RINGWOOD, N.J. – September brings with it the end of summer and that most colorful season wherein luscious greenery drops away in a blaze of color — autumn. We are called upon to meditate on the rapidity of change and, at the same time, the rich content which the object of that mediation provides.
Especially this year, we must let the fruits of our meditation influence our interpretation of current events: The world is in turmoil. Cities of grace and beauty like Barcelona, London, and Nice are torn with conflict.
Our own nation seems more wounded and ripped apart than ever before. We have a government that seems locked into inaction or bent on giving universal offense. Things are happening which have occurred individually but never before in such number and with such nefarious results. We seem faced with the choice of inadequate response of such magnitude as to almost certainly ensure destruction. Our history is, by the events of the day, thrown up in our faces in all of its ugliness with little of its unique and insightful progress unaffected.
Whatever the final Armageddon may turn out to be, we are seeing each day, something of its reality as we are faced with our undeniable inadequacy. The question can be fairly raised: Can we recover from our present state of near destruction. Our elected officials seem unusually unable to determine a way of action that could lead to a solution blessed with justice. The rest of the world is truly horrified and holds its breath in fearful anticipation of the damage America, in her present condition, can do.
Let us then deeply meditate on the beauties of fall. See clearly how they call us to needed solutions and let us pray to God that we all have the sense to respond in a truly God-inspired manner.
– Fr. Philip is a resident of Holy Name Friary, the Province’s skilled nursing home in Ringwood, N.J. He has written six reflections since moving in two years ago. The most recent was “Pentecost, a Feast for Everyone”
Related Links
- “Holy Name Friary Honors Jubilarians” – July 1, 2017, HNP Today
- “Reflection on Mission of Ringwood’s House of Prayer” – May 16, 2017, HNP Today
- “Autumn at Holy Name Friary” – Oct. 14, 2016, HNP Today