Death And Destruction

God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living. For he fashioned all things that they might have being; and the creatures of the world are wholesome, and there is not a destructive drug among them nor any domain of the netherworld on earth, for justice is undying. For God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him. But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who belong to his company experience it. (Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24)

Death entered the world by the envy of the devil, so says the author(s) of Wisdom.  Also, God did not make death. Therefore, the devil would appear to more powerful than God, and when we die, it is the devil’s doing.  Sorry, but I don’t call that wisdom because death is inevitable as our bodies age and life takes its natural course to its end.  The devil has nothing to do with our deaths unless the cause is evil brought about by heinous crimes of murder and war, for example.

However, it appears true that God does not rejoice in the destruction of the living.  God is the Creator, and no artist enjoys the destruction of his/her work.  It can be said, therefore, that our planet’s likely fate through destructive climate change caused by global warming and severe environmental alteration makes us perishable.

God formed man and woman to be imperishable; the image of his own nature God made them.  This statement is about love that is imperishable because God is love.  If only humanity loved and did not make death while rejoicing in the destruction of the living.  Then our planet would be in safe hands so that all might retain their being.  

Many of us have seen the light and work to protect creation.  Too many of us do not.  My commentary is not unique.  Pope Francis said it well in his 2015 Laudato si, his second encyclical subtitled “On care for our common home.”  Francis critiqued consumerism and irresponsible development.  He lamented environmental degradation and global warming and called all people of the world to take "swift and unified global action." 

Are we?

Deacon David Pierce