Reflection
We believe that God, the Source of all that is, is revealed through creation. Creation awakens in us wonder and gratitude for its amazing beauty. We gather to watch a rare eclipse, a rainbow, a beautiful sunset. Even the force of devastating storms and other natural events mesmerize us with their destructive power. In those moments of absorption, we understand that we are part God’s creation and not apart from it. In this time of earth’s crisis may we not forget that and may we treat all natural things and living beings with the respect and reverence they deserve.
Prayer
Spirit of Wonder, we praise you for the bounty of creation and for all the marvels of life.
Action
Consider how we can help one another to deepen our relationship with Earth and all creation as individuals, as communities, as a nation? Choose something specific to work on.
Suggested Reading
Praise the God from the heavens, praise God in the heights above. Praise God, all God’s angels, all hosts. Praise God, sun and moon, praise God, all you shining stars. Praise God, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the God, who commanded and they were created. God set them in place for ever and ever; God gave a decree that will never pass away.
Psalm 148:1-6
We must protect creation for it is a gift which the Lord has given us, it is God’s present to us; we are the guardians of creation. When we exploit creation, we destroy that sign of God’s love. To destroy creation is to say to God: “I don’t care”. And this is not good: this is sin.
Pope Francis
Ecological theology proposes that the Creator Spirit dwells in the heart of the natural world, graciously energizing its evolution from within, compassionately holding all creatures in their finitude and death, and drawing the world forward toward an unimaginable future.
Elizabeth Johnson
All creation is a song of praise to God.
Hildegarde of Bingen
We need to find God, and GOD cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.
Mother Teresa
Sacred writings are bound into two volumes: that of creation and that of Holy Scripture.
Thomas Aquinas
Anyone who truly knows creatures may be excused from listening to sermons for every creature is full of God, and is a book.
Meister Eckhart
I believe God did intend, in giving us intelligence, to give us the opportunity to investigate and appreciate the wonders of creation. God is not threatened by our scientific adventures.
Francis Collins
I look out of this window and I think this is a cosmos, this is a huge creation, this is one small corner of it. The trees and birds and everything else and I’m part of it. I didn’t ask to be put here, I’ve been lucky in finding myself here.
Morris West
Storms of every sort, torrents, earthquakes, cataclysms, ‘convulsions of nature,’ etc., however mysterious and lawless at first sight they may seem, are only harmonious notes in the song of creation, varied expressions of God’s love.
John Muir
While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God’s creation.
Maya Angelou