24 February.  SEE:  Brother Sun and Sister Moon, Sister Water, Mother Earth.  Bruce, the group’s scripture scholar noted, “Scripture does contain a number of accounts or references to creation in different contexts. As in Genesis 1 and 2, details differ about the order of creation, e.g. humankind created last in Genesis 1 and first in Genesis 2. The central message is the wisdom, power and goodness of God and our dependence on him for sustaining and providing for all of creation.  Creation is mentioned in other books, the Psalms, in Job, Daniel and more.” 

St Francis. “Each morning the planet turns towards the sun, soaking in its warmth and suckling its life energy.   Every second our great generous sun offers up four million tons of itself, transformed into radiant light and energy, for all life to use.  Green plants absorb it, convert it into food and energy, which too is provided for all life, human, plant and animal. All life depends on energy, and all energy has the sun as its ultimate source. With St Francis we revel in the miracle of Brother Sun, whose life-giving energy courses through our bodies, warming our hearts, as it ignites our dreams, our fuel and our work. “ From Care for Creation. p 58.  

When considering the solar system as a whole, the moon and the stars, we can ask, “Is the universe still seen as a source of amazing wonder and beauty, or as another element to be colonized and appropriated for our use?  Today in spite of the harm we humans have done to creation, in particular during the last 200 years, – global warming, CO2 emission, air and plastic pollution, – the elements are still beautiful and precious.   We need to go out into the world of nature, to observe and reflect on this to fully appreciate their beauty and value. Science has studied creation in much more depth and we now know so much more about the universe. As we reflect on the beauty, as well as the destruction in creation, can we become conscious of the link with the incarnation?  Jesus, God’s Word of love is present and as Crucified Lord bears the imprints of the wounds we have inflicted on the elements of our world. Accompanying him is our Lenten journey.

From St Francis Canticle of All Creatures. 

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, all praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings. To you alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, who is the day through whom You give us light.  And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour, of You Most High, he bears the likeness.   

JUDGE, reflect and share.  Scripture:  Thus saith the Lord, “as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me empty, but shall accomplish that which I intend and prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55: 10-11    Pope Francis:  We need to grasp the variety of things in their multiple relationships.  We understand better the importance and meaning of each creature if we contemplate it within the entirety of God’s plan.  LS 86. 

ACT AND PRAY.  As family members, research, read up and share on references to God and creation in the Bible and the world. Are the sun, moon and stars recognized for their beauty and for giving glory to God?  Sing the song Brother sun and Sistern Moon. How can this also relate to the Laudato Si goal of “the cry of the earth”?  Pray the portion of the Canticle of the Creatures above.