OVERVIEW:  God is Family.  God, as Trinity is a family and every human family, not only as individuals but as a unit, is an image of God and mirrors the relationship of the Trinity. St Francis in his Canticle of the Creatures,  praises God in these words: ”Most High, omnipotent good Lord, to thee be praise and glory, honour and blessing.  We praise you Lord for all your creatures, for brother sun, sister moon, brother fire, sister water, mother earth and all creation. To you O Lord do they belong, you created them and they bear your likeness.” 

These inanimate creations through their being offer their praise. Humankind is especially gifted with the additional power of understanding, to love but to hurt, to forgive, because of love. Through bearing pain, we share in the life and passion of Jesus. In a unique way we offer honour and gratitude to the Trinity. And yet, how has the image of the Trinity been disfigured as fire, water and wind have now become such destructive forces? How have we contributed to this?  Are we ready to repair the damage?

Pope Francis: Within the family which could be called a domestic church (Lumen Gentium 11)  individuals enter upon an ecclesial experience of communion among persons which reflects, through grace, the mystery of the Holy Trinity.  AL86.  The Father is the ultimate source of everything, the loving and self-communicating foundation of all that exists.  The Son, his reflection, through whom all things were created united himself to this earth when he was formed in the womb of Mary. The Spirit infinite bond of love is intimately at the very heart of the universe, inspiring and bringing new pathways. The world was created by the three persons, acting as a single divine principle. The Trinity has left its mark on all creation. LS 238-2. Life exists where there is bonding, communion, fraternity; life is stronger than death when it is built on true relationships and bonds of fidelity. FT87. Others drink from other sources.  For us the wellspring of human dignity and fraternity is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From it, there arises for Christian thought and for the action of the Church the primacy given to relationship, to the encounter with the sacred mystery of the other, to universal communion with the entire human family, as a vocation of all. FT277.

PRAYER IN UNION WITH CREATION from Laudato Si.     From Lent, through the Passion to the Resurrection.

Triune God wondrous community of infinite love, teach us to contemplate you in the beauty of the universe, for all things speak of you. Awaken our praise and thankfulness for every being that you have made.  Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined to everything that is.  O Lord, seize us with your power and light, help us to protect all life, to prepare for a better future, for the coming of your Kingdom of justice, peace, love and beauty. Praise be to you.! Amen.

Setting the Scene. The DAILY THOUGHTS are presented in the format of an imaginary parish family team to lead the reflections for parish families, other members of the parish council and the parish priest. They are usually built around a scripture reading for the day.