Our Lady of the Holy Rosary — St. Richard Catholic Church

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary-St. Richard Catholic Church

FEBRUARY 10, 2019 - FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SAFE RELEASE OF LEAH SHARIBU AND OTHERS WHO ARE HELD CAPTIVE BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO RENOUNCE THEIR CHRISTIAN FAITH

"What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?”

(Pope Francis, Laudato Sí. no. 160) 

CARE FOR GOD'S CREATION

What kind of world do you want to leave to your children, your grand-children, and to future generations?

Another of the “seven themes” of CST is “Care for God’s Creation.” Pope Francis spoke to this theme in his encyclical “On Care for Our Common Home” (Laudato Sí), addressed to “every person living on this planet,” for we all share a common home. The Pope spoke about the environment, the dangers of climate change, and the ecological crisis. He states,

Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day. Its worst impact will probably be felt by developing countries in coming decades. (Laudato Sí, no. 25)

We are all connected through a web of relationships. As Pope Francis states,

Everything is connected. Concern for the environment thus needs to be joined to a sincere love for our fellow human beings and an unwavering commitment to resolving the problems of society. (id., no. 91)

Pope Francis speaks to the ecological crisis, calling each of us to a profound interior conversion to renew and transform our relationships with God, with others, and with our created world. The Pope states,

Whether believers or not, we are agreed today that the earth is essentially a shared inheritance, whose fruits are meant to benefit everyone” (id., no. 93).

God created the world and entrusted it to us as a gift. We are responsible to be good stewards to care for and to protect it and all people who are born of God’s creation, including future generations. As the Pope states,

Human beings too are creatures of this world, enjoying a right to life and happiness, and endowed with unique dignity. So we cannot fail to consider the effects on people’s lives of environmental deterioration, current models of development and the throwaway culture. (id., no. 43)

Because of excessive use of natural, non-renewable re-sources by wealthy nations, the poor have been disproportionately impacted by climate change, pollution, deforestation, deteriorating ecosystems, lack of clean water, hunger, economic exploitation, increased health hazards, and other detrimental effects. The rights of the poor can no longer be ignored.

When we fail to acknowledge as part of reality the worth of a poor person, a human embryo, a person with disabilities – to offer just a few examples – it becomes difficult to hear the cry of nature itself; everything is connected. (id., no. 117)

Will we hear and respond with love and positive action to what the Pope is saying?

Reflect on Your Experience

What are you doing to learn more about the
ecological crisis facing our world today so that you can respond appropriately as a good steward of God’s creation entrusted to you?