For almost two weeks at Mass we’ve been reading about the creation of the world and the origin and development of the human family, beginning with Adam and Eve, from the first 11 chapters of Genesis. An important source for understanding where we come from and our relationship with creation.

In today’s reading God renews with Noah and his descendants the covenant made with humanity and the earth.  Once again, after the fall, as human beings go into different lands and take up various trades, they’re blessed by God. The renewal of the covenant is an act of mercy, the responsorial psalm for today reminds us. 

“The LORD looked down from his holy height,

from heaven he beheld the earth,

To hear the groaning of the prisoners,

to release those doomed to die.” (Psalm 102)

God’s blessings will continue through time. His abiding mercy is signified in the God’s promise God there will not be another flood to devastate the earth. The rainbow signifies hope and mercy.

“I will establish my covenant with you,

that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed

by the waters of a flood;

there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth.” (Genesis 9,12)

God’s blessings continues through time. God’s mercy will abide, but the human family still enjoys freedom. Made in the likeness of God, human beings are free, and what they do with their freedom has consequences, not only for themselves, but for creation itself. 

The abuse of human freedom leads to dire consequences for humanity and creation itself. “When my people did not hear my voice, when Israel would not obey, I left them in their stubbornness of heart to follow their own designs.” (Psalm 81)  God does not micro manage history.

Today some see God’s promise “never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed” as repudiating the threat of climate change, but that’s not the promise made in Genesis. Human “stubbornness” can have disastrous consequences for humanity and the created world.

For humanity to flourish, it needs a good relationship with creation. Human flourishing doesn’t happen without a relationship with creation, not a dominating relationship, or a selfish relationship, but one of love and care.  Creation rises and falls with us.

Good to be aware of the question of water as it’s discussed in the United Nations. Here’s something from Passionists International:

And regarding ocean biodiversity, we recommend viewing the film, “BluePeril”, which raises grave concerns regarding current efforts to increase deep sea mining of precious minerals in the rush to a transition to green energy, creating “blue peril”.

https://dsm-campaign.org/blue-peril/The International Seabed Authority has been in existence for over 40 years, and has a mandate to organize, regulate and control all mineral-related activities in the international seabed for the benefit of humankind. To date, ISA has entered into 17 contracts for exploration which involves scraping of the ocean floor. We know however, that such mining risks destroying the breeding grounds of marine life. One such project in the territorial waters of Papua New Guinea will be the world’s first deep-seabed mining project aiming to extract copper, gold and silver. Many countries are calling for a pause, moratorium or complete ban on deep sea mining. Due to the imminent risks, French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a ban, citing the need to “protect the blue heart of our planet that sustains us all…to put sustainability and intergenerational equity first.”

Some major companies have already declared that they will not purchase any metals from companies that come from such sources. The Deep Seas Conservation Coalition has much information at: https://savethehighseas.org/An article on this topic can be found at: https://www.passblue.com/2023/01/02/opposition-

grows-among-countries-as-seabed-mining-efforts-push-ahead/

The focus will continue with the UN Water Conference in March (22-24), New York… (Scroll down for further information: Upcoming Commission Meetings.)

These conferences are attempting to address what is referred to as the triple planetary crisis – climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. All intersect, and all contribute to the success or failure of each and every one of the Sustainable Development Goals. We are all aware of the urgency to decrease global warming, and this requires countries to live up to our commitments to limit greenhouse gases/carbon emissions. While even fifty years ago we were

urged to reduce, re-use, recycle, unheeded, we are facing a fierce urgency of now. We have reached unsustainable levels of production and consumption, and “our unlimited extraction of resources from the Earth is having a devastating impact on the natural world, propelling climate change, destroying nature , and raising pollution levels.” See more re: triple planetary crisis: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/speech/triple-planetary-crisis-forging-new- relationship-between-people-and-earth

Pope Francis’ Laudato Si has stirred the hearts and consciousness of all of us to respond to this moral, ethical, and spiritual challenge to love and care for all of creation, and ensure the well- being of all the world’s inhabitants. It is our Call to Action. And we are invited to join with people of other faiths and Indigenous traditions in responding! See UN Environmental Program and World Parliament of World’s Religions’ joint project and rich resource, Faith for Earth: A Call to Action

https://www.unep.org/resources/publication/faith-earth-call-action