September 30.  Make Room for Life!   As the family was returning from their eco-safari they reflected and shared together on the story of Job. Michael explained, “It is a teaching story of Job, who was rich, had many children but God  allowed Satan, the tempter, to test him.  The test was, “Would he still believe in God’s goodness if all his possessions were taken away?”   He lost everything, home, family, possessions and his body was covered in sores.  His friends kept pestering him to blame God. He was almost at a point of cursing God but some faith remained in him.”  “I wonder if something like that happened to me how would I react? “  “It makes me think of unemployment. Some youth have never worked but I know a number of men who were retrenched.  That is one of the most difficult things because as bread-winner he loses his ability to provide along with his dignity and the respect of his kids.  Does he blame God?” “It depends……..  “  

Reflect, share, act. Scripture: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.“ Job 1:6-22.  Pope Francis:   Human beings too are creatures of this world, enjoying a right to life and happiness, and endowed with unique dignity. So we cannot fail to consider the effects on people’s lives of environmental deterioration, current models of development and the throwaway culture. LS 43. Work should be the setting for rich personal growth, where many aspects of life enter into play; creativity, planning for the future, developing our talents, living out our values, relating to others, giving glory to God. LS 127.   Eco-tip and prayer:  This year’s earth.org 2024 campaign slogan: “‘Make Room For Life!’ is a global Call to Action, reminding us of the need to combat the rising tide of waste that is smothering us. Our natural resources – land, oceans, rivers, forests –  face daily contamination from waste materials that pollute the environment, threatening to overwhelm all life. How can we combat this? By 1. cleaning away this waste, and then 2. changing behaviours around its creation in the first place, we literally “make room” for all living beings to enjoy green spaces and urban environments alike, and for life itself to grow and to flourish.