Reflect & Learn
“Give us this day, our daily bread” - Matthew 6:11
Just as God provided daily manna for the Israelites to eat during their years in the desert, Jesus instructs us to look to God for our daily bread and to trust in his providence. We are surrounded by the richness of God’s abundance. The earth produces enough food, water, and resources to care for each person on the planet. Yet, there are still those who go hungry and thirsty while landfills grow in size and watersheds run dry because of wastefulness. Additionally, pollution from waste further reduces the supply of clean drinking water and healthy air.
As we hope to forge a relationship of mutual caring with creation, we turn our backs from our wasteful tendencies and excesses and pray: “May your blessing act in us, O Lord, and transform us with your renewing power, so that we might be wholly disposed to the service of what is good.” (Pope Francis) While a lot of waste and pollution comes from large industries -- we as individuals can still make a difference by paying attention to what we consume.
Take a look at this video to understand the impact of waste on the environment and get a few ideas for reducing the waste in your life:
Pray
As a family, pray this morning prayer from the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary:
Creator God, we give you thanks for the great abundance and nourishment that you provide us through your Creation and through your great love. Reveal to us ways we can honor you and your created world. Heal our hunger for things that do not last. Teach us to take enough, as well as give back to the earth, so that all may live from Your generosity and that no one shall go in want.
God of life, we pray for those in different countries who long for green pastures and quiet streams. God who provides, provide for those for whom daily bread is a challenge and for those who are displaced and long for home.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
God of Creation, we pray for strength and wisdom to be good stewards. Forgive us for the ways in which we contribute to the disfigurement and destruction of your Creation.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
God of providence, transform us, that we may place the welfare of the earth and your people before our fleeting desires. Grant us divine wisdom and embolden us to replace systems of destruction and wasteful consumption with systems of justice and sustainability.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Act
Check out these resources to help you reduce, reuse, and recycle waste in your home:
Green Education Foundation: Tips to use less plastic
Seedleaf: Offers training for starting to compost
Additional Resources
Check out this article that Peg Gabriel wrote last January about her plans to reduce plastic waste in her life:
