November 4.  The children due to make their 1st Communion were being prepared by receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation.  The moms discussed “when they are examining their conscience they should think about actively making peace with their siblings.  Is it also a good thing to tell them that St Paul wrote that each of us shall give account of himself to God, or do we try harder to explain what it means, ‘if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die we die for the Lord.’  So we love each other because we love God.” “For us grown-ups too our sibling relationships should be valued. How many of us have lost touch with them and lost the closeness we should still have. How would we answer to God for that?” 

Whether we live or die we are the Lord’s. Why do you pass judgment on your brother?  We shall all stand before the judgement seat of God.  Romans 14:7-12.  Pope Francis:   In the family we learn closeness, care and respect for others. We break out of our fatal self-absorption and come to realise that we are living with and alongside others who are worthy of our concern, kindness and affection.  AL276.  St Francis would call creatures, no matter how small, by the name of ‘brother’ or ‘sister’. LS11. Reflect, share, act and pray