66. The creation accounts in the book of Genesis contain, in their own symbolic and narrative language, profound teachings about human existence and its historical reality. They suggest that human life is grounded in three fundamental and closely intertwined relationships: with God, with our neighbour and with the earth itself. According to the Bible, these three vital relationships have been broken, both outwardly and within us. This rupture is sin. The harmony between the Creator, humanity and creation as a whole was disrupted by our presuming to take the place of God and refusing to acknowledge our creaturely limitations. This in turn distorted our mandate to “have dominion” over the earth (cf. Gen 1:28), to “till it and keep it” (Gen 2:15). As a result, the originally harmonious relationship between human beings and nature became conflictual (cf. Gen 3:17-19). It is significant that the harmony which Saint Francis of Assisi experienced with all creatures was seen as a healing of that rupture. Saint Bonaventure held that, through universal reconciliation with every creature, Saint Francis in some way returned to the state of original innocence. This is a far cry from our situation today, where sin is manifest in all its destructive power in wars, the various forms of violence and abuse, the abandonment of the most vulnerable, and attacks on nature.
Reflection: Pope Francis writes: “…the originally harmonious relationship between human beings and nature became conflictual” ruptured by sin. Saint Francis of Assisi offered us a model of harmony with all creatures to repair that rupture. In what small ways might you engage with/in the natural world this week to begin such restoration? Pay attention to your spirit as you contemplate the signs of spring, the colors, the birds, the colors of the sky.
Action: Spend 30 minutes this week outdoors, not as a way to get somewhere, but simply to be. Pay attention to what you hear, what you smell, what you touch. Where do you see beauty? Where do you see evidence of the rupture between us and creation? Share your experience with someone else.
Prayer for Ukraine and for Peace
Dismantling Racism
Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA, was a dynamic Catholic religious sister who lived her life fully proclaiming the Gospel in everything she did. Georgetown University is renaming one of their chapels in her name, and they are hosting a dialogue about her life on Tuesday, May 3rd, 6-7:15 p.m. Eastern. The panel includes: Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Sr. Patty Chappell, SNDdeN, Shannen Dee Williams, and Ogechi Akalegbere. For more information and to register (it will be live streamed) click here.
SAVE THE DATE: The Dismantling Racism Committee will be offering workshops in May. You will be invited to attend a PART A and PART B of a Dismantling workshop facilitated by Notre Dame de Namur Sisters, Patricia Chappelle and Ann-Louise Nadeau. You can participate in a Part A workshop on either May 17th (1-3 pm Eastern) or May 24th (7-9 pm Eastern). Part B of the workshops will be offered May 19th (1-3 pm Eastern) or May 26th (7-9 pm Eastern).
Climate Change
Consider one meatless day a week, both as a way of lightening the burden on the earth and as a way of mindfulness in your eating patterns. All change begins with one small step. And commit yourself to reading the Laudato Si’ reflection each week. One paragraph at a time you can stop and reflect on what we are all called to as a Laudato Si’ community!
Living Out Laudato Si’ (Nov 2021) by the Conference of Canadian Catholic Bishops offers some clear and practical information and actions on Laudato Si’. Read the document here.
Tis the season for all kinds of bugs and insects to return to visibility, including pesky mosquitoes, and few of all of them might seem to be a good thing – but, in reality, climate change has drastically lowered the numbers of insects which disrupts the entire ecological food chain. Read more here – and welcome the sight of those insects!
Human Trafficking
The commitment for this year is on Online Child Exploitation. If this is the only thing you view this week, watch this to realize what we are facing. It’s only two minutes long, but it speaks volumes. Watch here. And plan to attend the online sex trafficking event on May 11th!
#NotOnMyScreen sponsored by the International Justice Mission in Canada is a movement to raise awareness and end online sexual abuse. Read about the work they are doing to protect children in Canada. And remember that online predators are not limited by geographic boundaries; they do not need to leave their homes and neither do the children they traffic.
Justice for Immigrants
Listen to this podcast from April 20th, On Point, from NPR about Title 42 and what it means for those at the border. It is a powerful hour. Title 42 appears to be on its way out, but that doesn’t mean that things will be any easier at the border for those seeking asylum. There are many concerns about an already stressed southern border flooded with refugees bringing new challenges to the border for which no one is adequately prepared. Read more about these concerns here. To read the entire policy brief (long but definitely worth the read to understand the breadth of the issues), click here.
Human Trafficking and Justice for Immigrants
UNICEF warns of heightened risk of trafficking for children who are affected by war, especially those currently fleeing from the war in Ukraine. They urge that additional protection measures be put into place. Read more here.
Haiti Partnership
The arts always offers us a window into another culture in a way that other ways of knowing cannot provide. Consider these windows into Haitian culture: Read anything by Edwidge Danticat, but a favorite is The Farming of Bones (2013); or listen to the diversity of Music of Haiti: On Stage at the Kennedy Center (2019).
