If you have ever had the opportunity to watch any of the Planet Earth series, then you will have been captivated by them. Sir David Attenborough would often remind us that we needed to provide more care for the natural world, and God’s creation is a common theme in our Bible readings today.
Today’s psalm has often been called the ‘Hymn of Creation’, and it encourages us to see the intricate design and wisdom of God’s creation, and our role as stewards of it. All living things on planet Earth have a dependency on God, and all life is interconnected and cyclical. The natural world is vast and diverse, and the existence of all things is attributable to God’s wisdom. The opening verse in the passage from Proverbs personifies wisdom, and it invites us to listen to Her voice in order to seek greater understanding and discernment in our lives. Wisdom was in existence before planet Earth was formed, playing a crucial role in its creation. From the outset, She was working alongside God in the act of creation. I believe Wisdom is calling us today to act in the best interests of this planet. The passage is asking us to integrate God’s wisdom into our lives, to work alongside God, and to think about how we can provide more care for the environment. Reducing our carbon emissions, protecting nature, and restoring habitat for wildlife are just some of the ways that we can do this. What is Wisdom calling you to do today?
At the beginning of the passage from Colossians, Paul describes Christ as “the firstborn of all creation”, and he tells us that “all things have been created through him and for him”. Paul explains the pre-eminence of Christ in creation, telling us that everything is created through Christ, and is being sustained by Him. Christ wants the whole of creation to flourish, and that includes us in our role as stewards. As Paul explains in the last verse, “and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross”, Christ restores balance to the whole of the created order, and it is through Christ that we can all find peace with God. On this Creation Sunday, let us remember that we were chosen by God to care for the natural world. May we treasure this gift of creation, and protect it for future generations to come. Let us show our gratitude to Wisdom (the Holy Spirit) for the role that She plays in creation. May we be attentive to Her call, so that we always act in the best interests of this planet by protecting its diverse ecosystems. Let us respect the interconnectedness of all life on planet Earth, and work with Christ in the ongoing act of creation. What could you do to provide more care for creation?
Creator God, I pray for greater legislation to promote the preservation of planet Earth (both nationally and internationally). I pray for more innovative ways to protect the environment, for more initiatives to promote the recovery of nature, and for more awareness of the finite resources that exist on this planet. I pray for changes to be made to economic systems in order to promote sustainability and fair trade, and to achieve the eradication of pollution and poverty. Finally, I pray that Christ will continue to transform lives with His love, and that His light will always shine in the darkness. Amen.
(Reflection and prayers written by Sarah Swallow)
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