Monday, 20 September
2021
“The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.”
~ Mark 9:31 ~
The quote for today’s reflection, in many ways, encapsulates the essence of Christian belief. Jesus died for us and rose again. No doubt we have been told this many times as Christians. But perhaps this is an ideal moment to pause and to reflect on what this means.
Jesus, who is the Son of God, became human for us in the Incarnation. The Second Person of the Trinity, whose glory and greatness we cannot comprehend, became human. We could spend our entire lives trying to unpack this mystery and what it means for us! There is a beauty in this story that has the power to move us. God’s love for us is so strong that he did everything he could to draw near to us. Moreover, having drawn near, he let go of everything he had, including his life, to save
us.
If we would like to respond to God’s love for us, one way to respond is to let this love touch us – to really impact us. Do we fully understand how much God loves us?
In our free time today, we could take a pause and reflect on the magnitude of God’s love.
The more we realise the extent of God’s care for us, the more our hearts will want to respond to that love – in whatever we think, do and say.
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Loving God,
You displayed your love
for us by sending your Son
to become human.
Grant us the grace today
to more fully realise
the depth of your love
so that our hearts
can be moved to show our love
for you in return.
Amen.
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Reflection prepared by Grant Tungay SJ
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God's Universe
Our Responsibility
40 days of ecological reflections
COST: R120 (excl postage and packaging)
TO ORDER:
Email: admin@jesuitinstitute.org.za
online
ABOUT THE BOOK
This book, published by the Jesuit Institute South Africa was written by theologian, Fr Anthony Egan SJ.
Fr Egan leads the reader through meditations and reflections considering the ecological (and humanitarian) crisis the earth faces.
Inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’, Fr Egan tackles the question of how faith and science both contribute to our understanding of the universe. He does not shy away from exploring the legitimate questions science continues to ask about humanity and the universe. The text is a journey from the beginning to the present. It looks specifically at the place of human beings and our
responsibility in taking care of our common home. This includes our responsibility to one another individually and corporately.
The book challenges us to engage with both our Christian faith and science.
In the book you will find poems, meditations on Scripture and a ‘Pause for Refection’ – questions to ponder after each section. This book is ideal for both individuals or groups who seek to pray in a focussed way. No facet of human life is left out, a number of themes are addressed including creation, sin, relationships, suffering, betrayal, love and witness.
REVIEWS
"There have always been tensions between faith and science: think about Galileo and the earth moving around the sun or Darwin explaining evolution. Our understanding of the universe is constantly growing because science is opening new horizons. Are science and theology at odds with each other? What does modern science have to contribute to our faith? What does our faith have to contribute to our understanding of the universe? Is the Big Bang theory or climate change a spiritual issue? In this
book, Fr Anthony Egan SJ explores these questions in a series of 40 short reflections – ideal for Lent (or any other time of the year). This is a mind-opening, down-to-earth, exploration of the intersection between faith and science." Dr Martin van Nierop, Managing Director Gondwana Environmental Solutions.
"Science continues to ask legitimate questions about the universe. Sometimes these questions rattle the very foundations of our Christian faith. In this book, Fr Anthony Egan SJ is not afraid to engage with those difficult questions. In this text, we are challenged to think and engage, in faith, with the ecological crisis science shows the universe faces. It is primarily a book which should lead us to deep reflection, prayer and conversion. Our conversion becomes apparent when we take act
responsibly and adjust our lifestyles so that we become true stewards of all creation." Fr Russell Pollitt SJ, Director Jesuit Institute South Africa
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