Day 14

 
 
 
 
 
REFLECTION
You are at a buffet and people start grabbing one plate after another. Who cares? This time there is a cake – big enough for everyone to have a slice and be satisfied – but suddenly individuals start taking more and more slices. How do you feel now? Pope Francis refers to Earth as ‘Our Common Home’ – God’s gift to all – and blames most environmental problems on the greedy, who treat the world as if it had an unlimited supply of resources. As the Word of God says: sin causes death – the breaking of a relationship at the core of our problems.

BIBLE VERSE
And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination. (Jeremiah 2:7)

 
ACTIVITY

The colour of Advent is violet since it is also a penitential time. Penance is a form of self-inflicted punishment expressing regret for one’s shortcomings. Penance is also a form of sacrifice to God for one’s or others’ improvement. Choose a day to fast from food (not just sweets). Do it as you can but let it affect you. The scope is two-fold: that we reflect on our excesses and to offer our fast as a prayerful-sacrifice for the needy. To complete your penance, you can give the money saved for charity.

PRAYER

Dear God, only you are infinite, and in your infinite wisdom you give us the Earth as Our Common Home. Help me to adopt a lifestyle of actions that honours you as it safeguards the world as a gift from you to all.