{"id":1840,"date":"2023-11-28T21:09:56","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T21:09:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/?page_id=1840"},"modified":"2023-12-14T17:06:16","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T17:06:16","slug":"advent-reflections-2023","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/fr\/advent-reflections-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Advent Reflections 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 id=\"block_2467e7a3bd817904233c58657aec3d70\" class=\"heading align-left text-color--0061AA page-width\">Introduction<\/h1>\n\n\r\n<div id=\"block_f5d366a4fc9186816168161f5aa6e970\" class=\"paragraph paragraph--default align-left page-width\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__inner-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__text\"><p><span style=\"color: #000000\">In the Christian life, especially in the Catholic Church, we have two great feasts during the year: Easter and Christmas. Because of their relevance to faith, each of these feasts has a time of preparation. Lent prepares for Easter and Advent prepares for Christmas. During Advent, we are invited to contemplate four biblical characters who mark the meaning of active waiting for the Lord. These characters are Isaiah, John the Baptist, St. Joseph, and the Virgin Mary.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\">We want to approach these figures by making a reading of faith from the reality that we live as a community of Bethlehem University in a context particularly complex and difficult. May these snippets of reflection help us to prepare for the coming of Jesus in our hearts, our families and, in particular, in the Holy Land, where today more than ever it is necessary to establish a time of lasting peace based on equal rights for all.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\r\n<h1 id=\"block_18a16b70c2a5a3322f9bf030c519e98c\" class=\"heading align-left text-color--0061AA page-width\">Week Two: John the Baptist. The Precursor. What does it mean to actively wait for the Kingdom<\/h1>\n\n\r\n<div id=\"block_afb0fffef3970b113188e17650d2ed13\" class=\"paragraph paragraph--default align-left page-width\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__inner-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"paragraph__title\">Read<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__text\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/default.salsalabs.org\/T8aa8f920-6299-41ef-abe2-3ad56cb254d6\/47176c37-828d-417e-85c4-479e01766f89\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"0\">Matthew 11:3-5<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\r\n<h2 id=\"block_22611801237c10343cdb3c2c95d43e38\" class=\"heading align-left text-color--0061AA page-width\">Listen<\/h2>\n\n\r\n\r\n\t<div id=\"block_46ff63853dfa68072268d3a2de55a90d\" class=\"split container--horizontal split-size--50 background-color--none page-width vertical-align--top\">\r\n\t\t<!-- Image Error (Could not load $image) -->\t\t<div class=\"split__inner-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\n\r\n<div id=\"block_200a63152dc77d991ae08bbf001dbc63\" class=\"video page-width\">\r\n\t<a href=\"javascript:;\" class=\"play-video\" aria-label=\"cliquez pour lire la vid\u00e9o\"><\/a>\r\n\t\t\t<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BE0UO1X0dsU\" title=\"Lecteur vid\u00e9o YouTube\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\r\n\t<\/div>\n\n\r\n<div id=\"block_7f93d6337b9b10be95ebbb697dc0c0be\" class=\"paragraph paragraph--default align-left page-width\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__inner-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__text\"><p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\n\n\r\n<div id=\"block_e0e37c439f8183f27711ccd7ab014637\" class=\"paragraph paragraph--default align-left page-width\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__inner-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"paragraph__title\">Reflect<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__text\"><p>In the second week of Advent, we are invited to contemplate the figure of John the Baptist, hand in hand with the Gospel of Matthew. Who is this prophet who announces the arrival of \u201cthe one who is to come\u201d? We have some references to John the Baptist in chapter 3, where the evangelist gives some references to him. He leads an ascetic life and announces the coming of the Lord. In this way, John is a witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God, it was he who baptized Jesus in the Jordan, when the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended on Jesus in the form of a dove and a voice was heard from heaven saying, \u201cThis is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased.\u201d (Mt 3:17).<\/p>\n<p>Later, in chapter 11:3, however, the Baptist sends his disciples to ask Jesus a troubling question: \u201cAre you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?\u201d Faced with this question, we would expect the answer to be yes or no. However, Jesus replies: \u201cGo back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.\u201d (Mt 11:4-5) Undoubtedly, all these actions are signs of the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven.<\/p>\n<p>But what does it mean that the Kingdom of God comes with Jesus? What is that Reign that we are waiting for like? How should we prepare? I believe that as disciples of St. John Baptist de La Salle, we are invited to train our gaze to learn to see things from the perspective of faith. That one goes a little beyond literalness and opens itself to the contemplation of God\u2019s action in the depths of the human heart and of daily life.<\/p>\n<p>Learning to look with the eyes of faith can lead us to prepare our hearts to contemplate the Kingdom of God:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>May our eyes blinded by power sympathize with human suffering; may haughty hearts change into compassionate hearts;<\/li>\n<li>Peace, paralyzed by the thirst for vengeance, may it walk with firm steps towards safer horizons;<\/li>\n<li>The leprosy of discrimination be extinguished and give way to a wider fraternity;<\/li>\n<li>Deaf ears are opened to the cries of innocent children and the multiple calls for a ceasefire;<\/li>\n<li>May the hope that has died in the hearts of many be reborn with the coming of the Prince of Peace; and<\/li>\n<li>May an inclusive, open, and quality education reach all those who are excluded and oppressed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We are invited to prepare, like John the Baptist, the way of the Lord, with our actions and our prayers. May this time find us with the eyes of faith open and our hearts committed to the coming of the Kingdom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\r\n<div id=\"block_55fb52f0da6de9087bab46b2241b62d4\" class=\"paragraph paragraph--default align-left page-width\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__inner-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"paragraph__title\">Pray<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__text\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Lord Jesus,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">To you we say, &#8220;Come Lord Jesus!&#8217;<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000\">Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">&#8211; Henri J.M. Nouwen<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\r\n<h1 id=\"block_3b7c4ea4915b91850e396363fd14d40a\" class=\"heading align-left text-color--0061AA page-width\">Week One: Isaiah. A Prophetic Word for this Time of Uncertainties<\/h1>\n\n\r\n<div id=\"block_141dd81795b191fd8acaaf6926ade6d3\" class=\"paragraph paragraph--default align-left page-width\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__inner-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"paragraph__title\">Pray<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__text\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><em><a style=\"color: #000000\" href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/isaiah\/11\" data-cke-saved-href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/isaiah\/11\">Isaiah 11:1-9<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\r\n<div id=\"block_f9d9ed77ab796daa8b551b37efc69c2f\" class=\"paragraph paragraph--default align-left page-width\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__inner-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"paragraph__title\">Reflect<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__text\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #000000\">Isaiah is one of the most important prophets in Israel&#8217;s history. His prophetic community spans several generations, and his writings testify to the journey of faith that the people of Israel had to make in times of uncertainty. The voice of the prophet announcing the coming of the Messiah resonates particularly during Advent. In one of the most beautiful texts of Isaiah, in the so-called Book of Immanuel, the descendant of David is spoken of, in which the hope of a people and the reestablishment of a new order for all creation are concentrated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #000000\">Today as in the past, in these times of uncertainty and sorrow caused by many lives lost during the war in the Holy Land, Isaiah invites us to focus our faith on the fragile sprout of hope. Let us ask the God of Life, that we may be protagonists of a culture of peace, based on our shared humanity. The &#8220;God with us&#8221; (Immanuel), promised by Isaiah, will be a righteous person who will not build his judgments based on appearances and will be a hope for those who hope for a better time. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #000000\">Today as in the past, the voice of the prophet and the promise of a total restoration of creation continue resounding in which no creature will hurt another, no person will harm another. The cessation of hostilities and fire is, certainly, within the horizon of our faith. Re-establishing dialogue based on brotherhood is needed today, more than ever. Isaiah&#8217;s prophecy continues to challenge us to be a voice of hope amid uncertainty.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\r\n\r\n\t<div id=\"block_46ff63853dfa68072268d3a2de55a90d\" class=\"split container--horizontal split-size--50 background-color--none page-width vertical-align--top\">\r\n\t\t<!-- Image Error (Could not load $image) -->\t\t<div class=\"split__inner-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\n\r\n<div id=\"block_b6f44b519f259a93b2fd15d997ec23b7\" class=\"image page-width\">\r\n\t<div class=\"i72-image contain\" role=\"img\" title=\"53231046754_872bdc4e88_o\" aria-label=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/53231046754_872bdc4e88_o-scaled.jpg 3000w 3000h,https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/53231046754_872bdc4e88_o-300x200.jpg 300w 200h,https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/53231046754_872bdc4e88_o-768x513.jpg 768w 513h,https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/53231046754_872bdc4e88_o-1024x684.jpg 1024w 684h,https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/53231046754_872bdc4e88_o-1536x1025.jpg 1536w 1025h,https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/53231046754_872bdc4e88_o-2048x1367.jpg 2048w 1367h,https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/53231046754_872bdc4e88_o-18x12.jpg 18w 12h,https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/53231046754_872bdc4e88_o-150x100.jpg 150w 100h,https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/53231046754_872bdc4e88_o-1280x854.jpg 1280w 854h,https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/53231046754_872bdc4e88_o-2560x1709.jpg 2560w 1709h\" data-original-width=\"2560\" data-original-height=\"1709\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\r\n<div id=\"block_fa72d14d3a6ff282cdc5e323beb0a475\" class=\"paragraph paragraph--default align-left page-width\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__inner-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__text\"><h3><span style=\"color: #000000\"><em><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Reflections written by incoming Vice Chancellor Brother Hern\u00e1n Santos<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\r\n<div id=\"block_7f93d6337b9b10be95ebbb697dc0c0be\" class=\"paragraph paragraph--default align-left page-width\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__inner-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph__text\"><p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1840","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1840","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1840"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1840\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4495,"href":"https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1840\/revisions\/4495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethlehem.i72dev.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1840"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}