STRENGTH FOR THE WEEK Pope Francis: 5 Practical Ways To Take Our Connectedness with Others Seriously

STRENGTH FOR THE WEEK Pope Francis: 5 Practical Ways To Take Our Connectedness with Others Seriously

You can’t read the encyclical Laudato Si’ and not be deeply moved. Pope Francis invites us to take the connectedness of all things very seriously, to dare to turn what is happening to the world and to those living in poor nations as our own personal suffering. At the same time the pope is also eminently practical. Addressing the destructive tendencies of the last 200 years will take political leadership to create a culture willing to strike out on new paths that will protect the planet and our brothers and sisters both now and for the future. The encyclical offers a perceptive analysis of the condition of contemporary culture, a culture which thus far has not been able to provide an explanation for some of the most troubling puzzles of our era. Five ways to connect with others and with the world of nature: The document calls for real leadership to overcome the weak international political responses to the global environmental problems by enacting a far-sighted environmental agenda.  Pope Francis urges us to question the myth of unending material progress—a myth which is part of the Western faith—in favor of communion with and care for our brothers and sisters.  He calls us to reassess the damage done by a technological advancement disconnected from human responsibility, values, and conscience, an advancement that serves the interest of the wealthy without concern for potentially negative impact on human beings now and in the future.  Pope Francis asks us to see our connectedness to all others and to the inanimate world of nature, employing a worldview of “integral ecology” to establish political control over economic forces.  The encyclical urges the wealthy to assist the needs of the poorer nations and not to feel—in the face of such a complex problem—the license to carry on present-day lifestyles and models of consumption.  This week, whether in your home or place of business, be just a bit more attuned to the ramifications of your choices on others and on the environment. How many places of connection can you find? Blessings, Sr. Kathryn J. Hermes, FSP