Do something before it's too late

INTRODUCTION

Our Gospel reading reminds us of the importance of being attentive to the sign of the times. Historians say this Gospel inspired St. John XXIII to convoke the Second Vatican Council where the Church opened its windows for fresh air, and relate to the modern world and lead to the Church as we know it today. Signs of the times is not just about humans but the whole of creation.

HOMILY

Our Gospel seem to speak about ecological realities. It is however not bad to integrate the well-being of creation into our reflections because our Christian spirituality and even theology and morality seem incomplete without considering the integrity of creation. It appears that we cannot talk about Christian morality without ecological responsibility.

The changing times, as we already experience it, is coming at a fast pace. The global warming brought about by climate change and the increasing sea temperatures is becoming a reality. It is extremely hot during summer season and the supposed cold months have been affected. These results to the melting of the glaciers on both poles and thus increase sea levels. The world as we know it, is changing rapidly.

The Lord asks us: You can interpret the signs of the times but you cannot judge what is wrong and right. We see our planet deteriorate at massive scales rapidly but we do nothing. We watch our world deteriorate without doing anything.

The Word of God is reminding us of Climate Action. According to Pope Benedict XVI in Verbum Domini 7, the Word of God is not just the written Word, not just the Living Word, not just Logos or Jesus Christ himself. The Word of God is also the voice of creation and the voice of conscience.

The signs of the times could be understood in human experiences, in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, and and in the voice of creation. We ought to listen to the Word of God in creation in as much as we listen to the voice of God in the Gospels. We ought to acknowledge our stewardship. We need to acknowledge the dignity of each human person is in no way less to the integrity of Creation.

We are already doing many things in our convents and houses. But the Lord would like to add something else. He asks us today to interpret the signs of the times and do something about it. He asks us for our reflections, and our actions. Talk about it in our communities. Discuss how we could lessen our dependence of plastics.

Do something before it’s too late.

Do something because God is holding us accountable.

Do something before we pay an expensive price.