Sept 6th

Post date: Sep 08, 2020 4:44:22 PM

Sept 6, 2020 Homily by Fr. Karl Schray

The last verse in today’s Gospel is “Where

2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

In a special way this refers to a father, mother, and child.

Whenever the family pauses together for a few moments of prayer,

the unseen guest in that home is Jesus himself.

I am sure that no matter how informally you gather as a family for prayer,

He will join you—e.g. offering the day to God or bedtime prayers,

at mealtime or the start of a long drive.

“The family that prays together—stays together.”

I hope you have heard of Pope Francis’ encyclical, “On Care for our Common Home”. Its Italian subtitle is Laudato Si—

meaning “Praised be God for all his creation.”

The Pope addressed this long letter to every person living on this planet.

He makes an urgent appeal for a new dialogue about how we are shaping

the future of our planet. He gave this encyclical to Presidents Obama,

Trump & Putin when they each visited him.

Perhaps most profound is the Pope’s insight that

the environmental/ecological crisis is a spiritual crisis.

Our own inner gardens need tending in order that we might help tend

the garden of our planet.

Otherwise, we can count ourselves among those who get caught up in a

throwaway culture whose selfishness and lifestyles cause harm to others.

Please open your bulletin: I want us all to pray together

Pope Francis’ Prayer for our Earth.