I take my lesson from the chickadee who in the storm receives a special fire to keep him warm, who in the dearth of a December day can make the seed of a dead weed his stay, so simple and so small, and yet the hardiest hunter of them all.
The world is winter now and I who go loving no venture half so much as snow, in this white blinding desert have been sent a most concise and charming argument. To those who seek to flout austerity, who have a doubt of God’s solicitude for even the most trivial of His brood, to those whose minds are chilled with misery I have this brief audacious word to say: look at the chickadee, that small perennial singer of the earth, who makes the weed of a December day the pivot of his mirth.
Musical Selection(Sons of Korah)
How lovely is Your dwelling place, oh Lord My soul it yearns, even faints for the courts of God my heart and flesh, they cry out to the living God my heart and flesh, cry out to Him.
Even the sparrow may find a home in You, Lord The swallow may have her young near Your altar Oh, God my King Blessed are those who dwell with You Within Your house, they give You praise.
Blessed are those, whose strength is in You Who are pilgrims with hearts on a journey to You As they pass through the desolate valley of weeping They will make it all a place of springs The autumn rains will also cover it.
Oh, Lord, my God Almighty God of Jacob Listen to me and hear my prayer, oh Lord and Look upon our shield And look with favor upon Your anointed one.
Listen to me Blessed are those, whose strength is in You Who are pilgrims with hearts on a journey to You They go from strength, to strength, to appearing Before the Lord in Zion at the end.
Better is one day on Your courts, oh Lord Then a thousand elsewhere I would rather keep the door in Gods house Then dwell in tents of evil men.
For the Lord is a sun and a shield around me And He showers His favor, His honor upon me From the blameless He never withholds any good thing He will not withhold any good thing And blessed are the ones who trust in Him
Meditation
The Paris Agreement presents a broad and ambitious objective: to keep the increase of average global temperatures to under 2° C with respect to preindustrial levels, and with the aim of decreasing them to 1.5° C. Work is still under way to consolidate concrete procedures for monitoring and to facilitate general criteria for comparing the objectives of the different countries. This makes it difficult to achieve a more objective (quantitative) evaluation of the real results.
Following several Conferences with scarce results, and the disappointment of COP25 in Madrid (2019), it was hoped that this inertia would be reversed at COP26 in Glasgow (2021). In effect, its result was to relaunch the Paris Agreement, put on hold by the overall effects of the pandemic. Furthermore, there was an abundance of “recommendations” whose actual effect was hardly foreseeable. Proposals tending to ensure a rapid and effective transition to alternative and less polluting forms of energy made no progress.
COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh (2022) was from the outset threatened by the situation created by the invasion of Ukraine, which caused a significant economic and energy crisis. Carbon use increased and everyone sought to have sufficient supplies. Developing countries regarded access to energy and prospects for development as an urgent priority. There was an evident openness to recognizing the fact that combustible fuels still provide 80% of the world’s energy, and that their use continues to increase. (LD 48-50)
Prayer
As we mark this time of equinox, may we find the balance we desire and need in our lives: – light and dark, – spirit and body, – mind and soul.
At the Spring equinox may we recognize the promise of rebirth both within and all around us.
At the autumn equinox may we recognize and give thanks for the blessings of the summer harvest and the fruits of our gardens.
As we mark the equinox in either the northern or southern hemisphere let us wonder at the Mystery that is Life and open ourselves to the blessings of both dark and light. Amen.— Brigidine Sisters
