Earth Day Sunday-
Feed My Sheep - Feed My Earth
I remember the first Earth Day way back there in 1970. I was a senior in college. As I remember it from this distance it was a beautiful day. Sun was shining. It was warm for April. We sat on the lawn and heard speakers and made our statement for the environment.

Responding to wide spread environmental degradation, United States Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin called for an Environmental Teach-in or Earth Day to be held on April 22, 1970. Over 20 million people participated and it is now observed each year by more than 500 million people and national governments in 175 countries.
--Wikipedia

Little did we realize how prophetic that day was- and how pathetic would be some of the responses over the years to what we could hardly have imagined 37 years ago- a global climate change potentially threatening our way of life - not to mention our very life- on earth. I know there are those who disagree with that statement on political reasons. But it makes no difference what or who is causing the climate change. It is clearly happening. Can we do anything about? Who knows. But it seems to me that we re being irresponsible if we don't try.

Why? Because I am convinced that this is what God wants us to do. Did I hear a special message from God? No, and yes. No, God has not given me a vision or a unique revelation about it. Yes, God has told me to take care of the earth. I have no doubt about that. I have read Genesis over and over in these years and it becomes clearer to me every time that it is a hymn of thanks to God for what God has made- and a hymn from God to us to watch over it, take care of it, use it wisely for it is the only one we have.

Even more, as we hear Jesus' words to Peter in the Gospel for this 3rd Sunday of Easter:

15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter,

"Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

16Again Jesus said,
"Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"

He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

17The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said,

"Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

18Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.

How can we do that metaphorically or literally if we have runaway pollution, rising waters on the coasts, deserts where there used to be green fields, floods in formerly dry places and more and more and more people dying from the lack of food. Yes, I have a belief that we humans can do a lot with technology. But if the life is so difficult and so uncertain in places, that will only help those of us in the more industrial nations.

Jesus was clear to Peter that what He wants from his disciples is to care for others. Yes, it isn't about us. It's about Him. And His sheep. We cannot care only for the soul when the body is in turmoil. We cannot help people's eternal lives if we can't help their day in and day out lives in the here and now. He doesn't just mean those of us who have homes and air conditioning and more food than we know what to do with.

When God looked at each stage of creation the response was that it was good. That tells me that it has a place in God's heart at each stage, not just at the end when after creating humanity he said that it was VERY good. If we are the ones making it not so very good, we need to repent- turn around and go the other way. If it isn't our work that is doing it (or a combination of both) we still have been giving the task of watching over it.

Care for the earth. We have a choice- but not if we are to remain faithful to God's call and word.