Columbus Day

Happy Holiday for those who are not working today. It is a good day to pray for all those who are trying to establish citizenship in our country. So many desire to be legal. Our ancestors arrived and made their homes here and welcomed others to come and join us. Now, we are sending away people who have been living in our country and working for us in spite of the fact that their children have been born here. If you do not have your legal papers, you live in fear of being deported.
Let us thank God for our beautiful country and pray that our elected officials begin to realize that we can and should help the many who have been trying to establish citizenship. In Florida, we need the migrant workers, mostly from Mexico, but we are not treating them justly, not paying them a fair wage or allowing them to have acceptable working hours, housing, etc. Then, we deny them legal status so they live in fear of being deported.

Hard for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle?

 

 

Today's Sunday Gospel seems to make it impossible for us to follow Jesus unless we are humble and childlike. The fact that Jesus looked on the rich young man with love was not enough for that man to leave all and follow Jesus.

I am praying for those in the synod now and returned to the Pope's words on the opening morning. He said, among other things,

Let us remember, however, that the Synod will be a space for the action of the Holy Spirit only if we participants vest ourselves with apostolic courage, evangelical humility and trusting prayer: with that apostolic courage, which refuses to be intimidated in the face of the temptations of the world – temptations that tend to extinguish the light of truth in the hearts of men, replacing it with small and temporary lights; nor even before the petrification of some hearts, which, despite good intentions, drive people away from God; apostolic courage to bring life and not to make of our Christian life a museum of memories; evangelical humility that knows how to empty itself of conventions and prejudices in order to listen to brother bishops and be filled with God – humility that leads neither to finger-pointing nor to judging others, but to hands outstretched to help people up without ever feeling oneself superior to them.
Confident prayer that trusts in God is the action of the heart when it opens to God, when our humors are silenced in order to listen to the gentle voice of God, which speaks in silence. Without listening to God, all our words are only words that are meet no need and serve no end. Without letting ourselves be guided the Spirit, all our decisions will be but decorations that, instead of exalting the Gospel, cover it and hide it.
Dear brothers, as I have said, the Synod is not a parliament in which to reach a consensus or a common accord there is recourse to negotiation, to deal-making, or to compromise: indeed, the only method of the Synod is to open up to the Holy Spirit with apostolic courage, with evangelical humility and confident, trusting prayer, that it might be He, who guides us, enlightens us and makes us put before our eyes, with our personal opinions, but with faith in God, fidelity to the Magisterium, the good of the Church and the Salus animarum.
In fine, I would like to thank: His Eminence Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod; His Excellency, Archbishop Fabio Fabene, Undersecretary; and with them I thank the Rapporteur, His Eminence Cardinal Peter Erdő and the Special Secretary, His Excellency Archbishop Bruno Forte; the Presidents-delegate, writers, consultors, translators and all those who worked with true fidelity and total dedication to the Church. Thank you so much!
I also thank all of you, dear Synod Fathers, fraternal delegates, auditors and assessors, for your active and fruitful participation.
I want to address a special thanks to the journalists present at this time and to those who follow us from afar. Thank you for your enthusiastic participation and for your admirable attention.
We begin our journey by invoking the help of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Thank you.

Am I a silent witness ?

Pope Francis points our that often because of business interests and consumerism, our earth is less rich and beautiful.  We need to care for the ecosystems. Read this excerpt from "Laudato Si":

35. In assessing the environmental impact of any project, concern is usually shown for its effects on soil, water and air, yet few careful studies are made of its impact on biodiversity, as if the loss of species or animals and plant groups were of little importance. Highways, new plantations, the fencing-off of certain areas, the damming of water sources, and similar developments, crowd out natural habitats and, at times, break them up in such a way that animal populations can no longer migrate or roam freely. As a result, some species face extinction. Alternatives exist which at least lessen the impact of these projects, like the creation of biological corridors, but few countries demonstrate such concern and foresight. Frequently, when certain species are exploited commercially, little attention is paid to studying their reproductive patterns in order to prevent their depletion and the consequent imbalance of the ecosystem.

36. Caring for ecosystems demands far-sightedness, since no one looking for quick and easy profit is truly interested in their preservation. But the cost of the damage caused by such selfish lack of concern is much greater than the economic benefits to be obtained. Where certain species are destroyed or seriously harmed, the values involved are incalculable. We can be silent witnesses to terrible injustices if we think that we can obtain significant benefits by making the rest of humanity, present and future, pay the extremely high costs of environmental deterioration.

Are we aware that urgent action is needed?

Maybe we feel very knowledgeable about the scarcity of water in our world today. Still, I think we need to read what Pope Francis is stating in "Laudato Si" and I am aware that I am only giving a few excerpts, but hope that will motivate all to read the Encyclical.

30. Even as the quality of available water is constantly diminishing, in some places there is a growing tendency, despite its scarcity, to privatize this resource, turning it into a commodity subject to the laws of the market. Yet access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights. Our world has a grave social debt towards the poor who lack access to drinking water, because they are denied the right to a life consistent with their inalienable dignity. This debt can be paid partly by an increase in funding to provide clean water and sanitary services among the poor. But water continues to be wasted, not only in the developed world but also in developing countries which possess it in abundance. This shows that the problem of water is partly an educational and cultural issue, since there is little awareness of the seriousness of such behaviour within a context of great inequality.

31. Greater scarcity of water will lead to an increase in the cost of food and the various products which depend on its use. Some studies warn that an acute water shortage may occur within a few decades unless urgent action is taken. The environmental repercussions could affect billions of people; it is also conceivable that the control of water by large multinational businesses may become a major source of conflict in this century.[23]

More to pray for and pray that we realize that we need to work for the common good of all!

Water Problem

Here is another quote to reflect on from "Laudato Si":

28. Fresh drinking water is an issue of primary importance, since it is indispensable for human life and for supporting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Sources of fresh water are necessary for health care, agriculture and industry. Water supplies used to be relatively constant, but now in many places demand exceeds the sustainable supply, with dramatic consequences in the short and long term. Large cities dependent on significant supplies of water have experienced periods of shortage, and at critical moments these have not always been administered with sufficient oversight and impartiality. Water poverty especially affects Africa where large sectors of the population have no access to safe drinking water or experience droughts which impede agricultural production. Some countries have areas rich in water while others endure drastic scarcity.

It is the poor of this world who suffer most from lack of water and we waste it!

I came home yesterday through flooded streets in a heavy rain; then we have had so much in the Carolinas that caused loss of life and homes and great hardship. Water comes to us in many ways. I pray for all those who have been suffering from the flooding; and I also pray for all those who are suffering from lack of water.
Let us thank for this precious gift.

Am I feeling responsible?

Here is another excerpt to reflect on today from " Laudato Si":

25. Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day. Its worst impact will probably be felt by developing countries in coming decades. Many of the poor live in areas particularly affected by phenomena related to warming, and their means of subsistence are largely dependent on natural reserves and ecosystemic services such as agriculture, fishing and forestry. They have no other financial activities or resources which can enable them to adapt to climate change or to face natural disasters, and their access to social services and protection is very limited. For example, changes in climate, to which animals and plants cannot adapt, lead them to migrate; this in turn affects the livelihood of the poor, who are then forced to leave their homes, with great uncertainty for their future and that of their children. There has been a tragic rise in the number of migrants seeking to flee from the growing poverty caused by environmental degradation. They are not recognized by international conventions as refugees; they bear the loss of the lives they have left behind, without enjoying any legal protection whatsoever. Sadly, there is widespread indifference to such suffering, which is even now taking place throughout our world. Our lack of response to these tragedies involving our brothers and sisters points to the loss of that sense of responsibility for our fellow men and women upon which all civil society is founded.


 Let us pray for migrants today.

Relationships

Having finally finished for a second reading "Laudato Si",  I will no doubt be reflecting on some passages for a long time. I did begin to jot down the main thoughts for each section but only reached the fourth chapter with note-taking. It is the last two chapters that speak to me most and therefore I have not yet tried to take notes. In Chapter Six, the last Chapter on Ecological Education and Spirituality, #240, Pope Francis writes: "The divine Persons are subsistent relations, and the world, created according to the divine model, is a web of relationships. Creatures tend toward God, and in turn it is proper to every living being to tend toward other things, so that throughout the universe we can find any number of constant and secretly interwoven relationships. This leads us not only to marvel at the manifold connections existing among creatures, but also to discover a key to our own fulfillment. The human person grows more, matures more and is sanctified more to the extent that he or she enters into relationships, going out from themselves to live in communion with God, with others and with all creatures. In this way, they make their own that Trinitarian dynamism which God imprinted in them when they were created. Everything is interconnected, and this invites us to develop a spirituality of that global solidarity which flows from the mystery of the Trinity."

There is much to reflect upon in each section. If you have not yet read the Encyclical, I hope my brief reflections this week will help motivate you to do so. It is out there on the web for all to have easy access.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful...

Today my blog is late1 I was up at 5:00 AM and have done many things, but only now am remembering to post a blog. I want to share a few thoughts from the "Desk of Monsignor Carruthers" - he is the pastor of St. Augustine Church where I usually go to noon Mass and this is also the Catholic Student Center for the University of Miami; sometimes we all go to the 5:30 Liturgy there Saturdays. Monsignor is writing about the Holy Spirit. He reminds us that "It is the Holy Spirit that renews us and opens us again and again to the counsel and wisdom of God the Father. It is the Holy Spirit that deepens our communion with the Son, our Savior, and through Him our communion with each other...It is the Spirit that heals and renews us..."
Later he reminds us that it is the Holy Spirit that comes to us with all his gifts; we are to give a daily "Yes" to the stirrings of the Holy Spirit within us.
I am going to obey the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to work this morning to fight against a law that would allow people to carry unconcealed guns - a friend just sent me the information how I can help to prevent this. I think our lawmakers are crazy when they think that guns can protect us. We have so many senseless shootings right here in Miami because people have guns.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created and You shall renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Journal with God

This morning I read that one way to help us to decide something is to journal with God. And then it said that when we wrote about our life and what was happening, we give God the opportunity to be with us and rewrite our life so we are aware and more grateful. Then, according to research, this kind of writing actually lessens anxiety. I almost laughed out loud because a couple of weeks ago I had a doctor's appointment. My blood pressure always seems to go up when my doctor takes it so he had prescribed medicine which I only took for two days as it made me so drowsy; I was back to have my blood pressure checked, but was a bit anxious about telling the doctor that I stopped the medicine. Well, he was running late and I had almost two hours to wait in his office. I only had my journal with me. I began to think of the highlights of the last years since I had written my life and soon I was filling eight pages of my journal before I was called to see the doctor. Lo and behold, when he took my blood pressure it was the lowest I have had in years! Was it the journal writing that did that?

I did journal with God again this morning. I guess I have so much to thank for that it is easy to go back over the day and be grateful, even if I was not aware of the grace given at the time. I reflect back and then thank for all the good things of the day - even for driving safely, or getting a note into the mail on time, etc.

Here is a quote that may help us today:

Your life is a sacred journey. It is about change, growth, discovery, movement and transformation... It is continuously expanding your vision of what is possible, stretching your soul, teaching you to see clearly and deeply, helping you to listen to your intuition.

Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ

The Emergent Christ

Having begun finally a discussion group to deepen the insights we have found transformational in "The Emergent Christ" by Illia Delio, I would like to share a few from the beginning of her book. I must confess that my book is well-marked in different color pens and highlighters. There were ten of us for a very interesting time Thursday night just sharing ideas on the first Chapter. It is so true that we have learned so much about our universe and yet we have not kept up in theology. If God is love, God is dynamic and is capable of change. Everything is interconnected and we are all in relationship to every thing. What I do or do not do really is important .

Thank your Guardian Angel today

Today is my mother's birthday. I am sure she is celebrating with the angels in heaven with my Dad. I have not been good at remembering birthdays lately. I hope to do better as for all of us here on earth it is the first day of a new year of life and moves us on toward our heavenly life.
I love the feast of the Angels as I have a wonderful Guardian Angel who has helped me often. I am ashamed that I do not take the time to thank my angel who watches over me day and night and has given me tangible proofs of his or her existence in my life. Our Guardian Angels are another proof of God's love!

The gift of living wateer

Each day I marvel at the clean, running water that is available for us to use for dinking, washing, cooking, watering the plants, etc. We so often take it for granted. Many, many people in this world of ours do not have the luxury of having clean water. Many walk long distances to have water and need to carry it home. It is so sad to see how we waste water when others do not have any. Our way of life is allowing us to just turn on the water and let it run until it gets either hot or cold and I think that this gift of God is a daily reminder to thank Him.

The Living Water that flows from the Heart of Christ is the greatest gift. It comes to refresh us, to strengthen us and is continually flowing from His Heart. His Love overflows into our hearts so that we may go forth and give His Love.