An initiative for this time, by Pope Francis, is “24 Hours for the Lord” to be commemorated on Friday and Saturday before 4th Sunday of Lent with Eucharistic adoration, reflection and personal conversion.

14 March. SEE. Milly brought a school project she had worked on.  “Loss of biodiversity is a very serious matter and I have discovered it is often neglected because of short-sighted approaches, like just looking at the economy and the cost of everything without even considering the right of the poor, the right to life and protection.  Indigenous forests are bulldozed to plant nut trees, that mainly produce for the export market and make money for the farmers or developers, rather than protect the environment.  Corrupt leaders and their police and armies buy off critics.  Each year thousands of plant and animal species disappear due to our human activity, poaching, and reduction in their habitat for human livelihood needs. I was shocked when I read that of all the various ecosystems human beings are the only ecosystem that has grown and expanded in the last hundred years. Members of plant and animal ecosystems have decreased in numbers.” 

JUDGE, reflect and share. Scripture: What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?  Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away.  I have slain them by words of my mouth.  For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:1-6.  Pope Francis: Good ecosystems even require worms and insects to feed the soil and care for the plants. Because of us, many of these species will no longer give glory to God by their very existence. LS 33. Pope Benedict XVI: “The book of nature is one and indivisible and includes the environment, life, sexuality, the family, social relations. The deterioration of nature is closely connected to the culture which shapes human coexistence. The natural and the social environment have suffered damage due to an evil, the notion that there are no indisputable truths to guide our lives, and that our human freedom is limitless. The misuse of creation begins when we no longer recognize any higher instance than ourselves, when we see nothing else but ourselves.” LS6.  Pope Leo: There are many forms of poverty: the poverty of those who lack material means of subsistence, the poverty of those who are socially marginalized and lack the means to give voice to their dignity and abilities, moral and spiritual poverty, cultural poverty, the poverty of those who find themselves in a condition of personal or social weakness or fragility, the poverty of those who have no rights, no space, no freedom.  DT9

From the Little Flowers of St Francis. St Francis saw on trees by the wayside a great multitude of birds; and said to his companions, “Wait for me here whilst I go and preach to my little sisters the birds.” He preached to the birds on the ground, and suddenly those on the trees came round him, and all listened. Brother Masseo observed how St Francis went among them, even touched them with his garments, and none of them moved. The sermon was, “My little sisters the birds, ye owe much to God, your Creator, and ye ought to sing his praise at all times and in all places, because he has given you liberty to fly into all places; and though ye neither spin nor sew, he has given you twofold and a threefold clothing for yourselves and your offspring. Two of all your species went into the Ark with Noah that you might not be lost to the world; and he feeds you.  He has given you fountains and rivers to quench your thirst, mountains and valleys to take refuge, and trees for your nests. Your Creator loves you much. Beware, my little sisters, of the sin of ingratitude, and study always to give praise to God.”

As he said these words, all the birds began to open their beaks, to stretch their necks, to spread their wings and reverently to bow their heads to the ground, by their motions and by their songs manifesting their joy to St Francis  who rejoiced with them. He wondered at such a multitude  and was charmed with their beautiful variety, their attention and familiarity. He devoutly gave thanks and having finished his sermon, St Francis made the sign of the cross, and gave them leave to fly away.

Reflect, share, act, pray. Lent is about repentance for evil and wrongdoing.  An examination of conscience, possibly a family reconciliation service ( get from MARFAM) can examine sins against people and the environment.  Reuse, reduce, recycle should be the approach to caring for creation. How can we adopt this more fully?