Publication Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Reflection Date: Sunday, October 6, 2024 - Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

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God’s Loving-Kindness and Adversity

Today is like so many recent days—rich with great highs and lows so profound that their depths are beyond measure. These extremes of joy and sorrow—this roller coaster of life—are not what I expected when I was young. Now that I am older, I accept this unceasing collision of joys and sorrows as normal, but that does not mean I am thrilled with the tension this creates within my soul. Thus, when I read the readings for Sunday, October 13 from the lectionary of the Episcopal Church, I see that these ups and downs, for those who have the eyes to see, are another dimension of God’s breath that brought us to life from the dirt of Mother Earth. This passage from Psalm 90:14/15 captures the essence for me:

S

Source, geralt via Pixabay

Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning;
so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us
and the years in which we suffered adversity.

As I was praying for some of God’s wisdom to share with you about this, I opened up one of my daily readings from Richard Rohr and found this confirmation that this unceasing rhythm of laughter and pain, of contemplation and action, is a form of God’s breathing, as expressed by Ilia Delio: “Francis was praying alone, uttering a mantra in the form of a question: ‘Who are You, O God? And who am I?’ The more Francis wandered into the fields of nature, the more he wandered into the fields of his own heart. There he encountered the mystery of God, who was at once Most High, yet infinitely near; God is both transcendent and more intimate than his own self, as he exclaimed, ‘My God and my All!’” Thus, the breath of life that allowed God to transform dirt into a human being continues every moment of every day in the form of Job’s complaints AND his never-ending acceptance that, in the end, God is always loving him. Without this constant in-breathing of adversity and out-breathing of loving-kindness, we cannot live enfolded by God; we cannot know that without God we are dead, alone, and without purpose.

As I imagined this breathing of God, I saw a luminous gate appear in my mind’s eye. It helped me experience that God is ALL. We breathe in as we contemplate. We breathe out as we act. We breathe in our grief. We breathe out our joy. We breathe in the adversity God afflicts us with so that we can breathe out God’s loving-kindness to ourselves, to those we serve, and to the earth that sustains us. One without the other is not possible. Our mission, then, is to keep breathing. Our mission is not to get stuck in either pole. This breathing is how we connect to God and avoid narcissism, loneliness, and despair.

And what is it that we are breathing in and out? God’s love. Not love as we simplistically think of it, for Love is ALL. Francis realized that God is ALL. The Psalmist realized that God is ALL. We, too, need to feel in our hearts, souls, and minds that God is ALL—Loving-Kindness AND Adversity.

Perhaps you can meditate on the image of a luminous gate as if it were an Orthodox icon. Let it bring you out of your everyday material existence and worries to see that just beyond your horizon lies the breathing heart of life of which you are a part. Picture that as the heart of God’s creation beats; so does yours. As you experience a moment of adversity followed by a moment of loving-kindness, feel within your soul: “This is good because this is God. God is ALL.”

In our commitment to putting Franciscan values into action, let us carry this understanding into our advocacy for the vulnerable, ensuring that love is the foundation of our efforts to promote justice. May we find strength in this rhythm of life, knowing that through our collective actions, we embody God’s loving-kindness in the world.

Gordon Kubanek, P.Eng.
Third Order Franciscan & Writer

Suggested Action:

Join us for the Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference! We invite you to participate virtually on Sun. Oct. 13 and connect with a community coming together to find inspiration to take loving action. Register now for more details.

Suggested Petitions:

May we embrace the rhythm of life’s joys and sorrows, trusting that God’s breath sustains us in every moment, we pray…
May we always breathe in God’s loving-kindness and breathe out love for others, we pray…

Prayer:

Prayer by St. Teresa of Ávila:
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

Amen.

Participate in the Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference via live-stream on Sunday, Oct. 13 

 

We invite you to join us virtually for the 2024 Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference: Acting for Peace, People, Planet on Sunday, October 13, from 12:30-5:00pm EDT (9:30am-2:00pm PDT). This intergenerational conference will offer exciting speakers and important training in respectful dialogue, deep listening, and effective advocacy grounded in the Franciscan tradition.

The recommended registration fee is $50 for individuals, $75 for small groups (up to 5 log-ins), and $100 for larger groups (up to 10 log-ins). Click here to learn more about the program and speakers. 

Peace Actions for Gaza and Middle East

As the war in the Middle East continues to escalate one year after the horrific October 7, 2023 attack, Franciscans are gathering for prayer, witness, and accompaniment efforts for peace. On Friday, October 4, Franciscan Action Network and Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House commemorated the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi with a prayer vigil for Peace in Gaza and the Middle East on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House.We are grateful to everyone who joined us in person or participated via our live stream on YouTube.

During the vigil, Fr. Sam Nasada OFM read the recent call by the Order of Friars Minor Our Lady of Guadalupe Provincial Council for “an immediate ceasefire, a return of all hostages, the immediate delivery of humanitarian assistance, a limitation on the U.S. Government’s arms sales to Israel, and steps of reconciliation to transform the current trajectory of death into a long-term and sustainable peace.”

Pope Francis joined the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM, in calling on the universal Church to observe a day of prayer and fasting on October 7.

Meanwhile, Christians for Ceasefire continues to organize missions of solidarity and accompaniment to Israel/Palestine, with delegations currently planned for mid-October and mid-December. If you are considering making a journey of accompaniment to our sisters and brothers in the Holy Land, please indicate your interest through this form. If you would like to support our work for peace, please click here and dedicate your donation to “Christians for Ceasefire.”

Catholic Institute for Nonviolence Launched

 

Photo Source: Catholic Institute for Nonviolence. 

The launch of the Institute at the Vatican, FAN board member Friar Mike Lasky, OFM Conv., far right.

Franciscans are supporting the new Catholic Institute for Nonviolence, which was officially inaugurated in Rome on September 29, marking a significant milestone in the global promotion of peace and nonviolent change. Fr. Michael Lasky OFM Conv., a member of the FAN Board, is a member of the new Center’s Advisory Council and participated in the inaugural conference. Pax Christi International’s Catholic Nonviolence Initiative (CNI) launched the institute to provide resources, tools, and strategies for Church leaders and individuals around the world. This virtual global hub will draw on the expertise of theologians, scholars, and grassroots practitioners from every continent.

Pope Francis sent a special message of Apostolic Blessing to celebrate this event. You can read his message here and learn more through the Vatican News story here. Powerful remarks were made by global leaders, including Cardinal Bo (Myanmar), Sister Wamũyũ Teresia Wachira (Kenya), Cardinal Robert McElroy (US), and Dr. Maria Stephan (US).

Call to Action: Support Immigration Reform for Farm Workers

For the thousands of undocumented farm workers, immigration and a clear pathway to citizenship is an issue that cannot be ignored. Half or more of our nation’s farm workers have lived and worked in the U.S. for years, even decades, providing food on our tables without a reasonable path to citizenship. Watch this video from the National Farm Workers Ministry (NFWM) to hear Farm Workers share their stories and explain how allies like you can help. 

In support of Farm Workers across the country, use the button below to sign a petition from NFWM telling Congress to create a reasonable path to citizenship for essential workers like Farm Workers.

Support the 40-Day Prayer Fast for a Fair Election

As the United States approaches potentially contentious elections, please consider participating in the 40-Day Prayer Fast led by Black Clergy and Allies. Starting Thursday, September 26, and continuing through Tuesday, November 5, this initiative invites participants to engage in prayer and fasting to seek justice and healing in our nation.

You may fast in various ways—whether through food, social media, or personal sacrifices. Daily prayer is encouraged for our nation, the upcoming election, and acceptance of the election results.

For more information and to download the Prayer and Fast Guide, click here.  We encourage you to share this invitation with your networks and join in this meaningful effort to promote a fair electoral process.

 
 

The Franciscan Action Network sends out a weekly reflection and newsletter to our members. We hope you find the content educational and inspirational.

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