Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

For creation awaits with eager expectation

the revelation of the children of God;
for creation was made subject to futility,
not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it,
in hope that creation itself
would be set free from slavery to corruption
and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.
We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now;
and not only that, but we ourselves,
who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
we also groan within ourselves
as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

Scholars on the “right” and “left” debate whether the scriptures lend themselves to considerations of ecology. It surely never occurred to Saint Paul, Qoheleth, or the Yahwist that the atmosphere which blankets and protects our life would be threatened by human waste.

But all of these writers were better acquainted with the cycles of life than we Americans are. They knew that a drought meant peril for them and their neighbors; and that a pleasant balance of sunshine and rain augured prosperity. They never worried that their front lawns might turn brown in late summer; they never heard television forecasters decree that sunshine is "good weather" and rain or snow is "bad weather." But they knew that God must provide for the land and its people for only God can manage the weather.

They also believed that moral living would be blessed with prosperity, whereas greed, waste and violence would be cursed with famine. 
The difference today is that we see greed, waste and violence on a planetary scale. We see their immediate consequences for the poor and the more remote consequences for everyone. Today’s prophets assure us that everyone will soon feel the impact of climate change and we will have to make changes -- despite the fact we are willing to kill for our way of life. 

The authors of scripture knew what we often forget; we are Children of the Earth. Adam, whose name means dirt, might also be called Earthling, a creature of Earth. He and Eve were born in this world and belonged on this planet. They and their descendents must have the fruits and meats and fungi of Earth to live; they must drink its water and breathe its air.

Saint Paul, who spent a lot of time in the open air on the road, on shipboard and as he preached in the marketplace prophesied that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now.… He saw the effects of sin as he traveled: famine in some places, prosperity in others. That is why he does not hesitate to speak for all creation and its groaning in labor pains for justice.

The good news, if you call it such, is that the planet will punish its children until we get the message -- and for a long time after that. Our wasteful behavior cannot hurt the Earth which is billions of year old. Life will certainly survive us. But, eventually and inevitably, we will change our ways to fit the demands of Earth. God has many ways to speak to us of justice and the weather is certainly one of them.

When that Day of Reckoning comes, I believe, we will discover the astonishing resourcefulness of the Earth. She will reward our atonement a hundred or sixty or thirty-fold. 
Whoever has ears ought to hear.