The Troubled Face of Jesus
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus called to God as Abba (Daddy), pleading to be spared the suffering of the Cross. But returning to his disciples, he found them asleep. With a troubled face, he said bluntly:
Wake up! The hour has come! (Matthew 26:37-46; Mark 14:41-42; Luke 22:46).
Today, Jesus might say to us: Wake up! The climate crisis is upon us. The hour for action has come. The loving face of Jesus pervades the Gospels, but his angry face also appears when confronting injustice and indifference. He drove the traders from the temple (Mark 11:15). When many turned away from his difficult teachings, he confronts his disciples: Do you also want to leave? (John 6:67).
A Call to Ecological Conversion
In his 2025 New Year’s Peace Message, Pope Francis wrote: Restore God’s justice in every aspect of life: in the use of the land, in the possession of goods, and in relationships with others. (Message 2025, No. 2)
The Jubilee Year 2025 calls us to embrace God’s message of Cosmic hope through Christ. Ecological Conversion is not just a personal journey but a communal responsibility. The urgency of the climate crisis offers a clear lens for our Jubilee efforts - calling parishes, schools, faith groups, and individuals to act.
See. Judge. Act.
The See-Judge-Act method, pioneered by Cardinal Joseph Cardijn, provides a structured way to engage with social and environmental realities. This pastoral cycle - used in both scientific inquiry and Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ - guides us with three essential steps:
- See – Describe the current situation.
- Judge – Reflect through faith and reason.
- Act – Decide on meaningful communal action.
This ongoing process ensures that our response to the climate emergency is both informed and faith-driven (Let the Son Shine, pp. 9-10).
The Many Faces of Jesus
The Gospels reveal Jesus' face in different ways—compassionate yet firm, gentle yet confronting, encouraging yet corrective. A powerful exercise is to read any Gospel passage slowly and visualise Jesus’ face as the events unfold. Consider sketching some facial expressions of Jesus as a reflection.
Keeping Hope Alive
The prophets of old and wise leaders of today remind us that the Holy Spirit guide and nurture us, just as Mary and Joseph nurtured Jesus. We are called to love broadly, act courageously, and root our lives in hope. Hope is essential in the face of climate uncertainty. Life itself is at stake. Trusting that God is in control remains fundamental. Nothing is impossible for God—or for those who walk in His evolving ways (Let the Son Shine, pp. 39, 57-58).
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Prayer in a Time of Rapid Climate Change
God, Creator and Sustainer,
Free us from ignorance about your gift of Earth.
Inspire us to act together, aligning our lives with Earth’s rhythms.
May we welcome the truth when scientists speak of climate change,
And reject false pathways designed to confuse.
Help us urge our leaders to pursue sustainable solutions.
Ground us in your revealing Scriptures
And in the wisdom of saintly women and men.
May we cultivate a new creation as followers of your Cosmic Son.
Give us discerning hearts to work with both ecological and human realities,
Social and economic challenges alike.
Instil in us a spirit of respect,
That we may imagine and walk the pathways of peace.
Amen.
Columban Fr Charles Rue
Related links
- Read more from the current Columban eBulletin
