The Season of Creation is an annual Christian celebration that is convened each year to pray and respond to the cry of Creation. It begins on September 1st and concludes on the feast day of St Francis of Assisi on October 4th. During this time, people are encouraged to renew their relationship with the Creator and creation through prayer and action for the environment.
I was inspired to compose a song called ‘Words of Love’ after reading a little booklet entitled
‘10 things Pope Francis wants you to know about the Environment’ by Michael Wright.
Chapter 3 is entitled, ‘Let it be: The Intrinsic Value of Creation.’ Every human being is an image of God….and each creature has its own purpose. None is superfluous…. Soil, water, mountains: everything is, as it were, a caress of God’ (84) Laudato Si.
And later in Chapter 6, Pope Francis asks, “Nature is filled with words of love, but how can we listen to them amid constant noise, interminable and nerve-wracking distractions, or the cult of appearances?” (225)
The lyrics of the song are below and clicking on the title will take you the song for you to listen to.
All created things
Objects of your love
Beings great and small
Sing your praise
All is precious gift
Everything that is
With our living breathe
We give thanks
Your caress
With tenderness
The soil, water mountains that we share
Beauty here
Drawing near
Help us hear
Your words of love
Build our common home
we are not alone
instruments of grace
in your hands
With your strength and light
aid our planet’s plight
hands and hearts unite
for the earth
Just as the words of the song celebrate God’s caress and tenderness through the gifts and beauty of the natural world, Jesus shows a beautiful tenderness and sensitivity to the deaf man in our Gospel taken from Mark 7:31-37. He knows the needs of this man and treats him accordingly. He is incredibly engaged and hands on with him. He then looks up to heaven and sighs deeply saying to him, ‘Be opened.’ And the deaf man’s ears are opened…..
Allow Jesus through the gift of your imagination to respond to your need. In what way does he approach you and how do you respond to him? If you are able, take some time reflecting and praying with this Gospel. This Gospel reminds us that Jesus approaches us and engages with us precisely where we need him.
Blessings on your week.
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