April 10. Easter Monday, Family Day. Mrs Adams shared, “These last few years with a much greater focus on sickness, war, life and death has probably made us more aware of our vulnerability and the possibility of death. Fear and anxiety have been common experiences. “I know that we did not have a Covid-19 death in our immediate family, but the reality and possibility of death has certainly become part of life. I think that is ultimately a good thing. What do others think?”
The book Care for Creation – a Franciscan spirituality continues to reflect on death and eternal life. “Francis’ praise of death is a return of love for love. In his own way he tells us that the world is not blindly hurtling into extinction but is moved by Christ to Christ that God may be all in all. What happened in the death of Jesus anticipated the future of humanity and the cosmos itself. The death of Jesus was not the annihilation of creation but its radical transformation through the power of God’s life-giving Spirit. Jesus’ resurrection is the beginning of the transformation of the world and this includes the world of nature.” This is the ultimate message of the Incarnation.
God, as Trinity is family and every human family, not only as individuals but as a unit, is an image of God and mirrors the relationship of the Trinity. Remembering that OUR WORLD IS A FAMILY OF FAMILIES every family, animal and plant too, mirrors God in their own unique way. St Francis praises God in these words: WE PRAISE YOU LORD FOR ALL YOUR CREATURES, for brother sun, sister moon, brother fire, sister water, mother earth and all creation. To you O Lord do they belong, you created them and they bear your likeness.” And the last canticle: Canticle 10. PRAISE AND BLESS MY LORD, and give Him thanks and serve Him with great humility.
Reflect, share, pray, act. The inanimate elements of creation through their being offer their praise. Humankind is especially gifted with the additional power of understanding, to love but to hurt, to forgive, because of love. Through bearing pain, in a unique way we offer honour and gratitude to the Trinity. How has the image of the Trinity been disfigured as fire, water and wind have now become such destructive forces? How have we contributed to this? Are we ready to do our part, repair the damage and continue, as St Francis was called to do, to rebuild God’s Church?
At the same time may we join St Francis and Pope Francis in a celebration of praise, thanksgiving, peace and joy remembering that each of our families is a mirror of God’s love in our own unique and special way.
TR Lent and Easter 2023.
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