The Lord Hears the Cry of the Earth 

 Advent is a time of hope and longing.  We long for the Son of Justice to bring healing and peace to a fragmented and wounded world.  Our earth cries out for healing also as Pope Francis reminds us in Laudato Si’: “This sister cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her. The violence present in our hearts is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in her soil, water,  air and in all forms of life. That is why the earth, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she groans in travail.” What is our response to the cries of our common home? Young people all over the world are coming together to take a stand with those who care about the plight of our earth as they continue to hold Friday climate strikes.  If we can’t attend a strike we can have conversations in our convent homes about what we CAN do this Advent to be in solidarity with those who are out advocating for our common home.

https://www.ncronline.org/news/earthbeat/first-week-advent-daily-meditations-laudato-si

Prayer:  Come, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace and Son of Justice for our earth! 

Action:   Find out where and when the climate strikes are being held in your area and stand with those who will be most affected by the climate crisis, our young people.  Make this an Eco-Advent by being mindful of actions that will show your solidarity with our suffering planet.  Practice the ecological virtues: reduce, reuse, recycle, refuse! 

Resources for the week ahead from Education for Justice...

Dec. 2 -- International Day for the Abolition of Slavery: Prayer 
               Anniversary of the deaths of Maura Clarke, Ita Ford, Dorothy Kazel, and Jean                                     Donovan in El Salvador (1980): Prayer 
Dec. 3 -- International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Prayer
Dec. 4 -- National Vigil Against Gun Violence in Washington, DC 
Dec. 6 -- Climate Strikes (See icon at the top left for info on NYC climate strike) 
Dec. 8 -- Feast of the Immaculate Conception: Prayer

Pray for an end to violence in Chile in solidarity with our sisters there.               

May this Advent make us more aware of our suffering sisters and brothers in Chile and in other areas ravaged by violence and of our suffering earth.  The Lord hears the cry of the poor and the earth through us! Come, Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace and Son of Justice!