DECEMBER Overview. Family, Hope for the Future. What does it mean to be a family of families and hope for the future? How has our journey as Pilgrims of Hope in 2025 enriched our lives as families as well as individuals? Each family is unique with our own special relationships, our love, joys and anxieties. We thank our Creator for the inbuilt sense of family, of belonging to one another and to our God. This in-built family-mindedness can be a reason for our hope because of the love experienced there. St Francis and Pope Francis speak of all creatures paying homage to their Creator but we also acknowledge that we humans alone can address the challenges to fulfill the hope for a future filled with peace and joy.
Pope Francis: A PRAYER FOR OUR EARTH. from Laudato Si. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Blessed Trinity, community of infinite love. You are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love that we may protect all life and beauty. Fill us with humility, hope, peace and joy that we may live as brothers and sisters harming no one. Praise be to you! Amen
Pope Leo: at LAUDATO SI RAISING HOPE CONFERENCE. “I would like to conclude with a question that concerns each of us. God will ask us if we have cultivated and cared for the world that he created (cf. Gen 2:15), for the benefit of all and for future generations, and if we have taken care of our brothers and sisters (cf. Gen 4:9; Jn 13:34). What will be our answer?
1 December. World AIDS Day. Shame and guilt. Adam and Eve. Johnson sat thinking back over the last 25 years or so. Although the incidence and infection rate has declined since the greater use of anti-retroviral drugs HIV/AIDS is still a major health issue. All sectors of the population, men, women and children continue to be affected and have to remain on treatment. “When AIDS was first diagnosed there was so much fear, shame and stigma. Few people would say, ‘My son is infected,’ or ‘My daughter died of AIDS’ Families closed ranks and AIDS was the reason why we ended up looking after 6 grandchildren at one time and our daughter and son came home very sick. She died in those early days but he is well and two of the grandchildren are on ARV treatment.” Johnson turned to Josephine and asked, “Should there still be shame attached? We say it is a disease and not a sin and it can be, but so often there was a sinful act committed somewhere that caused the infection and had such an impact on many others in families. It is wrong that the rate is still too high, maybe that should make us feel guilt and shame. Right from the time of Adam and Eve there has been sin and shame. They were created to live in harmony with God and one another. After their sin of disobedience, when God came looking for them, he found them wearing fig leaves because they had become ashamed of their nakedness. Do we no also feel shame and guilt about the way we have sinned by abusing God’s creation?“ Josephine responded. “There is hope. AIDS is hardly the curse it was before. Please God the world will take note that action is urgently required.”
Reflect, share, Scripture: Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they come out in leaf know the summer is near. So also when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Luke 21:29-33 Pope Francis: Human life is grounded in three fundamental and closely intertwined relationships: with God, with our neighbour and with the earth. These three have been broken, outwardly and within us. This rupture is sin. LS 66. Attacks on nature have consequences for people’s lives. The African bishops state that climate change makes manifest a tragic and striking example of structural sin. LD 3. JUBILEE. Signs of hope should be shown to the sick, at home or in hospital. Their sufferings can be allayed by the closeness and affection of those who visit them. Works of mercy are also works of hope that give rise to immense gratitude. Inclusive attention should also be given to all those in particularly difficult situations, who experience their own weaknesses and limitations, especially those affected by illnesses or disabilities that severely restrict their personal independence and freedom. Care given to them is a hymn to human dignity, a song of hope that calls for the choral participation of society as a whole. SNC11. Act and pray: People are very sensitive to being blamed and shamed. In times of corruption, other wrongdoing and damaging the environment, could blaming and shaming be a deterrent? At this time we can examine our lives and pray for conversion.
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