Safeguarding Creation

Our Gospel reading from Mark (16:9-15) has Jesus saying to the “eleven at the table:” “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”  Very appropriate, and timely!   Pope Francis is set to publish an encyclical letter about the environment this summer.

According to the March 28 issue of the National Catholic Reporter: “The Catholic church supports the efforts of scientists to study the causes and effects of climate change and insists governments and businesses must get serious about specific commitments for protecting the environment.

But Pope Francis, like his predecessors, does not pretend to have a technical solution to the problem. However, he does feel a responsibility to remind Christians of their religious obligation to safeguard creation, beginning with human beings who are created in the image and likeness of God.

Clearing his calendar for a week in late March, Francis rolled up his sleeves to put the final touches on an encyclical letter about the environment; building on what he and his predecessors have said, the document – planned for publication early in the summer – is expected to present ecology as the ultimate pro-life, pro-poor, pro-family issue.”

Proclaim the Gospel to every creature!  If only the polar bears could hear the news.  They might be comforted (probably not) even as the polar ice melts from under their feet.  Then again, no encyclical can ever undo what has been done to our earth – and what continues to happen to its creatures, including us, especially the poor.    

Deacon David Pierce