This week begins on a date that is etched in our memories, 11 September. It was on this day that the word ‘terror’ took on a whole new meaning and came knocking on everyone’s doors. Today, we are accustomed to breaking news announcing yet another terror attack. People’s lives have changed forever because of that day and its aftermath. We remember today the many victims of terror attacks around the globe. We remember the people affected by these attacks and we pray that someday all things will be made new and ‘all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well’.

This week, as we celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross and Our Lady of Sorrows, we remember the many people who have been affected by heavy rains and flooding in South Asia, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in the Americas and the earthquake in Mexico. We remember the Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar. For those affected by these natural disasters and human persecution, the shadow of the cross is dark. They understand the horror of the cross. To many, it makes no sense and many must be asking the question, ‘Why me? Why us?’

The cross, to many, is a symbol of horror and death, yet, we as Christians recognise it as the one symbol of commitment and discipleship, of new life and hope, of constant care and everlasting love. Mary endured the sorrow of watching her son die on the cross, and she rejoiced in the Resurrection. It is the hope of new life that lifts the shadow of the cross.

Richard Rohr writes:

Darkness is always present alongside the light. Pure light blinds; shadows are required for our seeing. We know the light most fully in contrast with its opposite—the dark. There is something that can only be known by going through ‘the night sea journey’ into the belly of the whale, from which we are spit up on an utterly new shore.

At the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is a single Callery pear tree surrounded by white oaks. It was found amidst the rubble at Ground Zero. Its branches were broken and charred, its roots were severely damaged and all that remained of it was a stump no higher than eight feet. Today, after years of rehabilitation, it stands as a living testament to ‘resilience, survival and rebirth’. It is known as the Survivor Tree. What might we learn from it today? Does it not whisper to you of resurrection? Does it not shout at you about new life emerging from apparent death? Does not its shadow remind you that we need the darkness to appreciate the light?

SIGNIFICANT DAYS THIS WEEK: Remembering 9/11 (Sept 11); Exaltation of the Cross (Sept 14); Our Lady of Sorrows (Sept 15); International Day for Democracy (Sept 15); Selichot (Sept 16)

READ: What the Survivor Tree at Ground Zero can teach us

WATCH: The story of The Survivor Tree

CONSIDER: Spend a few moments in prayer today remembering the people affected by floods, hurricanes and the earthquake. Raise your voice in solidarity with the Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar.

Let us start this year conscious of the presence of God in each one of us, in everyone and everything around us, in all that we say and do and in all that will happen throughout the coming year. Let the reassuring words of God, ‘Do not fear, for I am with you’ (Is 41:10), echo in our ears. Let us recognise that God has laid out only the best plans for each one of us, ‘plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope’ (Jer 29:11).

It is significant that at the end of this week we celebrate the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Let us, at the start of this academic year, place all our hopes and expectation, our fears and doubts in the care of Mary and trust that she will walk with us and watch over us as she did Jesus her own son.

And as you begin this year we pray this blessing upon your work as teachers:

May the light of your soul guide you.

May the light of your soul bless the work you do with the secret love and warmth of your heart.

May you see in what you do the beauty of your own soul.

May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light and renewal to those

Who work with you and to those who see and receive your work.

May your work never weary you.

May it release within you wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement.

May you be present in what you do.

May you never become lost in the bland absences.

May the day never burden you.

May dawn find you awake and alert,

approaching your new day with dreams, possibilities and promises.

May evening find you gracious and fulfilled.

May you go into the night blessed, sheltered and protected.

May your soul calm, console and renew you.

SIGNIFICANT DAYS THIS WEEK: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (8 September); International Literacy Day (8 September)

READ: Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew Joint Statement on World day of Prayer for Creation

WATCH: The Pope’s Prayer intention for all our parishes

CONSIDER: Get actively involved in this year’s Season of Creation

We begin this week by remembering those who lost their lives in fires at the Grenfell Tower, London and in Pedrógão Grande, Portugal. We also remember the victims of the terror attack on the Muslim community in Finsbury Park, London. Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone affected by these devastating incidents.

Today we mark World Refugee Day. The beautiful prayer on the CRS website calls us to remember that Jesus was born into a family of refugees fleeing violence in their homeland. They sought out shelter in an alien land, imploring, ‘Will you let me in?’ but were turned away by many from behind closed doors with, ‘There is no room.’ There are over 22 million refugees in the world today and half of those come from South Sudan, Afghanistan and Syria. More than half of all refugees are children. Over the last few years we have become increasingly aware of the plight of refugees the world over, fleeing violence and war, political oppression and environmental degradation.

Sadly though, there is still a lot of fear and suspicion of the stranger. Like the priest and Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan, many still want nothing to do with the refugee and the asylum seeker, and walk on by, unaffected by the hurting stranger. Many still ignore the fervent knock on the door seeking shelter. But there are always the ones who welcome the stranger and walk the extra mile with them. We have seen this. We have experienced this. We have only to look at the many people who brave social repercussions to help the refugees getting off inflatable boats; those who provide a drink of water or a bowl of soup, a bag of clothes or a pair of worn sandals, a room to stay in or a place to rest.

The summer solstice is a time to remind ourselves that light triumphs over darkness. It is a time for each of us to recognise the light within us and allow it to shine forth in our love for our neighbour, especially if that neighbour is fleeing violence, war, persecution and oppression.

On the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we celebrate the intense love that God has for all people. It is the love with which Jesus asked his followers to love each other when he said, ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ It is with this same love that we reach out to all in need – to feed the hungry, to give a drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to care for the sick, to visit the imprisoned and to welcome the stranger. The words of the hymn tell us, ‘Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.’

Significant days this week: World Refugee Day (20 June); Summer Solstice (21 June); St Aloysius Gonzaga (21 June); Lailatur Qadr (22 June); The Sacred Heart of Jesus (23 June); Birth of John the Baptist (24 June); Eid-Ul Fitr (25 June)

READ: The Sacred Heart – Loyola Press

WATCH: A refugee journey through the eyes of a 7-year-old Syrian girl

CONSIDER: Pray the Prayer for Refugees