September 5.  Religion and fraternity. “Have you heard of Jews for Jesus?”  Michael asked.  “Doesn’t that do away with their Jewishness?”  came the response. “I don’t know any Jewish families personally but I believe that one of their characteristics is a pretty strict observance of the laws.” “But that is also what Jesus criticised them for.”  So they discussed differences between religions and some of the traditions. “I have always admired how so many Jewish families still honour the Sabbath by gathering together for their Sabbath meal.  In a sense that has been a saving grace for their life as a people, through some very dark periods of persecution in their history, don’t you think?  Mom said, “speaking of dark days Mother Teresa, whose feastday it is today, spent almost her whole life caring for the poor, sick and dying in the slums of Calcutta, giving them their dignity, irrespective of what their religion was.”  

Scripture:    It happened that on a Sabbath, when Jesus entered the synagogue and taught, a man was there whose right hand was withered. Jesus said to the scribes and the Pharisees. Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” Luke 6:6, 9.  Pope Francis:   The majority of people living on our planet profess to be believers.  This should spur religions to dialogue among themselves for the sake of protecting nature, defending the poor and building networks of respect and fraternity.   LS 201.

ECOTIP AND PRAYER:  Check out how Mother Teresa lived her mission, listening to the voice of creation, to the “cry of the poor and the cry of the earth.” Pray Glory be to the Father……………