In this season of gifting, we may realize that many thousands of words have been written about the gift of the Eucharist - Jesus’ body and blood - life itself - to us, and Pope Francis gives us even more understanding in his Laudato Si encyclical. “It is in the Eucharist that all that has been created finds its greatest exaltation. Grace, which tends to manifest itself tangibly, found unsurpassable expression when God himself became man and gave himself as food for his creatures. Indeed the Eucharist is itself an act of cosmic love. Thus, the Eucharist is also a source of light and motivation for our concerns for the environment, directing us to be stewards of all creation” [LS 236]. Our ‘daily bread’ ultimately finds purpose in our efforts to care for the earth and for the poor, and may we continue to make a commitment to this work in 2023. Happy New Year from the OLOF Care for Creation Ministry!