The Jubilee of Families takes place in Rome this weekend from 30 May to 1 June.  Pray especially for your and all families.

Friday, 30th May 2025. Acts 18:9-18; Jn 16:20-23. “The Earth is God’s city”   Laudato Si’ 100 “The New Testament does not only tell us of the earthly Jesus and his tangible and loving relationship with the world. It also shows him risen and glorious, present throughout creation by his universal Lordship…This leads us to direct our gaze to the end of time, when the Son will deliver all things to the Father, so that “God may be everything to every one” (1 Cor 15:28). Thus, the creatures of this world no longer appear to us under merely natural guise because the risen One is mysteriously holding them to himself and directing them towards fullness as their end. The very flowers of the field and the birds which his human eyes contemplated and admired are now imbued with his radiant presence.”

Scripture:  You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.  John 16

JUBILEE. The Jubilee of Families takes place in Rome from 30 May to 1 June.  We need to “abound in hope” (cf. Rom 15:13), so that we may bear credible and attractive witness to the faith and love that dwell in our hearts; that our faith may be joyful and our charity enthusiastic; and that each of us may be able to offer a smile, a small gesture of friendship, a kind look, a ready ear, a good deed, in the knowledge that, in the spirit of Jesus, these can become, for those who receive them, rich seeds of hope.  SNC18

Action:  Use concept of “raising hope” and apply to your family life.     

Reflection

The wonder of creation bears the footprints of the God. This fills us with joy as Jesus says; “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.” When we finally recognize the connectedness, hope for life fills us with joy. St Francis, in the Canticle for Creation broke into song for this connection. Through faith, hope and love, we must resist allowing power, greed, pride, corruption and pollution to steal our joy, causing many to hunger and thirst even for a drop of fresh water and leading to permanent sorrow. 

The Lord encouraged Paul in his mission to preach and teach in the city against injustice. We are heirs and coheirs with Christ in the responsibility over creation.

Prayer for Families and Ecological Life 

God our father, who, by sending into the world the Word of Truth and the Spirit of sanctification, made known to the human race your wondrous mystery, grant us we pray that in professing the true faith, we may acknowledge the Trinity of the eternal glory and adore Your unity, power and majesty through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.  May the wondrous mystery of creation inspire us as families on our journey to become seeds of hope and signs of hope in your world. Amen.