MARFAM INTRODUCTION. OCTOBER.  Family on Mission.  Every single family of any description, human, plant or animal is part of the mission to sustain our world, as a family of families.  As human family, we have the power to deliberately choose our mission. We cannot afford selfish greed, or hurtful violence, but are called to adopt God’s mission of love, love of creation and each of its creatures.  St Francis, the patron saint of ecology can be our inspiration on our mission.  Pope Francis: The family is an agent of pastoral activity through the explicit proclamation of the Gospel, their witness, solidarity with the poor, openness to diversity of people, protection of creation, moral and material solidarity with other families and commitment to the common good.  AL 290.  St Francis, faithful to Scripture, invites us to see nature as a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness.  Rather than a problem to be solved, the world is a joyful mystery to be contemplated with gladness and praise.  LS 12.

OCTOBER 1.  Sunday 26A.  St Therese. Fr Thabo began his homily with “God is good” and the people responded, “All the time.” So he stopped them and asked them to reconsider this in the light of the 1st reading they had heard.  Reflect, share, act. Scripture:   And he repeated the words,  “When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity he shall die for it.  Again when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is lawful and right he shall save his life.  Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions which he had committed.”  Eze 18:27.    Now would you say that God is good all the time?  Or just? What about peace and love?  St Therese. The Little Flower, whose feastday it is and who is a patron of the missions, certainly believed in God’s love all the time.  Maybe I should leave you with that thought to go and discuss with your families and ask them what they think.    

Pope Francis.  The Season of Creation theme for 2023 has been “Let peace and justice flow, like a mighty river.” Amos 5:24.   In his message for September 1 Pope Francis wrote, The evocative image by Amos speaks to us of what God desires. God wants justice to reign; it is as essential to our life as God’s children made in his likeness as water is essential for our physical survival. God wants everyone to strive to be just in every situation, to live according to his laws and thus to enable life to flourish. When we “seek first the kingdom of God” (Mt 6:33), maintaining a right relationship with God, humanity and nature, then justice and peace can flow like a never-failing stream of pure water, nourishing humanity and all creatures.”  How can we contribute to the mighty river of justice and peace in this Season of Creation? What can we, particularly as Christian communities, do to heal our common home so that it can once again teem with life? We must do this by resolving to transform our hearts, our lifestyles, and the public policies ruling our societies. Eco-tip and prayer:  Check his full message spelling this out in detail.  Go to www.vatican.va    Pray: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in us the fire of your love, so that walking together we may renew the face of the earth.