Ordinary 22

The Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27

One of the positive sides of the pandemic and resulting stay a home orders is that we have been given a taste of Eden. Whether sitting outside or taking a walk you are surrounded by frisking rabbits and squirrels, deer casually walking across our lawns and down our streets, the return of butterflies and there is silence, or rather, the sound of nature without all the loud human sounds of traffic machinery. As we have gathered outside for the Eucharist we’ve become aware of the turkeys and deer near us in the woods and the birds flying overhead as we have experienced the sun rising through the morning fog.

Eden; humans and all other creatures living alongside of each other, aware of each other and in harmony with each other; a common home. But we know that has not been true for a long time. The expulsion of Adam and Eve, of humanity, from the Garden of Eden was not an eviction from a place but from ourselves.

We thought that we could be like God, that is, masters and not partners. We thought that we could be in control of everything instead of having to submit to harmony. We did not realize that the earth was a gift, not to exploit for our own purposes but to care for like a garden. We forgot that we were created no less than all other living organisms we share this planet with; a common home. And regrettably, we still think and act this way, do we not?

In May of 2015 Pope Francis published his encyclical, Laudato Si’ – On Care for our Common Home. This is the first such teaching devoted entirely to the environment. Francis joins the Catholic Church with the Orthodox Church that, under Patriarch Demetrius of Constantinople 31 years ago, established 1 September as a day to pray for the protection of the environment. Demetrius’ successor Bartholomew, known as the “Green Patriarch” is one of the most outspoken proponents on the environment. Our Churches separated for a millennium over theological and historical misunderstandings and interpretations, the Catholic West and Orthodox East are now speaking on this issue with one voice to the world.

Francis’ encyclical opens with the words of his patron, Saint Francis of Assisi from his, “Canticle of the Sun”. We sang it in hymn form to begin the liturgy, “All Creatures of Our God and King.”

“Laudato Si’ mi’ Signore…Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures…”

Saint Francis lived in simplicity and came to call all living creatures, no matter how small, his “brother” or “sister”. I wonder if we did that how it would begin to change our perception of our relationship to creation and thus our behaviour toward the creatures we encounter and that would include the flies, mosquitos and spiders we swat and annoy us. Be praised, through all your creatures…”  The sun, wind and fire were Francis’ brothers and the moon, stars, water and earth were his sisters. Francis was awed by it all.

Do we approach nature with awe and wonder? I expect the answer is “yes” and “no”. How much time do we spend in nature? Do we experience ourselves as a part of nature or a visitor, an outsider; like going to a zoo?  Our perceptions will make it easier or more difficult to exploit and use nature or care for it. And caring for it not only for ourselves but for future generations.

An ancient Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) philosophy called the Seventh Generation Principle states that the decisions we make today should take into consideration future generations. Oren Lyons, Chief of the Onondaga Nation, writes: “We are looking ahead…to make sure and to make every decision that we make relate to the welfare and well-being of the seventh generation to come. … Where are you taking them? What will they have?”

A generation is considered an average of 25-30 years. Therefore seven generations is approximately 200 years into the future. Our Catholic Church is said to think in centuries. The Seventh Generation Principle is a philosophy that not only should advise national and international accords toward the environment but even our daily lives.

How will throwing away this plastic bag or container that will take from 10 to 450 to 1000 years to decompose affect future generations?

Might a hybrid car be considered so as not to pollute the air as much for future generations?

What is my relationship to water usage for future generations?

What in my life, a family’s life, can be reused versus thrown out after one time use for the quality of life for future generations?

Might I consider reading a work of Pope Francis or Patriarch Bartholomew for a Christian grounding in considering future generations?

Can we commit to eating more plants and less meat to reduce our carbon footprint for future generations?

Can we embrace lawns that reflect native grasses rather than chemically supported manicured laws for future generation?

Can we support our local, seasonal, sustainable organic farmers which is healthier for us and the earth for future generations?

Tuesday, 1 September is the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

As we pray, and I would encourage us to fast, on that day, let us ask ourselves, are we willing to live more simply? In so doing, can we care for the gift of the earth and the creatures that journey with us traveling through the galaxies on this planet? The earth is our common home, there is no other and we our sisters and brothers. And Eden is just around the corner if we desire it.