Simple Advent, Abundant Life: migration and the disruption of unchecked consumption

Second week of Advent theme—Money

Day 14: Saturday, Dec. 12

REFLECT

Today is the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico and the Patroness of the Americas. This day is often associated with solidarity with migrants and refugees, as Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to an indigenous Mexican farmer, St. Juan Diego, to share God's message. The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a reminder that in our journey toward simplicity, we are called to stand with indigenous communities, migrants and refugees. 

Recent hurricanes Eta and Iota — the latter, the second category-5 hurricane in the month of November on record — have caused mass destruction and food insecurity in Honduras. The storms destroyed many farmers' crops and are likely to increase migration from Honduras northward toward the United States. 

Warmer water temperature is one of the climate change-related factors that explains the increase in the number and intensity of hurricanes like Eta and Iota. As our economic system and increasing levels of resource consumption contribute to climate change, we remember the lives that this unchecked consumption disrupts.

The well-known quote "Live simply so that others may simply live" is a poignant reminder that for those of us who consume a majority of the earth's resources, our willingness to live simply can be a matter of life or death for our neighbors. 

Do you often think or talk about the connections between climate change and migration? How can you invite others to explore this connection (e.g. an Op-Ed piece, a conversation with a political representative, a discussion with friends or family)?

ACT

Say a prayer for the lives of all people affected by climate change-related disasters, especially those people forced to migrate after the recent hurricanes in Central America. 

View the Advent Simplicity Calendar for a moment of prayer with Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Simple Advent, Abundant Life

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