May 11, 2026

We are designed to be attracted to those elements of nature that are good ahd healthy for us, for example water. We thirst for pure water, we stay clean with baths and showers, we enjoy relax looking at views of oceans, rivers and lakes, and we enjoy boating, swimming, wading, and splashing on a hot day. God also created us to be drawn to healthy ecosystems – birds singing, green fields, forested mountains. Fresh air in the morning makes us feel good.  When we fill our lungs with fresh air in the morning, we feel invigorated, perhaps smelling the scent of earth after a rain or newly mown grass.

These are gifts from God, and all of nature whispers God’s name in its beauty. With tremendous sadness we now realize how we have polluted, spoiled, and even trashed the natural world. Sometimes this has happened through lack of care and foresight, or through population growth and overcrowding. But often the worst cases of despoiling natural resources, clearcutting forests, knowingly dumping toxic chemicals and so on have occurred due to powerful people and corporate greed pursuing profit at any cost. In such cases, pursuit of maximum exploitation for profit has led to not caring what chemicals and byproducts spill into our rivers and streams or into the air we breathe, even at the cost of human health and of this beautiful world. All creatures suffer and all humanity suffers from this misuse of natural resources. God has given us a wonderful, perfectly balanced, and diverse natural world to sustain us with all we need – if we will just be careful stewards of the earth, air, and water.  Yet with deep sadness, we see tremendous harm accumulating and increasing desperation for profit among the hyper wealthy billionnaire barons. At some point wealth is no longer about providing for the needs of oneself and one’s family. No, it is about power.

Where do we begin, we who count ourselves as the spiritual resistance? We begin with mindfulness of the earth, air, and water. Could we save that native plant in our lawn and move it to a flower bed where it can survive and feed the pollinators? Could we just not ever spray weedkiller, a carcinogen (please)? Could we share rides or drive a hybrid or EV? Could we be mindful of avoiding single-use plastic? Could we advocate for policies supportive of renewable energy and other means of combatting climate change – one of the biggest consequences of which will be water shortages all over the world?

As with acts of kindness among human beings which build momentum and counteract exploitation, the same is true of a myriad acts of care for our environment which add up. Sometimes it is all we can do, yet God looks with favor on our efforts. As Pope Francis said, Genesis does not tell us to exploit the earth, but rather that the role of human beings is to be stewards, responsible for caring for the earth. Let us try. Amen.