April 22, 2015
Once again, we have a special day
instituted in our civil and political world – just as, in the church, we
have established September 1st of every year – to recall our
responsibility to maintain and sustain the beauty and diversity of the
natural creation.
Today, we are well aware of the data and
the facts. Unless we choose not to acknowledge and accept scientific
reality, then we are called – indeed, we are obliged – to embrace our
role to preserve the earth as a gift and resource offered to humanity by
a loving Creator.
This planet is a life-giving organism,
which is more than plentiful for those who know and practice moderation.
In the words of Psalm 103, we address God and pray: “You water the
mountains from your chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of
your miracles. You make grass grow for the cat¬tle, and vegetation for
the service of humans that you may bring bread out of the earth, and
wine that gladdens people’s hearts, oil to make their face cheerful, and
bread which strengthens their heart.” The earth and humanity are
created and intended to exist in a relationship of respect and harmony.
Yet, this is not the reality we
experience today. As greed overcomes our communities, consumption
increases beyond what the earth can possibly sustain. In other words,
the greedy ravage more resources than the earth can ever renew.
Possessing the earth in such a selfish way deprives it of its
life-giving properties and poses a great threat to the rest of creation.
As the earth is controlled by the few, the many are invariably
displaced, driven to migration and forced to confront debilitating
income inequality, poverty and hunger.
So why do we persist on our
self-destructive path? Are we so stubborn that we choose not to
understand? Are we so complacent that we ignore the consequences of our
lifestyle? Are we so oblivious that we remain indifferent?
This year is crucial as we approach the
2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris. May we
all stand together – in solidarity, determination and decision-making –
to steer our world toward a more caring worldview and a more
compassionate humanity.
