August 31. SEE.    Justice and Peace groups and family groups each had their own ideas to build on and share in the PPC at the end of this time. Jonas from Family Life was strong on the need to build resilient families but had been particularly touched by the overwhelming needs of the poor. His children sometimes complained that they thought he was stingy.   He asked, “How many of you feel criticized by your own family when you come up with different ways of seeing things in your apostolate? Every group, big or small, needs unity and a degree of conformity, but we also need to recognize and value our right to be unique and different, and have autonomy.” Martin added, “I can live with that, to a point, but interdependence is also a good concept for our different units, from family to parish, sodality and cultures in society. And isn’t that really and truly based on dialogue!” 

JUDGE. Reflect, share, act. Scripture:   Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.  Luke 4:16-30.  Pope Francis: Approaching, speaking, listening, looking at, coming to know and understand one another and to find common ground, all these things are summed up in the word “dialogue.”  Unlike disagreement and conflict. persistent and  courageous dialogue does not make headlines, but quietly helps the world to live much better than we imagine. FT 198.     Pope Leo:   The task of building in our time must place our relationship with God at its center. Our rule must be the acceptance of human limitations as a natural and positive reality, and should be characterized by shared responsibility and a language characterized by the Gospel. At the end of this reflection, the plan for a civilization of love can be seen more clearly, and the construction site appears to be already up and running, thanks especially to the many living stones solidly united to Christ the cornerstone (cf. 1 Pet 2:4-6). In this task, we are called to assume an active role, without taking refuge in spiritual sentimentality or retreating into our own little worlds. We must be faithful to the truth, invest in education, cultivate relationships and love justice and peace. MH 236.  

ACT AND PRAYfor the building of the civilization of love beginning in our own families.  Pray St Francis Peace Prayer and pray: Mary, Queen Assumed into Heaven, Patroness of South Africa, pray for us.