September 8.  Mary’s birthday. On their eco-safari the family visited a vineyard, and after experiencing a wine-tasting they held a discussion about wine and also considered substance abuse.  “While we do love wine we often see alcohol as a problem.  In Jesus’ time it was already a common drink and obviously there was good and less mature wine.” Young Melody piped up, “Like we know from the story of the wedding feast at Cana when Mary helped to save the party! Today it is her birthday.

Reflect, share, act. Scripture: No one puts new wine into old wineskins, if he does the new wine will burst skins and it will be spilled.   New wine must be put into fresh wineskins.  And no one after drinking old wine desires new: for he says, “The old is good!” Luke 5:33-39.   Pope Francis: Sobriety, when lived freely and consciously, is liberating. It is not a lesser life or one lived with less intensity. It is a way of living life to the full. In reality, those who enjoy more and live better each moment are those who have given up dipping here and there, always on the look-out for what they do not have. LS 223.  The universe did not emerge as the result of arbitrary omnipotence, a show of force or a desire for self-assertion.  Creation is of the order of love. God’s love is the fundamental moving force in all created things. LS77.

Eco-tip and prayer: Do some study, share and take any possible action to combat alcohol and other substance abuse.   Pray the Glory be to the Father…………..