August 8.  Rayhab, the facilitator picked up the threads, “Yesterday we considered the value of religion in human development and forming relationships too.  Today we look at the fact that all religions from the most primitive until today have certain laws, rules, norms and standards, in other words a moral code. To live a good life as an individual man or woman or also as a couple demands sacrifices.  The group members were given time to think and share.  “I think I have carried my cross with dignity.”  “My cross is still very hard.”   “My cross was taken away from me after we joined AA and Alanon to deal with the alcohol abuse in our home.”  “I thank God, but pray to him to give me strength.”

Scripture:     If any man or woman would come after me, let them deny themselves and take up his cross and follow me.  Matt 16:24.  Pope Francis. Families often experience problems when one of their members is emotionally immature because he or she still bears the scars of earlier experiences.  An unhappy childhood or adolescence can breed personal crises that affect one’s marriage. AL 239. Drug use, is one of the scourges of our time, causing immense suffering and even breakup for many families.  The same is true of alcoholism, gambling and other addictions.  The family could be the place where these are prevented and overcome but society and politics fail to see that families at risk love the ability to act to help their members.  AL 51.   JUBILEE. The Jubilee can serve as an important occasion for giving concrete expression to this form of synodality, which the Christian community today considers increasingly necessary for responding to the urgent need for evangelization. All the baptized, with their respective charisms and ministries, are co-responsible for ensuring that manifold signs of hope bear witness to God’s presence in the world.  SNC 17 Act and pray. For the needs of families of all kinds to grow in love and acceptance.