**************************************************
Pope Francis’ new Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love)
There is no humanity without cultivation of the land: Francis on the central role of agriculture
Our Holy Father Pope Francis has invited us to “rediscover love for the earth as a ‘mother’, as St. Francis would say, from which we come and to which we are constantly called upon to return. And this leads to a proposal: to protect the earth, to make an alliance with her, so that she may continue to be, as God intends, the source of life for the entire human family”.
**************************************************
Jesus Waits for Us with Open Arms
“Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” (Revelation 3:20)
THE GREAT DANGER in today’s world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures and a blunted conscience. Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt and the desire to do good fades. This is a very real danger for believers too. Many fall prey to it, and end up resentful, angry and listless. That is no way to live a dignified and fulfilled life. It is not God’s will for us, nor is it the life in the Spirit which has its source in the heart of the risen Christ.
I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least openness to letting him encounter them. I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord. The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk. Whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that God is already there, waiting for us with open arms.
Jesus, draw near to help me renew my relationship with you. Today I will……….
**************************************************
Let Us Journey Together
The Lord said, “My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)
Today, we begin a new liturgical year and a new journey of the People of God with Jesus Christ, our shepherd, who guides us through history toward the fulfillment of the kingdom of God. Therefore, this day makes us experience deeply the meaning of history. We rediscover the beauty of us all, the Church, with her vocation and mission, and all humanity, peoples, civilization, cultures, being on a journey across the paths of time.
But where are we journeying? Is there a common goal? And what is this goal? Jesus Christ is both guide and goal of our pilgrimage, of the pilgrimage of the entire People of God. And in his light the other peoples may also walk toward the kingdom of justice and peace.
This journey never comes to an end. Just as in each of our lives we always need to begin again, to get up again, to get up again, to rediscover the meaning of the goal of our lives, so also for the great human family it is always necessary to rediscover the common horizon toward which we are journeying. The horizon of hope! This is the horizon that makes for a good journey. A hope which does not disappoint, simply because the Lord is faithful! God never disappoints!
