What is ours to do that all life and all creation may thrive in God’s goodness justice and peace?

For the last four weeks we have been celebrating the Season of Creation using the title of “Oikos- a home for all”. With Christians from around the world we have proclaimed that ALL life belongs to God, and acknowledged our need to work with God and all God works through to protect and heal God’s gift of our common home. Using the central image of Sarah and Abraham’s tent, we have contemplated this world as God’s tent, where ALL life belongs to is equally precious to God and is offered welcome, shelter, refuge, and safety. It is God's deep desire for all life and all creation to thrive. 

This desire is behind Day 8 of the Principles of the Franciscan Third Order which says, “(We) fight against all injustice in the name of Christ, in whom there can be neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female; for in him all are one. Our chief object is to reflect that openness to all which was characteristic of Jesus. This can only be achieved in a spirit of chastity, which sees others as belonging to God and not as a means of self-fulfilment.”[1] This principle is all through scripture. Sadly, too often these books are misread and used to justify using others and creation simply as a means of self-fulfilment. We see that in the story we read from Mark 10:2-16 where Jesus answers a question about divorce posed by Pharisees. They quote Deuteronomy 24:1–4 which assumes divorce and sets out some restrictions. Men treating women with little respect, using them for their self-fulfilment, using and discarding them with no thought to the cost to them or to the relationships and functioning within their multigenerational families. In response Jesus offers protection for women and children. They belong to God. Sadly, down the ages Jesus’ words have been used legalistically to hold women in situations that prevent life, abusive relationships where women and children are once again a means of self-fulfilment for men. Words of protection and life used to justify pain, exploitation, and death.  How does this provide a window into our relationship with creation?

Today we celebrate St. Francis of Assisi, who heard the crucified and risen Christ ask him to rebuild his church/home. At first Francis thought this meant the little church of San Damiano. We talk about it meaning the whole church. But I suspect even that is too small. Maybe Francis came to understand God’s church/home was all creation. He lived chastened by the divine love he encountered through his brothers and sisters within all creation. He extolled his sisters and brothers to live giving thanks and praise to God for their creation and for all life; and sought to live that all would know God’s goodness, justice and peace. He lived as Christ showed him and prayed that Christ would show his brothers what was theirs to do.

In this time of climate emergency, of fear and hopelessness, what is ours to do to all life and all creation may thrive in God’s goodness justice and peace?

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[1] Day 8 of The Principles of the Third Order, Society of Saint Francis