Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
In both the old and new testament readings for today, we encounter significant upheaval seen in nature, namely “earthquakes” called by other names. Scripture scholars identify the “sulphurous fire” that God “rained down” on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah that God “overthrew” as likely the fire resulting from earthquakes in that region. And in today’s gospel reading, we hear of a “violent storm” that came upon the sea, which scholars explain would be literally translated as “earthquake” (apparently a word commonly used in apocalyptic literature for the “shaking of the old world” when God brings about the Kingdom). These powerful acts of nature in our readings may stand out more as our city and surrounding areas continue to recover from the ravaging tornadoes of just over a month ago.
We no longer explain acts of nature as being punishment sent by God as is described in the reading from Genesis, but we do understand that our actions and choices as a people can have devastating consequences that are not in line with God’s will for us and our earth.
These readings drew me to Pope Francis’s encyclical letter Laudato Si, On Care for Our Common Home (you can find the entire encyclical on the Vatican website: vatican.va), some of which I would like to share as the Holy Father writes so powerfully and beautifully:
“Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us…. This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will. The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life. This is why the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she “groans in travail” (Rom 8:22).”
These are challenging words that may “shake us up” as the disciples were “shaken” by the storm at sea. And this may be exactly what is needed for us, collectively, as God’s people and Jesus’ disciples. Yes, Jesus awoke and calmed the storm, chastising his followers for being “of little faith” but I do not believe that means we are simply to sit back and enjoy the boat ride. Part of our call as disciples is to live as Jesus did, humbly with respect for all life, including creation.
We are not called to take as much as we want and possibly can from each other and our earth. The calm that Jesus offers comes with humility and selfless giving with utmost respect for this sister earth who “cries out to us” now. How will we respond to her cries?
~Eileen Miller