Dare to Care - Nov 4th 2022

Laudato Si Reflection

97. The Lord was able to invite others to be attentive to the beauty that there is in the world because he himself was in constant touch with nature, lending it an attention full of fondness and wonder. As he made his way throughout the land, he often stopped to contemplate the beauty sown by his Father, and invited his disciples to perceive a divine message in things: “Lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest” (Jn 4:35). “The kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but once it has grown, it is the greatest of plants” (Mt 13:31-32). 
 
Reflection: How might you “invite others to be attentive to the beauty that there is in the world because (you are) in constant touch with nature, lending it an attention full of fondness and wonder?” Try being more attentive to the beauty of creation this week, noticing the changing seasons, the migrating birds, the chill in the morning air, and see it as a “divine message.” Journal your reflections and share your thoughts and feelings with others. 
 

Action: Go for a walk this week and really pay attention to the world in which you live. Go without checking your phone or conversation or a mental agenda or even intentional prayer, and just be attentive to the air, the sky, the birds, the people, the dirt, the leaves, all that is on your path. Give thanks.

Spaces of Hope

“Jesus’s “Do this in memory of me” are words of entanglement, saying that my life affects your life and your life affects my life—we are mutually and reciprocally related. By celebrating the sacrament of the Eucharist we are not simply saying thank you to God, as if saying, “how nice of you to remember me.” Eucharist means being an active participant in the cosmic body of Christ, a body evolving unto fullness, the cosmic Person, through the rise of consciousness and unity in love.” Ilia Delio, OSF, Making All Things New, 2015 (86-87)        
            
Eucharist urges us to lay down our lives so that deeper communion among ourselves and among all humanity be realized. In Jesus’ gift of his life to the Father for all of us, we experience and are called to radical discipleship in word and action. In memory of Jesus and following his example, we are impelled to extend Eucharist into our daily lives, giving ourselves totally for others, gratefully receiving from them. (You Are Sent 34)

Justice for Immigrants

We need comprehensive immigration reform. Even those who are receiving somewhat favorable status have no guarantee for what their status will be in the coming days, as evidenced by the changes in policy for Venezuelan migrants. Read this New York Times article about the tens of thousands of Venezuelan migrants who find themselves in limbo at the US border.

Ending Human Trafficking

Read this month’s newsletter from the US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking on sex trafficking throughout the world. Share it with others. USCSAHT supports the decriminalization of sex workers; read more about what that means and why they support it here. The fuller explanation is also in the USCSAHT newsletter.

Dismantling Racism

Be challenged, be inspired, be changed by remembering all that Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA was in life and continues to be in the cloud of witnesses. Watch the new one hour documentary about her life, “Going Home Like A Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood”. Watch and rememberWatch and remember her incredible encounter with the US Bishops in 1989; how have we been moved to change -  personally, as a congregation, as a Church since then, 33 years later? 

Climate Change

The Nature Conservancy suggests that these are some of the topics expected to be discussed at COP27 in Egypt (November 6-18): adapting to climate change, loss and damage funds, hope for limiting global warming to 1.5 °C. Learn more here about COP27. Here’s a great video explaining Climate Adaptation

Eliminating the use of Single-Use plastics is something EVERYONE could and should be working on. Watch this video from The Story of Stuff Project on a vending machine that refills plastic containers. Share this series from the Story of Stuff about “Solving Plastics” – watch it with others and share it with others. Keep track of the packaging and single use plastics in your life this week, and then do something about eliminating them from your life.

Partnership with Haiti

Consider learning more about this action on behalf of the Haitian people and what it represents in terms of US policies towards Haiti. Beyond Borders, our partner in the work in Haiti, was a sponsor of the action.  SSND partnership between the AMSSND and Beyond Borders in Haiti represents a deep commitment to justice for the people of Haiti. Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti and staff members of Beyond Borders who are in Haiti. Commit to continue learning about the current situation in Haiti. Commit to learning the long US/Haiti history that influences the current time as well. May peace and justice be found in the spaces of hope our partnership provides.

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