An era of change or change of an era?

Pope Francis speaks of our living in a time of era change, not our simply living with the constant of change.  I am with himon this.  What is telling is that Francis was presenting this challenge to us before the onslaught of the pandemic.  A pandemic served to hasten the supposed inevitable.     

We live in tumultuous, crazy times, but, as my neighbour often reminds me - when aren't times crazy?  There is the tragedy of continuing wars, highlighted by the present one in Ukraine.  There is the ongoing health crisis hanging over our global head, and there is so much more.  There are foreboding signs of a world that will suffer food and energy crises due to war and other major contributing factors.  Climate change remains Number 1 global crisis as it is about the future of our planet.  Poverty and inequality remain  as destructive forces hitting humanity.  

It is like our world could fall apart, but it won't.  Rather are these not poignant times heralding great change, creating not the perfect world, but the world of the next era in history?   As we face the unknown and the fear that comes with it, let us take to heart the lessons of the pandemic.  

For me, the pandemic taught us about the mysteyr of life, the place of spirituality to nourish life and the value of communion to sustain life.  

So let us move on in life.  As always, we are in transition, but seemingly specially at this time.  The prersent Synod of the universal Church will help us reach the new era. Let us embrace the synodal path, praying its prayer to invite the Spirit to operate within us, forming us into a community and people of grace.  

            We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.

With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts;

Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.

We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.

Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.

Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.

All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever.  Amen.