Day 27 September
The main aim of the day was to internalise the story of the Universe and in the light of the new story to determine ways forward.
The Lay and Priest Associates met for Morning Prayer. A slide show on the new creation story was shown. This was viewed in a prayerful, reflective atmosphere. During the presentation there were pauses to reflect and share.
In the evolution of the universe, there had been moments of upheaval so that new life could emerge. Our Family is in the process of evolution and we need to make shifts so that we can give birth to something new.
Often questions such as the following arise: Who am I? Where have I come from? What is the meaning of my life? How can we live and flourish together? One way of answering these questions is to make our own the new story of the universe.
There was some sharing among the participants who expressed attitudes of thanksgiving, hope, and wonder in the face of God’s great love; joy because God’s energy and love have been revealed to us at different times and under many different forms. One participant spoke of his contentment to be a molecule of this great energy and to be able to give and receive.
There were strong desires to live more deeply, aware of the energy of love which has formed us and inhabits us.
After the prayer, the participants were invited to join with one other person and read together the document on the calls and suggestions that came from the Congress Assembly, sharing on a personal level and looking ahead to see how we can make these calls known in our particular contexts.
The guidelines for this work were:
- Dialogue on the orientations of the Congress Assembly
- What are they saying to you? Do they give you energy?
- What questions arise in you?
- Read the suggestions and see:
- What is possible in your context or region?
- What aspects do you wish to develop or promote in you groups and in your own life; in the Family, the local Church….?
- Have you any other suggestions to add?
The Eucharist united us all at midday and once more the Word of God threw light on our reflections. At the Offertory, the Bible and a plant were presented expressing our desire to be rooted in the word of God as the plant is rooted in the earth. We also wish to deepen our charism of communion in the Family.