Lent V – Laudato Si’

The Fifth Sunday of Lent

_{The fifth and final homily in a Lenten series on the Encyclical Letter, Laudato Si’ of Pope Francis.}

Each year on St. Patrick’s Day, tens of thousands of Americans add green to their outfits, even if they are not of Irish heritage. Most of us don’t realize that the color has little connection to St. Patrick. It is rather a symbol of rebellion. “The Wearing of the Green” is a traditional Irish folk song that dates back to the Irish Rebellion of 1798 when the Irish rose up against the British. At that time, wearing green clothing or shamrocks was considered a rebellious act, potentially punishable by death.

It is therefore most appropriate that as I conclude this Lenten series on Pope Francis’ Encyclical letter, Laudato Si’ – On Care for Our Common Home that we are “wearing the green” – a sign of rebellion. Liturgically we wear the colour purple as a sign of sorrow, repentance and conversion but green, which the Roman tradition uses for most of the year, needs to be a constant reminder of our responsibility to each other, future generations and the planet.

Francis reminds us of the rich heritage of Christian spirituality we have grounded in twenty centuries of personal and communal experience. He questions how such a spirituality can encourage us beyond ideas and concepts to motivate us into action and to rouse a more compassionate concern for our planet. Francis is calling for an ecological conversion. I have found it intriguing that as I have read the letter how much of its language resonates with Lent, the call to change and return to God.

Conversion is the substance of the Christian life and the season of Lent. We heard God’s invitation on Ash Wednesday; “Return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning…”_{[Joel 2: 12]} This is the summons to a profound interior conversion. He quotes Pope Benedict, “the external deserts in the world are growing because the internal deserts have become so vast”. Some Christians ridicule concern for the environment; others of us are passive and inconsistent and choose not to change our habits. Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to our Christian life; it is not optional.

Conversion entails recognition of our errors, sins, faults and failures that lead to a heartfelt repentance. How have we, how are we harming God’s creation? Did you drive to Mass by car? How much plastic have we thrown away today? Did we recently purchase an item simply to have the latest version despite our knowledge of “planned obsolesce” that addresses our vanity?

Our liturgy teaches us recognition of our sins as we pray, “I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned…in what I have done and in what I have failed to do”. Nevertheless, self-improvement of the individual will not by itself remedy the extreme complex environmental situation that we face. Corporations, governments, nations, science, and industry must also experience conversion if we are to bring about a lasting change.

Christian spirituality proposes an alternative and prophetic lifestyle based in the ancient lesson: “less is more”. It is counter intuitive and in a society of consumption and constant connection, counter-cultural. Sound familiar? Churchy language for “less is more” is “fasting” – doing without something, even something good, for a greater good.

Our consumer lifestyle prevents us from cherishing the person, the moment, the thing before us.

I am saddened as I watch people at weddings take photos and videos of the event instead of experiencing the couple, family members and friends. Is watching the video after the fact the same as the actual experience? I’ve sat across from friends who are constantly checking their phones and watches. What are they saying to me? For all the condolence texts I received on my brother’s death, how much richer it would have been to talk to a person. Our lifestyle separates us. How can a person be deeply seen and known in our present culture?

Jesus gave full attention to the person before him; an inquiring rich young man, children playing around him, parents pleading for their sick child, a woman at a well, a man in a tree, a guilt ridden friend. The encounter with the rich young man is most telling for us in this environmental crisis. The man is fulfilling the law. He wants to make sure his life is complete. “You are lacking in one thing,” Jesus says, “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor”_{[Mark 10:21]}. At this invitation, “the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions”. How would we react? How much stuff do any of us have in cellars, closets, attics, storage units? People talk about downsizing but is that the same as a change in lifestyle?

Christian spirituality proposes moderation in all things à la Saint Benedict’s balanced life; Saint Theresa of Lisieux’ s “little way” so as not to miss out on a kind word, a smile, a small gesture; Saint Francis’ healthy relationship with creation who is brother and sister and mother to him.

Ecological conversion begins with a personal conversion.

The French born Los Angeles street artist, Thierry Guetta, known as Mr. Brainwash, puts is succinctly in his graffiti slogan: This is not the year to get everything you WANT. This is the year to appreciate everything you HAVE. To have an ecological conversion, do we have the capacity to be happy with what we have? With less? With giving away from our substance as Jesus instructed the young man?

“Less” allows us to stop and appreciate the small things, be grateful for opportunities which life affords us, and to be spiritually detached from what we possess. Such a lifestyle invites inner peace, balances our life and reclaims a capacity for wonder. As I conclude this series of reflections…

• I strongly encourage you to read, mediate and pray with Pope Francis’ letter, Laudato Si’. It was written to you and me, in fact, to every human being.

• Reconsider your water usage.

• As Saint Francis instructed his friaries, leave a part of your gardens and lawns untouched.

• Take a walk and look at the birds of the sky, learn from the wild flowers, discover wonder.

• Bring reusable bags to your shopping.

• Considering a new care? What will you purchase?

• Question every purchase.

• Be grateful for what you have and not what advertisers say you need.

• Treat people with dignity by turning your phone and watch off in their presence.

Yes, wear the green and be rebellious. Rebel against an imbalanced lifestyle that is devouring the planet and us. Be rebellious against frenetic activity, busy-ness and constant hurry in your life. Say ‘no’ at times and leave breathing space for you, your family, friends, pets and the earth. Be rebellious against consuming the earth’s resources in products we do not need.

Wear the green and pray as Francis began this ecological journey, “Laudato Si’ mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord God, creator of heaven and earth!