Season of Creation (Day 25)
September 25, 2024
Day 25
Psalm 147:12,15-17
Extol the LORD, Jerusalem; praise your God, Zion. He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.
He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?
Early Blizzard (Thomas Merton)
No more loud Fall
October is suddenly over
Sunk in snow
It feels good to be without hearing
In the lone house
Loaded and warm
Or out following the hidden ways
The ways of instinct
A stranger in the double
Loneliness of snow
Plowing the deep drifts
Of finding free footing
On shallow stone
All these trees
So heavily changed
Stupid
Bend and adore
The hills sleep
In frozen eiderdowns
I go knee deep in silence
Where the storm smokes and stings
The chattering leaves
You can't rule it
You can't tell it when
To come and go
Sink in the hidden wood
And let the weather
Be what it is
Let seasons go
Far wrong
Let freedom sting
The glad wet eye
Of winter.
Musical Selection (Kathleen Deignan)
From the shores of heaven we have come
Unto our precious earthly home,
Where we are of the garden born.
All praise the Mystery who made us!
Flames of the fire-ball, dust of the stars,
The cosmic heat still searing our hearts
As we open to love and labor to live
In the memory of sacred communion.
Deep as the darkest space, brilliant as suns,
This life we bear holds wisdom that runs
Thru the secrets at rest in the depths of our souls
In the memory of sacred communion.
Wonder of greater things, radiance of small,
The one living thread is woven thru all
And the garment of splendor is wrapped round the source
Of our memory in sacred communion.
Meditation
Despite the many negotiations and agreements, global emissions continue to increase. Certainly, it could be said that, without those agreements, they would have increased even more. Still, in other themes related to the environment, when there was a will, very significant results were obtained, as was the case with the protection of the ozone layer. Yet, the necessary transition towards clean energy sources such as wind and solar energy, and the abandonment of fossil fuels, is not progressing at the necessary speed. Consequently, whatever is being done risks being seen only as a ploy to distract attention.
We must move beyond the mentality of appearing to be concerned but not having the courage needed to produce substantial changes. We know that at this pace in just a few years we will surpass the maximum recommended limit of 1.5° C and shortly thereafter even reach 3° C, with a high risk of arriving at a critical point. Even if we do not reach this point of no return, it is certain that the consequences would be disastrous and precipitous measures would have to be taken, at enormous cost and with grave and intolerable economic and social effects. Although the measures that we can take now are costly, the cost will be all the more burdensome the longer we wait. (LD 55-56)
Prayer
Lord and Father of all goodness,
in your providence you have entrusted the earth to our care;
grant that we may be sustained by the produce we harvest
and that by your help
we may use the fruits of the earth for your glory
and for the benefit of our brothers and sisters.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen. (Roman Missal; ICEL, 1998)