杏MAP导航

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Cardinal Peter Turkson was a guest on a webinar sponsored by the Global Catholic Climate Movement during Laudato Sí Week.

The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development unpacked the second chapter of the Encyclical, Laudato sí called the "Theology of Creation". He tells us how the Encyclical got its subtitle 鈥淥n Care for Our Common Home鈥� and how care for creation is connected with worship of God, the Creator.

Lastly, Cardinal Turkson explores the relationship as brothers that we share with all created things, as explained from the perspective of St Francis of Assisi.

The Gospel of Creation

Reflecting on Chapter Two of Laudato sí, Cardinal Turkson pointed out the significance of 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥檚 explanation of the 鈥淕ospel of Creation鈥�. The purpose of the literary genre of the 鈥淕ospel鈥�, Cardinal Turkson explained, is to proclaim the mighty works of God. Whenever someone speaks about what God has worked, whether it is salvation itself, or the well-being of the person, 鈥渋t is always Good News, it is always Gospel鈥�, he said.

Christian key to ecology

鈥淭he 杏MAP导航, in referring to creation in terms of a Gospel, invites us to recognize in creation a great act of God which is beneficial to the human race鈥�. This is, furthermore, a key with which to read the entire Encyclical because it forms the basis for why ecology and care for the earth is important for Christians. 鈥淚t invites us to consider creation as an act of God, with a design and a purpose that is not based on the human person, but based on God鈥檚 own design for creating everything.鈥�

In addition, it is an invitation for the Christian to seek God鈥檚 design in everything that is created. Genesis tells us that God designed creation so that it would be our home. Thus, the subtitle of the Encyclical, 鈥淥n Care for Our Common Home.鈥�

Connection with worship

Our care for this common home that is creation has a direct link with worship, Cardinal Turkson went on to explain. Since the Christian is invited to view all of creation as an act of God, then how creation fits into how we worship the God who created it is the next step. It helps us in 鈥渙ur recognition of who God is and helps us raise our minds and hearts and everything in worship to God鈥�, the Cardinal said.

Genesis expresses the role God entrusted to the human person in the 鈥済arden鈥� He created. The word used in the Hebrew has a connotation of 鈥渟ervice鈥� and is also used in terms of the 鈥渟ervice鈥� the human person pays to God in worship. 鈥淪o the human person鈥檚 working of everything that God has created in creation also represents his way of worshiping God, his way of serving God.鈥�

Thus, all human activity ultimately has a 鈥渟ense of worshiping God鈥�, the Cardinal continued. Therefore, serious questions arise 鈥渋f our work or use of the earth does not contribute to our worship and glorification of God鈥�.

Earth belongs to everyone, present and future

A third element that we can derive from the fact that creation is an act of God is that it does not belong to any one particular portion of humanity to exploit 鈥渃reation any way they want鈥�. This applies both in terms of space but in terms of time as well. We are meant to take care of our present needs with a view to those who will need to take of their needs in the future as well. This is called 鈥渋ntergenerational solidarity鈥�, he said.

Creation leads to contemplation

鈥淭he sense of the Gospel of creation leads to a contemplation鈥�, which was developed by St Francis of Assisi, 鈥渨ho sees creation as an instrument for his own sense of prayer and meditation鈥�. He also encouraged his brothers to use creation in their communities as an element through which they could worship God, the Cardinal explained.

Creation reveals God鈥檚 presence

In this way, St Francis is consonant with the Book of Wisdom and St Paul, who maintained that creation reflects God. He referred to Psalm 19 that says that the heavens and firmament proclaim 鈥渢he might works of God鈥�. This shows that creation has the capacity of narrating and revealing God鈥檚 presence. 鈥淭his is very crucial鈥�, the Cardinal noted.

鈥淲hen St Francis saw in creation a means of contemplating the presence of God, it was in that sense.鈥� Thus, what St Francis said can teach us a lot about care for creation, 鈥減reserving everything that God has made鈥�.

Brothers and sisters to creation

鈥淐reation, indeed, as Francis would say, is a brother, a sister. There is Brother Sun, but there is Sister Moon, Mother Earth.鈥� Francis used terms regarding 鈥渒inship鈥� to express our relationship to what God created. This means that 鈥渙ur relationship to creation is in terms of 鈥榢inship鈥�.鈥�

It was this way from the beginning, the Cardinal insisted. When God introduced man to His garden, the literal meaning of the Hebrew command He gave Adam was to 鈥渒eep it鈥�. 鈥淭he LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it鈥�, or "keep it" (Genesis 2:15). It is the same word used by Cain when he asks if he is his brother鈥檚 keeper. 鈥淭he relationship between brothers is reflected in the relationship between the human family and creation. Creation is for us, a kin, to be kept like we keep a brother鈥� We vindicate our brother, we protect their lives. We safeguard everything they have鈥�.