The way of imagination

The story of ABRAHAM’S family o    1 st generation : Abraham fathers Ishmael & Isaac; ISAAC “inherits the blessing” which Abram had received in chapters 12, 15 & 17. o    2 nd generation : Isaac fathers Esau & Jacob; JACOB inherits the blessing, through no small amount of trickery/subterfuge (cf. Gn. 28.10, 13-14). o    3 rd generation : Jacob will father 12 sons through his 2 wives (Leah & Rachel = sisters) and his 2 concubines/maidservants; Joseph (son # 11) is his father’s favourite and becomes the focus of chapters 37 – 50 of the book of Genesis. Genesis 27.41 – 28.22: Jacob’s exile – punishment or providence?      Jacob “the trickster” has cheated Esau out of both his birthright and the patriarchal blessing.   First, he took advantage of Esau’s hunger in order to have his older twin foreswear the birthright (cf. Gn. 25.29-34); and then, at the prompting of his mother Rebekah , Jaco...

Surprise! Have you ever taken advantage of a loved one’s absence in order to… ( wait for it ) …create, repair or clean something in order to surprise your significant other when they returned home? There is something deeply satisfying about having worked hard at something that you hope will please your beloved – without having been asked to do it – and then seeing the joyful reaction of that special someone as they arrive and you unveil your work. This is indeed the situation that we find in today’s readings. Sadly, in today’s Gospel, the outcome is not happy. Today’s readings are an encouragement to us, the people of God, to act in the present in light of the fact that, at some point in the future , we will have to unveil – as a Church as well as individually – the results of our life-work in the presence of our Lord and our God. Of figs and fidelity. In today’s Gospel reading, we are given an account of Jesus’ activities during a three-day period .   Our reading beg...

Moyens de communication antiques. Connaissez-vous l’histoire de l’origine de la course de 42 km qui porte le nom de « marathon »? En 490 av. J.-C., au dème de la ville d’Athènes appelé « Marathon », s’est déroulé une bataille légendaire entre l’empire perse et une coalition de cité-états grecs. La fameuse « course » est fondée sur une légende qui est issue de la bataille. À croire la légende, un certain Euclès a été envoyé de Marathon à Athènes pour prévenir les habitants de la ville de la victoire de la coalition grecque et qui serait mort d'épuisement à l'arrivée après quelques heures de course. Des nouvelles stupéfiantes! Évidemment, avant l’apparition du télégramme, de la radio, du téléphone, et ensuite l’internet, il a fallu communiquer les nouvelles importantes de vive voix ou bien par une lettre dont la livraison se faisait par quelqu’un de confiance . En fait, la nature des textes du Nouveau Testament est semblable à celle du message qui a a...