For the beauty of the Earth...


Father Ryan Bennett

On April 22nd, over 193 countries marked an important international event – Earth Day. From its beginnings in the 1970’s, this day marks the global recognition of the sacredness of mother earth. Earth Day grew out of being a national day of awareness for the earth within the U.S and soon grew to embrace the global community.

At the heart of this important day lay a recognition of the Earth as the home for all creation. A creation which is struggling for its existence. Climate change, coupled with rapid rises in population and increasing scarcity of food and water resources challenges faith communities to assess what our response will be from a faith perspective.

In both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, we read that God sees the creation as Good. Its beauty is an icon of the image of God and God’s goodness for all God’s creation. As such, we’re called to be stewards of the earth and its resources. We are challenged to be conscientious in our use of its resources.

Jesus constantly uses illustrations of the creation such as the birds of the air, the wheat of the fields and the fruit of the vines to communicate messages of deeper spiritual truths which have the power to transform lives. Lives of individuals and the communal life of communities and nations. In his relationship with the Father, Jesus teaches his disciples that he and the Father are one. Jesus doesn’t teach from his own authority, rather from the authority he has received from the Father. The Gospel of John clearly articulates this important theological point.

Since Jesus seeks to live his life in total trust to the Will of God as his Father, he teaches with an authority which transforms, changes, and challenges settled and complacent patterns of lives. He inspires his listeners to live richer, deeper lives which are not motivated by self-interest but rather by the interest for the needs of others.

We need to pay serious attention to Jesus speaking with authority because it’s an authority which challenges each one of us to make an offering of each of our lives to God in perfect trust. This perfect trust confronts us to refrain from living lives which cost us nothing. Self-sacrificial Christian living always has a focus on the other. When we choose to live like this, our own lives in faith are changed. Similar, this pattern of living should inform how we live in respect to the Earth and all her resources since they are living icons of God’s goodness for all.

I pray that within our homes, families and church community we will continue to think more ‘Green’, amending our lives in meaningful and visible ways – perhaps a parish ‘Green’ policy?

Blessings lots,

Father Bennett