July 10. SEE.   The seniors group members continued their discussions.  “You know we oldies still have things to offer.   I am happy to do some mentoring to the unemployed youth to try to teach them some practical skills. We women can teach sewing and knitting and the men can teach carpentry or other technical skills too.”  “Many of these can be helpful in the overall care of creation too.”  “We tried that. I thought it would be easy, and that they were keen to learn.  But sometimes I get despondent as I have to beg them to come rather than them coming forward to ask us for help.”  “Yes, but do we understand their ways?  They’re not interested in knitting and carpentry. They’re into computers and their cellphones, even using AI to help with or do their studies and work for them. I wonder how AI is going to solve the youth unemployment problem.” “Or climate change for that matter.”

JUDGE. Reflect and share. Scripture. The Lord says, ‘Return, O Israel for you have stumbled because of your iniquities.   I will heal their faithlessness.  I will love them freely for my anger has turned from them.   Whoever is wise, let him understand these things, whoever is discerning, let him know them, for the ways of the Lord are right and the upright walk in them. But transgressors stumble in them. Hosea 14:1-9.  Pope Francis:  Australian bishops spoke of the importance of personal conversion for achieving reconciliation with creation. ‘To achieve such reconciliation, we must examine our lives and acknowledge the ways in which we have harmed God’s creation through our action and our failure to act. We need a conversion or change of heart.’  LS 218.  Pope Leo: Practical ways of fostering fairness, participation and care for creation must be found. We proclaim a hope rooted in the One who came down from heaven to “create a new story here below. ”For this reason, those who believe are committed to ensuring that a greater justice will take the place of inequality, and that the industry of war will be replaced by the craft of peace.  MH 240 

ACT AND PRAY. Consider what the elderly can do towards justice for all of creation.   Pray for guidance and pray the Prayer of St Francis for grandparents and the elderly.  We pray for God’s blessing on the grandparents and elderly of our families and community,  bless them with peace and contentment and an acceptance that their lives were well spent in your service. We ask St Joachim and St Anne, the grandparents of Jesus, to pray with us.