The Church dedicates this month of September to the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. This universal observance invites us to pray and reflect on our responsibility as stewards of God’s creation.
The theme of this year’s Season of Creation is Peace with Creation. It is a timely reminder for us to make peace with Creation for we all have a share in the dismal state of our present ecology. Today the environment has become increasingly unpredictable and unbearable; extreme heat, deadly floods and super typhoons have become frequent and “normal.” While we readily condemn the greed of the superpowers and big industries which drives them to exploit and devastate the earth’s resources without scruple, we too contribute to the destruction of nature by our own neglect and wasteful lifestyle.
Making peace with creation means restoring our broken relationship with creation and ultimately with the Creator. It calls for an ecological conversion. A conversion that starts with the mind which acknowledges that “the Lord’s is the earth and its fulness.” (Ps 24:1) The earth is not ours, but God’s, a precious gift entrusted to us in stewardship. It also calls for a conversion of the heart to be grateful for the gift of the earth and value it as our common home. Finally, it calls for a conversion of our lifestyle – that we live with a profound sense of responsibility and care for creation, avoiding excessive consumption and rejecting a throwaway culture.
Commenting on today’s gospel, Pope Leo recalls Jesus’ invitation to “look at the birds of the sky” and “observe the lilies of the field.” Every creature, he said, has an important and specific role in God’s plan, and each is good. “Care for creation is truly a vocation for every human being. We are creatures among creatures, entrusted with the responsibility to care for all that the Creator has made,” he said.
It is good to recall once again the reason why Pope Francis initiated this special Day of Prayer. “What is the goal of our work? What need does the Earth have of us? Leaving an inhabitable planet to future generations is up to us” (Laudato Si’, 160).
In her story, “The Star Thrower,” Loren Eisley recounts a charming encounter between a man walking along the beach and a boy throwing something into the sea. “What are you doing?” the man asks. “Throwing starfish back to the sea. You see, the tide will soon subside and if I don’t throw them back, they will die.” The man retorts saying, “But the beach is several miles long and there are hundreds of starfish. You can’t make a difference.” Listening politely, the boy picks up another starfish and throws it to the sea. Then he smiles and tells the man, “See I made a difference for that one.”
Let us deepen our awareness that caring for creation is not an optional task but an essential dimension of our Christian faith. To honor the Creator is to honor his creation. Hence, every small act whether conserving resources, reducing waste, planting trees, or showing kindness to other creatures, is a tangible expression of prayer and stewardship. Never underestimate the power of the small things we do to make this world a better place.
The Season of Creation invites us take good care of Mother Earth because there is no other home for us. Together let us work and pray that our common home may continue to reflect the beauty and goodness of its Creator.”