18 Pentecost, Proper 20
22 Sep 2024
The Episcopal Church, and others, look at the time from Sept. 1, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to the Feast of St. Francis, as the Season of Creation. The history dates to 1989 and the Orthodox Church. The resources are provided by the World Council of Churches, so it is quite ecumenical. This year’s theme is To Hope and Acti with Creation.
As you noticed, all the readings save for the second lesson are from the lectionary and were not chosen specifically for the season.
When I was looking at the reading choices for the second lesson I was struck by the one by Walter Rauschenbusch. I am aware of who he is, but had not read any of his works or even knew much about him. He “came to Jesus” at the age of 17, but even at a young age was more concerned with social sins than personal ones. He became a pastor in the American Baptist Church and right after ordination went to serve in one of the worst areas of NY City. He authored multiple works, but perhaps the two most influential were Christianity and the Social Crisis in 1907 and Theology for the Social Gospel in 1917. In a nutshell he was far more concerned with how Christians in an organized society treated one another than what a given individual did.
That concern extended to the natural world, to creation itself. The passage came as a shock to me; I did not think the social gospel movement of the early 20th century concerned itself with creation care beyond that of human care. But he did. We should be thankful for his legacy in helping us to see how we are caretakers of each other and the world around us.
My own theology would, I suspect, mirror that of Rauschenbusch. I have six words that are my mantra. Inside myself are faith, hope, and joy; it translates into the world as love, justice, and mercy.
When it comes to creation, I cannot help but be awe struck by all that exists, as he says experienced by all of our senses. And we have a connection to all that exists, we are of this world. We are fully human, fully earthlings. Because we are connected to the world and to each other, we must do justice. Justice for creation is justice for humanity and calls us to live in to our role as co-creators with God.
God is calling you, as a person, and you, as a congregation, to be in relationship with the world around you. I could point out so many things that are amiss, many of which are related to how we care for the world around us. The Nishnabotna River is a mess. This is your river. This is local.
Farming is the lifeblood of this state, but it is not being practiced in a sustainable way. You can do things to make changes.
Policies and laws that harm the environment are mainly for the benefit of a few wealthy folks. CAFO’s have huge costs environmentally and economically for local communities. The fact that the beach at Prairie Rose is not suitable for folks to use is directly related to livestock.
Care for creation is often portrayed as impossible expensive; but for whom? Right now the poorest people bear the greatest burden of climate change and corporate control of agriculture and natural resources. Many people raising the biggest stink are folks who benefit economically from the status quo: the beef and pork processors, the dairy magnates, and the coffee and berry barons.
You can make a difference. Every time you choose to buy from a local producer the benefits are exponential. When you start tipping the table of the money changers, that is the industry barons and the lawmakers, things will happen for the good.
But I remind you in all things, thank God. We have been given the most awesome incredible place in which to live. So as Rauschenbusch said, when we leave this world may it be a sweeter and more joyful place.
Keep in faith, hope, and joy and practice love, justice, and mercy for all of creation.
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