Brief overview April. God and Family.  The Joy of Love is God’s plan for all his creation.   God, as Trinity is a family and every human family, not only as separate individuals but as a unit, is an image of God to mirror the love relationship of the Trinity.  St Francis in his Canticle of the Creatures, praises God for all creatures, brother sun, sister moon, mother earth.  These inanimate creations through their being offer their praise. Humankind is especially gifted with the additional power of understanding, to love, but also to hurt and to forgive because of love.  Through bearing pain, in a unique way we offer honour and gratitude to the Trinity.  Pope Francis:The Joy of Love, experienced by families is also the joy of the Church. AL 1 Within the family which could be called a domestic church, individuals enter upon an ecclesial experience of communion among persons which reflects, through grace, the mystery of the Holy Trinity. AL86.  The Trinity has left its mark on all creation.  LS 238. 

A DAILY FAMILY PRAYER 
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, blessed Trinity, 
you have shown us how to love to be God’s Family. 
We’re sorry for the things we’ve done to cause another pain, 
make us willing to forgive and so be whole again.
Bless our family today, keep us in your care, 
old and young or sick or healthy, those no longer there. 
Help us care for all the earth and all the things God made 
His people, animals and plants, for them all Jesus paid.  
We thank and praise you. God on high and and ask your blessings too 
so we can love, and care and share and make God’s dream come true.    Amen

SETTING THE SCENE with SEE-JUDGE-ACT.  The Thoughts for the Day this month are designed for an imaginary parish team to lead the reflections for parish families who can pray the Daily Family Prayer. The April focus is on God’s place in all families, whether we are conscious of his presence or not. The Thoughts from Holy Week until Divine Mercy Sunday follow the gospel and scripture readings of the time. For most of April readings from the Acts of the Apostles tell the history of the early Church which we can use as a route map for reflection

April 7.   Tuesday of Easter week.  SEE. Young Magdalene liked the story how on Easter morning, while her name sake was weeping over the fact that Jesus’ body had disappeared, she saw a strange man in the garden.   She shared, “Once when I was quite little Mom told me that Jesus was everywhere and I must look around to see him.  I didn’t know what he looked like.  It seems that Mary Magdalene also didn’t recognise him.  That made me wonder, how different does he look to different people and at different times.  Would he be very attractive or at some other times disfigured from the beatings he had received?” 

JUDGE.  Scripture:   Supposing him to be the gardener Mary Magdalene said to him,” Sir if you have carried him away tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away.“ Jesus said to her, “Mary”.  She turned and said to him, “Rabboni, Teacher.” John 20:11-18. Pope Francis. Christ’s flesh becomes visible in the flesh of the tortured, the crushed, the scourged, the malnourished and the exiled, to be acknowledged, touched and cared for by us.  FM 5.  Pope Leo:  In a church that recognises in the poor the face of Christ and in material goods the instrument of charity St Augustine’s thoughts remain a sure light.  The poor are not just people to be helped, but the sacramental presence of the Lord. DT 48 &44. 

Reflect, share, pray, act.  Share on your favourite images of Jesus?