On that day, he seeks Jesus. Not to listen to Him, but to tell Him what to do.
- Have I ever had that attitude towards Jesus?
- Can I remember the last time I did such a thing?
- How have I evolved since?
 

Tuesday 5 July 2016

Year C - 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time

1st Reading : Isaiah 66.10-14
Psalm 65
2nd Reading: Galatians 6.14-18
Gospel: Luke 10.1-12 ; 17-20


To go further

Details

    -This rabbit is a little overloaded. If we take a look at all of his tools, there are quite a few for outside, gardening or agricultural tools in fact.
    –There are also some tools for indoor use, such as the hammer, screwdriver, electric cable, paint, white spirit etc.
    -And there are some items which are little more unusual: a hanger, an anvil...
    -And in the middle of all that, a little flute (you saw it right?) which shows the free quality of music, whilst the tools are held (more or less) in place.
    -So, what is the most important thing here? The multitude of things to do, or the gratuity of the smallest thing (the flute)

Questions

-If the rabbit does everything, all alone, is it because he has "found" nobody to help him? Or is it because he "looks" for nobody? I could ask myself the same questions. Often we start out saying that we cannot find anybody, and so we do it ourselves.
-Do I have an abundant harvest like the cartoon?
-What is important for me?
-What is important for me is not necessarily important for somebody else. Despite this, do I listen to the point of view of others or do I impose my own?

Thursday 31 March 2016

Year C - Easter (Vigil)

(The readings in bold are advised, the others are optional)

1st Reading: Genesis 1.1 – 2.2     Psalm 103/32
2nd Reading: Genesis 22.1-18      Psalm 15
3rd Reading:Exodus 14.15 – 15.1     Exodus 15.1-8 / Psalm 135
4th Reading: Isaiah 54.5-14     Psalm 29
5rd Reading: Isaiah 55.1-11     Isaiah 12.2…6
­6th Reading: Baruch 3.9-15.32     Psalm 18
7th Reading:Ezekiel 36.16…28     Psalm 41/50
Reading: Romans 6,1-11     Psalm 117
Gospel: Luke 24,1-12



To go further
-Details

-The women approach the tomb and see the empty shroud from far.
-The simple word from Jesus "Back soon" alludes to his second coming, at the end of time, but also to when he appears before his disciples the same day. The piece of paper is yellow, the colour of the sun, just as are the words "alive" and "resurrected", in contrast with the word "dead", which is grey as a tomb.
The note is facing towards the reader, i.e. you. Which is to say that, from the staircase, the women see the note in profile (and seen in profile one needs very good eyesight to see it properly). This paper represents the revelation; some see it clearly because it is their gift, others try to see it, and some others do not even see it at all.
One last thing concerning the note; to see what it written upon it, one must dare to enter in the tomb, otherwise you will pass right by it.

Questions

-And I, dare I enter in the mystery of the revelation?
-Do I try to understand? Do I drink in faith without reflecting upon it?
-Do I scan and scrutinise the scriptures just as the lady on the left?
-Do I place my warm-coloured basket on the ground, to see the note "Back soon", with an even more dazzling colour?

Thursday 4 February 2016

Year C - 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C
1st Reading : Isaiah 6.1-8
Psalm 137
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15.1-11
Gospel: Luke 5.1-11
To go further

Details

-The rabbit is is poised at the ready. Ears pointed backwards to allow greater flight.
-He has an idea where he will be going because he looks in the cross-hairs... but then everything really depends on the power of the catapult, and whether he will finish up before, after or on the target.
-He has a helmet sporting a star. It is the light which is sent during the night.
-The catapult resembles a Formula 1 car with bigger wheels at the back
-The release system is two-fold. The rabbit is held back by two ropes. We might expect to see only one. The signification is that, in the Church, when somebody is sent on a mission, two things are required ; that the person has an inner call (coming from themselves) and that the same call is confirmed by the Church who chooses to send them. We are not sent just because we feel we should be.
-There is no decor, because when God sends us, we let go of all else.
-This image could represent Jesus, sent by the Father, to love and save us.

Questions

-When I am sent.
-Do I attribute my mission as coming from myself ?
-Do I realise my mission ?
-Must I be told 36 times that I am going in the right direction, and be kicked up the behind several times ?
-Have I ever been disappointed by a mission ? Was I given the mission or did it come from myself?

Monday 18 January 2016

Year C - Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

Third Sunday of Ordinary Time - Yeat C
Néhémie 8,2-4. 5-6. 8-10
Psalm 18
1 Co 12,12-30
 Luke 1,1-4 ; 4,14-21

To go further

Details
- The blue rabbit is suffering with all his body. It is his foot which has been hurt, but it with his tongue that he screams (therefore perfect harmony between foot and tongue), it is his hands which try to relieve the pain in his foot. It  is his body which leaps and jumps with the pain. The Word of God "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it" is verified.
- On the other hand, the grey poet-rabbit is on the right, his is absolutely not in harmony with the rabbit who is suffering. He is quite happy to create a poem. He observes but does not enter into the suffering of the other. If they are both baptised, then in principle they are brothers and members of the Church, body of Christ. Here we cannot say that both rabbits are of the same body.
Questions
- We will speak in the context of a Christian assembly (mass, prayer, other...)
- In what way am I a member of the body of Christ ?
- Do I know how to suffer with someone else ? When did I last do this ?
- Do I know how to rejoice with someone else ? When did I last do this ?
- Do I know how to rejoice for someone else ? When did I last do this ?
- And regarding all of that, do I experience it only internally or can other people see that I am outwardly expressing it in this Christian assembly?

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


To go further
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 ?