OVERVIEW: God, the creator, is a lover and it is God’s love that is life-giving, creating life continually, sustaining and renewing what has been created.  Our task and gift as human beings and life-givers is co-creation with God in the conception, bearing and nurturing of children and in maintaining loving relationships.   God’s indulgent love always accompanies our human journey; through grace it heals and transforms hardened hearts, leading them back to the beginning through the way of the cross.  The Gospels clearly present the example of Jesus who proclaimed the meaning of marriage as the fullness of revelation that restores God’s original plan.  (cf Mt 13:3)  AL62.

Our life-giving task is to nurture life in all its stages from conception until natural death.  However, we know from experience how vulnerable life and love can be.  It might be true to say that if there is no true love expressed as a deep concern for others in our families and for the common good, life does continue, but not as Jesus said,  “I have come  that they may have life and have it to the full. John 10:10. Loving human relationships of commitment and care are mirrored and carried forward in care for creation.  Caring for rhinos and yet rejecting unborn human life and the needs of the destitute and poor is not fully lifegiving.  Reflecting on St Francis Pope Francis wrote: Love is more powerful, love gives life, love makes hope blossom in the wilderness.”

Abbreviations:  LS = Laudato Si.  AL = Amoris Laetitia. EG = Evangelii Gaudium  GE = Gaudete et Exultate.  FT = Fratelli Tutti

Setting the Scene:  February is celebrated widely as the month of love and so for these Daily Thoughts an imaginary parish family team will be used to lead the reflections with others of the PPC and the parish priest.   Thoughts and suggestions will include families as well as creation and nature.

DAILY THOUGHTS FOR LENT AND EASTER will take over from Ash Wednesday on 17th February with the theme LOVE IS HIS LAW, LOVE IS HIS WAY and a stronger focus on OUR WORLD, A FAMILY OF FAMILIES and St Francis.