November 24.  In very recent times there have been many of the events that Jesus mentioned when he spoke of the end times.  Earthquakes, fires, famines and dread diseases happen and there is a constant state of war somewhere in the world.  But to some extent these things have also been happening for the last 2000 years and people have always debated whether the end is near.  However, what is becoming more marked today is a greater awareness of how we, humankind, are contributing to these events through the harm we do to the environment. Pope Francis constantly calls us to ecological conversion.   Our World is a Family of Families to be protected for the good of future families.  

“When you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”  From Luke 21:5-11. 

Pope Francis: When we fail to acknowledge as part of reality the worth of a poor person, a human embryo, a person with disabilities, it becomes difficult to hear the cry of nature itself; everything is connected.  LS 117