CLEAN UP DAY
#carbonfastforlent
“I believe that Saint Francis is the example par excellence of care for the vulnerable and of an integral ecology lived out joyfully and authentically. . . . He was a mystic and a pilgrim who lived in simplicity and in wonderful harmony with God, with others, with nature and with himself. He shows us just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace.” Pope Francis Laudato Si
Saint Francis gave us a wonderful example of the balance between spirituality and action. One day he was riding his horse near Assisi, when he met a leper. And, even though he usually shuddered at lepers, he made himself dismount, and gave him a coin, kissing his hand as he did so. After he accepted a kiss of peace from him, Francis remounted and continued on his way. He said after kissing the leper “I left the world”. This meant that he was leaving the values of the world and choosing the values of the kingdom
To organize a clean up day with your church is a practical way of saying to the community that we are committed to the kingdom. We are not people of status who do not want to get our hands dirty. We pray for the earth and we do our small part in healing it.
In the Diocese of Harare, Zimbabwe , each parish is encouraged to adopt an area, whether it is a street, minibus rank, train station and to keep it clean. Each Anglican is encouraged to take a bag to work and clean up on the way home. This is love in action.
Live simply so that others may simply live.