EASTER III
April 23, 2023
“The Holiness of Creation”
Once again, Earth Day activities have been taking place in our communities, schools, and work places. When my own children were in school, I appreciated all the ways in which they learned about caring for the environment. There were outdoor activities, the occasional field trip (I was “allowed” to help corral lively grade-schoolers a time or two), and even if things got a little rowdy around the edges, a number of valuable lessons were learned.
Newspapers and television have been featuring information (much of it quite alarming) about the serious problems humans have caused for our environment, and ways to address and deal with a number of them. It’s not always a matter of knowing what to do, or not to do, but finding the will to make changes and even sacrifices to head in a positive direction.
References to the natural environment are abundant throughout the Bible, beginning, of course, with the first chapter of Genesis. The story of the creative process has a poetic rhythm, describing the creation of night and day, earth and sky, sun and moon, step by deliberate step. The days and nights unfold, but as the sixth day begins and living creatures appear, we read the phrase, “And God saw that it was good”. The day continues, and humans are created, blessed, and given all they need. Chapter 1 concludes: “God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.” The Good Friday meditation of a couple weeks ago referred to an ancient English use of the word “good” as also meaning “holy.” Try reading the quotes above, and say “holy” instead of “good.” When I did, I was a little surprised at what a different feeling I had about that short phrase. “Good” is a word we use casually, describing anything from well-behaved children to a dish of ice cream. That which is described as holy, however, denotes a connection to God and commands respect and honor.
The writer of the Psalms lived in a desert environment, and day and night, the enormous vistas all around were vivid reminders of human insignificance. Upon seeing a star-filled sky on a clear night, these words come to my mind:“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4)
As the grateful inhabitants of God’s creation, we have opportunities to be good stewards of it, conscientiously caring for the land, the water, and the air. Let us pray that we will find ways to repair and protect that which has been entrusted to us.
Love your Mother (Earth)!
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers