The following is an abbreviated version of the homily for Oct. 1 on the Land as part of the Season of Creation.

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The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis:1:12)

Before the Israelites had the Book of Genesis: before the Hindus had the Veda: before the Buddhists had a Sutra: before the Muslims had the Koran, humanity understood its relationship to God through the “Book of nature”.

They knew that clouds and rivers provided water to drink. Lakes yielded fish. Shrubs, trees and fields produced fruits, berries and seeds. Animals and birds gave meat. Thunderstorms bestowed lightning and fire.

People lived in a relationship with a world that they did not create but that sustained them. They knew they did not control creation, except in small ways and they lived in it with a sense of mystery about the power greater than themselves that had ordered the universe and their lives,

Nature was the first way that humanity came to understand its relationship with the Creator/God.  

The theologian, Karl Rahner, wrote, “There are more revelations of God than are found in historical Christianity ….God reveals divinity to human beings, not just in the miraculous events of Biblical history. We know the divine in reflecting on our experience of the world.” 

St. Francis of Assisi, saw nature as a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness.

This understanding of the way people first came to know their Creator is central to eco-spirituality: we first learned about God through the majesty of her creation. First Nations Peoples still speak of the Creator this way. All of creation remains a valid form of appreciation of God and understanding God’s ways. This understanding of nature is embedded in our baptismal vows when we pledge that we will “respect, sustain and renew the life of the earth”….(page 627 in the Green Book of Alternative Services)

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This is not just cultural anthropology, or poetry, or ‘theology-speak’ or ritual.

As some know, I co-facilitate retreats for people in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Many retreatants come from Alcoholics Anonymous which refers to God or the Higher Power as the source of strength during recovery.

The 10-15 people come from a variety of faith backgrounds … mostly Christian, but some Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, First Nations… or no formal faith. Typically, many of them have not been to church since their early teens.

So, a basic question we ask, early on in the retreat, is: “What do you think of when we say God or Higher Power?”

On any given retreat, up to half of the people answer by saying something like “nature” or “a sense of peace when I look up on a clear starry night”. One person talked about how he used to skip church as a kid and go fishing, and that his sense of calm while fishing was his sense of God.

The way they find God is as valid and useful today as it was to our earliest ancestors.

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To be clear: we learn about God from looking at his works. We see complexity and harmony, aesthetic beauty and sophisticated science. But creation is NOT the same as God.

Jesus Christ is the fullest expression of God’s self-communication to us and the best source of understanding about God.

…And we recall that nature formed a significant part of his life story.

He was baptised in a river: referred to God’s care for sparrows: used weeds and wheat, vines and branches as his reference for God’s kingdom. In this morning’s gospel (Matthew 21: 33-46) he used a vineyard as a metaphor for the Kingdom of God…something to produce the fruits of the kingdom, as do the farmlands.

The tenants had a duty of care for the vineyard. They were supposed to manage the land on behalf of the owner instead, they sought to steal its produce for themselves.

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As I was preparing this homily, I planned to turn to the issue of the theft of Greenbelt lands and particularly the 4,700 acres in the Duffins-Rouge Agricultural Preserve at this point…and draw a parallel between those who wanted to steal the vineyard and discuss our duty of care for these public lands, among the most productive agricultural land in Canada, a wildlife corridor, home to endangered species of birds and turtles, a watershed that protected the land from erosion, and filtered pollutants.

Then Thursday Sept. 21 happened. Doug Ford reversed his decision…Thanks be to God…and thanks to the amazing coalition of First Nations, farmers, environmentalists, housing advocates, municipalities, the Auditor General, Ethics Commissioner Mennonite communities in and near the Rouge and citizens of the hamlet of Cherry Wood, concerned about democracy.

It was the right decision. It was right to celebrate.

With a bit more perspective, though, we realize that there are still issues. The Ring of Fire in North West Ontario is an area rich in nickel, cobalt, lithium, graphite and chrome. Nickel is a key component in electric-car batteries. Ontario’s open prospecting system allows individuals and corporations to amass mining claims for a nominal fee without Indigenous consent. Roughly 5,000 mining claims have been granted on traditional territories.

Ten First Nations have launched a lawsuit against both the Federal and provincial governments to insist on their constitutional right of approval based on treaties with the Crown.

In Ontario, while Indigenous communities must be consulted under the constitution on any proposed mine, they do not have veto power to stop the development if federal and provincial government approvals are granted.

Today, a day after the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, respect for the First Nations’ lands is being pushed aside, again, in favour of development.

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The parable in today’s gospel reminds us that sometimes the people put in charge of tending the vineyard want to steal it.

As tenants of the land, we are bound to care for it on behalf of God, the Owner, and to respect, sustain and renew it…and sometimes defend it.

In words ascribed to the Amish… or sometimes to Chief Seattle…. “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children .”

These days we are more conscious of the truth of this statement. As we observe the fires and experience the smoke, learn of floods, drought, hurricanes, heat waves, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, death of corals, frogs and colonies of gannets, we fear for the next generations

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The Greenbelt is only one relatively small, local issue

Earth is hurtling towards its average temperature rising by 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. One climate model suggests that the likelihood of reaching that threshold in 2023 is now 55% according to a recent article in Nature.

While Greenhouse gas emissions declined during Covid the recent statistics show that Emissions have increased again, globally and in Ontario.

Our work is far from over.

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The Irish blessing for a journey seems an appropriate way to end. It weaves together the goodness of the earth and our relationship with it….and with God as we continue on our way.

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields

and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of  His hand.

Peace

Michael