CARING FOR THE EARTH
The story of creation is a story of love and trust. Out of His great love for man, God have him the gift of life and created for him an entire universe of beauty and bounty, rich with all the resources man would need to sustain and to enhance his life. And because trust is born of love, the Creator made him lord of all creation, to have “dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all creatures that crawl on the ground.” (Genesis 1:26)
God saw that it was good. And He intended it for good willing that man, who His greatest handiwork--- made in His own image and likeness--- would make use of all creation of good. He made man the steward of creation, trusting him to care for and to cherish all the earth.
Everything would have been fine for mankind and for the earth if only men had behaved according to God’s plan. However, through the years, some had been remiss in their responsibility, forgetting the mandate that had been entrusted to them to care for the earth. Perhaps because knew no better or were misled in the understanding of them obligation, or because they had been distracted by the lure of other pursuits like material profits or gain.
Either from the ignorance or greed of some men, the earth has suffered. And only quite recently has mankind become aware of the results of this folly--- the environment has been damaged, precious resources has been depleted or totally lost, and even the quality of man’s life is being seriously threatened.
Fortunately, for us, it is not yet too late. All over the world there has been growing awareness of the need to reverse the cycle of death and destruction of the earth and the living things on the planet. There is a rising consciousness of what we reap when we violate the trust of the Creator, the source and giver of all life. There is remorse for neglect of the duty to care for nature and haste to make retribution through a renewal of lifestyles and priorities.
Our prayer now is for the continued blessings that more men and women will come to this realization and that they may continuously increase in number, in their commitment and in their cause; that more men and women may be affirmed in the conviction that economic development need not and should not be contrary to human and ecological development.
Our hope remains with the youth. It is to them that this generation will bequeath the earth and the covenant with the Creator to be stewards of it. May they be formed to appreciate and treasure the beauty of nature and committed to preserve the dignity and integrity of creation. And may they find the example and inspiration for this mission in responsible elders who sincerely aspire to be worthy of the trust of the Lord.
- Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz D.D.
Let us pray,
God, the Creator and Author of life,
We glorify You in all of creation.
We thank You for the blessings of nature.
Forgive us Lord, for neglecting our duty
as stewards of the earth.
Forgive us for destroying and abusing
the treasures You have given us.
Lord, inspire each of us to care for
the environment and respect nature;
Guide us in keeping the beauty and
wonders of the earth;
Teach us to fairly share nature’s bounty
with one another;
These we pray through Jesus Christ,
that we may glorify and constantly see
Your presence in one another and in
all creation.
Amen.
The story of creation is a story of love and trust. Out of His great love for man, God have him the gift of life and created for him an entire universe of beauty and bounty, rich with all the resources man would need to sustain and to enhance his life. And because trust is born of love, the Creator made him lord of all creation, to have “dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all creatures that crawl on the ground.” (Genesis 1:26)
God saw that it was good. And He intended it for good willing that man, who His greatest handiwork--- made in His own image and likeness--- would make use of all creation of good. He made man the steward of creation, trusting him to care for and to cherish all the earth.
Everything would have been fine for mankind and for the earth if only men had behaved according to God’s plan. However, through the years, some had been remiss in their responsibility, forgetting the mandate that had been entrusted to them to care for the earth. Perhaps because knew no better or were misled in the understanding of them obligation, or because they had been distracted by the lure of other pursuits like material profits or gain.
Either from the ignorance or greed of some men, the earth has suffered. And only quite recently has mankind become aware of the results of this folly--- the environment has been damaged, precious resources has been depleted or totally lost, and even the quality of man’s life is being seriously threatened.
Fortunately, for us, it is not yet too late. All over the world there has been growing awareness of the need to reverse the cycle of death and destruction of the earth and the living things on the planet. There is a rising consciousness of what we reap when we violate the trust of the Creator, the source and giver of all life. There is remorse for neglect of the duty to care for nature and haste to make retribution through a renewal of lifestyles and priorities.
Our prayer now is for the continued blessings that more men and women will come to this realization and that they may continuously increase in number, in their commitment and in their cause; that more men and women may be affirmed in the conviction that economic development need not and should not be contrary to human and ecological development.
Our hope remains with the youth. It is to them that this generation will bequeath the earth and the covenant with the Creator to be stewards of it. May they be formed to appreciate and treasure the beauty of nature and committed to preserve the dignity and integrity of creation. And may they find the example and inspiration for this mission in responsible elders who sincerely aspire to be worthy of the trust of the Lord.
- Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz D.D.
Let us pray,
God, the Creator and Author of life,
We glorify You in all of creation.
We thank You for the blessings of nature.
Forgive us Lord, for neglecting our duty
as stewards of the earth.
Forgive us for destroying and abusing
the treasures You have given us.
Lord, inspire each of us to care for
the environment and respect nature;
Guide us in keeping the beauty and
wonders of the earth;
Teach us to fairly share nature’s bounty
with one another;
These we pray through Jesus Christ,
that we may glorify and constantly see
Your presence in one another and in
all creation.
Amen.
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