February 17. Bernard as usual wanted to be otherwise. “I don’t see why tax collectors should be seen as sinners.  Don’t they have a right to work for SARS or whatever form it took in those days. That doesn’t make them sinners surely.”  Refilwe explained, “in those days tax collectors worked for the oppressors.  Maybe it was like here in the apartheid days before we considered the question of human rights and family rights such as being able to live together as a family in one place.” “However, surely it isn’t the tax collector today who is a sinner, but the corrupt people who bribe, steal and defraud the tax man. Are they the ones that Jesus would be dining with, and then calling to repentance?     LSAP Goal 6 ecological spirituality.

Reflect, share, Scripture:  “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick do; I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32 Pope Francis: The spiritual stature of a person’s  life is measured by love, which in the end remains the criterion for the definitive decision about a human life’s work or lack thereof. FT 92 Nothing of what a repentant sinner places before God’s mercy can be excluded from the embrace of forgiveness. for this reason none of us has the right to make forgiveness conditional. MM2    In St Francis canticle of the creatures he includes a statement,  “praised be you my Lord, through those who give pardon (to others,) because of your love for them all.”  Everything is connected.  Concern for the environment needs to be joined to a sincere love for our fellow human beings, and an unwavering commitment to resolving the problems of society.  LS 91.   Pray:

THE CANTICLE OF THE CREATURES.

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord, Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honor, and all blessing,To You alone, Most High, do they belong, and no human is worthy to mention Your name.

Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,e secially Sir Brother Sun, who is the day and through whom You give us light.And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor; and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind, and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather,through whom You give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,  through whom You light the night, and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong. Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs.

Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your love,  and bear infirmity and tribulation. Blessed are those who endure in peace, for by You, Most High, shall they be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whom no one living can escape.  Woe to those who die in mortal sin. Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will, for the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks and serve Him with great humility.