"...all creation groans and is in agony" and "we ourselves groan inwardly...." (Rom. 8:22-23)
Over the past years, humanity was so engrossed with the issue of the dramatic crisis of the global economy and the widespread of social instability. We were so concerned with the issue of peace, of solidarity, and of unity between nations. We used to focus our times finding the root cause and the possible answers for these problems. And in the end, it was always all about the story of humanity and nothing else.
But gone was the epoch where we were much absorbed with the human story. It is time to widen our horizon—to speak of the Earth story. In this regard, Pope Benedict XVI is exhorting another issue, though not new at all, for us, especially the Christians, to be aware of.
All creation groans and is in agony and we must be aware of it. In connection with this, Pope Benedict is then urging us to appreciate and to care for God’s gift of creation. For him, it is our communal vocation to protect His creation.
With our environment at the brink of death, it is advisable to visit the present condition and story of our environment. As with the issue of global economical crisis and social instability, the larger earth community is now also suffering a great distortion. But what is its cause? There is one major answer. Again, as with the issue of economical crisis and social instability, it is the current self-centered and materialistic way of thinking that is to be blamed for this issue.
We have exploited the Mother Earth over the past centuries thinking only of ourselves. We have also separated ourselves from the rest of creation as is we have a different niche. Thus, it is the humanity that is to be blamed for this degradation of the creation. But it is also humanity who can help Earth rise from her present condition. Through the Church’s assistance, humanity is called to promote international consensus. All nations are called for an appropriate management and wise use of the natural resources. Humanity should not exploit it just to satisfy our personal hunger for power and honor. Rather, humanity is called to work with nature and to aim for the flourishing of the entire and larger earth community. To care for creation is to promote justice, peace, and the love of God.
With the above mentioned statements, we, Mindoreños, are also challenged by the Church to be aware of our own local environmental concerns. We must battle for our advocacy to fight for the preservation and for the blossoming of our natural resources. We, as the local Church of Mindoro, must be the ones to lead on this advocacy. Thus, to fight for mining, illegal logging, dynamite fishing, and the likes must be one of our major advocacies. We must find a way to uplift the well-being of our nature.
All creation really groans and is in agony. We must help her. We must assist her. It is our duty. It is our responsibility. It is God’s call.
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