All Of God’s Creatures, Human and Non-Human, are interconnected
BY FR. CHRIS
I begin this message by asking all of us to pray for Floridians as this is the worst hurricane that Florida has ever experienced. At the time I am writing this message, more than 21 are dead in Florida from hurricane Ian, and a storm has landed on the South Carolina coast. Nature can sometimes be brutal. We thank God for giving man the ability to read the weather and know when and how severe a hurricane can be. If not for this ability, storms would be more devastating. Americans have the resilience to come together and build back after such destruction. No matter the pain, God is in there with us.
This weekend is the last before the end of this year’s season of creation. The season ends on Tuesday, October 4, celebrating the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. I will wrap up the 4 minutes presentation, which has been on since the start of the season of creation, with a talk on the Feast- day in the parish from 7-8 pm. I hope you will come.
St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of Franciscan spirituality, was a Catholic Friar, Philosopher, and Preacher. St. Francis is popularly known for his “Canticle of Creations.” He praises creatures and speaks of “sister moon” and “brother sun.” He had a fantastic insight required today, particularly by Christians, to respond to the current earth crisis. Francis of Assisi demonstrated that other creatures, too, are essential, and we are all connected as one family of creation. He greatly respected creatures of all kinds, sun, moon, water, star, fire, earth, and wind. Francis believed that all creatures give praise to God. He believed in the concept of the universe since Christ was the center of all things through the power of love. Unity for him meant unity with all things, whether human, plant or animal. Franciscan spirituality questions why we humans, who are one kind of creature, are driving away other of God’s creatures into extinction.
This Sunday, October 2, the parish will have the blessing of animals from 1-1:30 pm. Please bring your animals for this blessing. It will be a drive-through so please stay in your car to keep everyone safe. It is also Donut Sunday this Sunday after all morning Masses and our children in the faith formation program will be walking around campus doing a rosary walk, they will be stopping at the statues to pray for groups in our parish, school and neighborhood. In the afternoon, our middle school youth ministry will be going out on hike to spend time together and enjoy nature. We are lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world so I encourage you to get out and enjoy it and be mindful of how we treat our environment and do all you can to care for it and protect it.
Finally, please also keep Fr. Brendan and the group on Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in your prayers as they pray for us. You can follow along by going to Facebook and following our page – Saint Simon Catholic Church. I look forward to seeing you after morning Masses for donuts and fellowship.
God Bless,
Fr. Chris