Global forest landscape formed by trees and greenery representing ecology and sustainability - Photo:canva.com ASphotostudio
Bring out with you every living thing that is with you - all creatures, be they birds or animals or crawling things that crawl on the earth - and let them abound on the earth, and be fertile and multiply on it.(Gen 8, 17)
Much of what is happening to our planet was not anticipated by most of us. For some time, we humans have known about climate change and deteriorating eco-systems around the plant, both on land and in the rivers, seas and oceans.
We seem to be entering into a process of global shake-up that includes the ongoing ecological disasters, growing political chaos and conflict, along with famines affecting millions, a process over which we humans may well have little control. We have so much to learn about what it takes to care for planet earth, our home and our neighbour.
The Encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti document the depth of the faultlines that run through humanity, and we can refer to these analyses to start listening to the cry of the poor and of the earth and to recognize the seeds of hope that the Spirit continues to sow even in our time. (For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission: Preparatory Document, No. 4)
However, to quote the late Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, no. 48: Today’s world is largely a deaf world… At times, the frantic pace of the modern world prevents us from listening attentively to what another person is saying. Halfway through, we interrupt him and want to contradict what he has not even finished saying. We must not lose our ability to listen.
Today’s world is also becoming a liars’ paradise as lying seems to have become, not simply an integral aspect of public discourse but also an increasingly common destroyer of any chance of working things out together.
This is a challenge that we and the whole of humanity must embrace if we are to help each other deal with present and coming challenges to planet earth, our common home.
Columban Fr Peter Woodruff lives and works in Australia.
