Living global solidarity through little daily actions

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The attention to our “common home” is highlighted each year during the ecumenical Season of Creation which is from September 1, the World Day of Prayer for Creation, to October 4, the Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi. The celebration of this Season is to awaken in all Christians and peoples of faith throughout the world to pray in thanksgiving for the gift of creation, to promote action to protect the environment, and to commit to a more sustainable lifestyle. 

Pope Francis reminds us in his Apostolic Exhortation, Gaudete et Exsultate, that Christian life is not one of passive observance from the margins, but rather one that calls us to journey with those who are marginalized, attending to the many wounds which increasing secularization is inflicting on our society. In what cannot be described as anything other than a hostile culture, Pope Francis sees in the daily perseverance of the faithful “the holiness of the Church militant.” This holiness is not that of the clergy alone, but of “our next door neighbours, those who, living in our midst, reflect God’s presence.” (paragraph 7)

Consumerism and materialism are sins that blind us from the effects of our throw-away lifestyle and culture not only on our environment but especially on the underprivileged people who manufacture our latest obsessions. It falls to each of us to do what we can to become good stewards of God’s gifts and people, and the opportunities to make sustainable lifestyle changes are right before us in our daily living. 

There is a nobility in the duty to care for creation through little daily actions, and it is wonderful how education can bring about real changes in lifestyle. Education in environmental responsibility can encourage ways of acting which directly and significantly affect the world around us, such as avoiding the use of plastic and paper, reducing water consumption, separating refuse, cooking only what can reasonably be consumed, showing care for other living beings, using public transport or car-pooling, planting trees, turning off unnecessary lights, or any number of other practices. All of these reflect a generous and worthy creativity which brings out the best in human beings. (Laudato Si, 211.)

Here are two simple starting points for becoming better stewards.  The first is an Ecological Examen which was developed by the Jesuits Ignatian Solidarity Network “to embrace ecological justice and respond to Pope Francis’ call to care for our common home”. (http://www.ecologicalexamen.org/)   The second is to do what is possible within our own set of lifestyle choices to reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose, repair, restore, re-gift, and refuse.  The combination of praying and living choices which support a sustainable future holds the hope that we will “attune to the moral imperative of assessing the impact of our every action and personal decision on the world around us” so that “we will truly be able to develop a different lifestyle and bring about significant changes in society.” (LS, 208.)

Written by Bishop William T. McGrattan, October 2019.

Most Rev. William McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary