Interiorizing the motto of the Time of Creation among novices

The novitiate community of Vedrun-America, inspired by the reflections offered by the Communication, Prophecy and Care of Creation team, gathered on September 29 for our monthly retreat. We prayed together, led by the reflection on the first fruits of hope from the biblical text Romans 8:19-25:

For the deep longing of creation is to anxiously await the revelation of the children of God.

For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own free will, but because of him who subjected it, in the hope that the creation itself will also be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

For we know that the whole creation at once groans and suffers labor pains until now.

And not only she, but also we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, anxiously awaiting the adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, for why hope for what one sees?

But if we wait for what we do not see, we patiently await it.

We had spaces for personal reflection, where each one of us had the opportunity to pray, to place ourselves as creatures in the hands of God and in commitment and care for all creation. We shared in community the gratitude, the calls for an urgent ecological conversion and the challenging realities in this healthy relationship with the common home.

To hope and act with creation is a wise way of moving towards this sense of belonging, of harmony, of caring and letting ourselves be cared for. It is a hope that acts, that sets us in motion, that leads us to change our lives, to want to grow in this love and in this connection with all creation. It is a hope that is born of the experience of faith, of letting ourselves be carried by the presence of the Creator Father, by the Risen One, by the Ruah, the breath of life.

As the biblical text mentions that the earth groans with labor pains and with it all humans, we became aware and named all these pains for which creation groans today, with labor pains: deforestation, wars, fires, the abandonment of common goods, water, light and the lack of food for all, among many other cries that ask for a more dignified life for the whole community.

“However, there is hope and expectation of a better future. Hope in the biblical context does not mean to remain still and silent, but to groan, struggle and actively cry out for new life in the midst of difficulties. Like childbirth, we go through a period of intense pain, but new life emerges.”

We feel very much accompanied by our chapter document: FVCPA, which leads us to commit ourselves to the fundamental treasures of our life and among them is the care of our common home, Mother Earth, and we also join the document Laudato Si’, which leads us to have a heart of gratitude to God for all created beings and invites us to live in this relationship of hope.

To hope and act with creation is a wise way of moving towards this sense of belonging, of harmony, of caring and letting ourselves be cared for.

Sr. Maria do Socorro Vieira, CCV