Five years ago this week, Pope Francis and his team of encyclical writers published their letter to the world known as Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home -- so that we stop taking our world for granted. It's easily the most important letter ever written by a pope, and calls everyone on earth to a greater awareness of and care for our planet. In these days of COVID-19, it's easy to forget about the environment in our concern for humanity's struggles with this disease. But we can't continue to exist if we don't begin to make some of the different kinds of lifestyle changes we have had to adopt during this pandemic. There are many places on our planet that are experiencing natural rejuvenation because we have slowed down our consumption of resources and reduced our use of fossil fuels. Animals are also breathing a sigh of relief as we have become quieter... have you noticed? I really believe that the way we are living through this pandemic can be the beginning of positive changes that will give us a chance to live in a much healthier place.
But it won't happen without a lot of deep thought, prayer and action.
We can make the world a better place once the virus has passed us by if we can use the immeasurable creativity shared with us by our Creator to come up with solutions that work for all, but especially for the marginalized members of creation. Can we forgive debts? Live within our needs? Spend love miles rather than airmiles? Share our abundance? Protect nature? Appreciate all that is and recognize that everything is gift? And revisit the wisdom of Laudato Si?
The ecumenical prayer video below was made for this Easter season by the pastor of St. Luke's Anglican church and only three musicans so that appropriate social distance could be maintained. I invite you to take a bit of time to sing some Alleluias with us, and to pray that our entire planet (not only the humans) will emerge from this pandemic with better health, deeper love, and more wisdom. Lyrics are below... to sing is to pray twice!
O--- Surrexit Christus, alleluia! O---
Cantate Domino, alleluia! (translation: Christ is risen, alleluia! Sing to God,
alleluia!)
Laudate omnes gentes, laudate Dominum.
Laudate omnes gentes, laudate Dominum.
(Kiswahili lyrics: Si-fu-ni wa-tu wo-te si-fu-ni Mwen-ye-zi.
Si-fu-ni wa-tu wo-te si-fu-ni Mwen-ye-zi.
English lyrics: Sing praises, all you peoples, sing praises
to the Lord. Sing praises, all you peoples, sing praises to the Lord.)
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Cantate Domino, alleluia, alleluia!
Jubilate Deo! (translation: Sing to the Lord, alleluia, alleluia! Rejoice in
God!)
Jésus, le Christ, lumière
intérieure,
ne laisse pas mes ténèbres me parler. Jésus, le Christ, lumière
intérieure,
donne moi d’acceuillir ton amour. (English lyrics: Lord Jesus Christ, your light
shines within us. Let not my doubts or my darkness speak to me. Lord Jesus
Christ, your light shines within us. Let my heart always welcome your love.)
Nada te turbe, nada te_espante; quien a
Dios tiene nada le falta. Nada te turbe, nada te_espante: solo Dios basta. (English lyrics:
Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten. Those who seek God shall never go
wanting. Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten. God alone fills us.)
O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord hear my
prayer. When I call answer me. O Lord hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer.
Come and listen to me.
I am sure I shall see the goodness of the
Lord in the land of the living. Yes, I shall see the goodness of our God, hold
firm, trust in the Lord.
O—Psallite Deo, psallite! O—Alleluia,
alleluia! (English lyrics: This is the day the Lord has made! Alleluia, alleluia!)
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