(Listen to this homily here).
It has been rightly said that God has written two
books. The first is the easy one
to guess—the Bible. The second
isn’t really a book, but a metaphor—for creation.
I
would like you to listen again to how many times our readings referred to
something in nature this morning: cedar,
branches, tender shoot, high and lofty mountain, birds, shade, boughs, field,
high tree, lowly tree, green tree, withered tree—these were from only three
verses in Ezekiel! Such references
continue in the Psalm: dawn, night, palm
tree, cedar, fruit, rock. Even
in the Gospel, Jesus uses nature to teach two different parables: seed, night, day, land, fruit, blade, ear,
grain and the mustard seed, plant, branches, birds, sky and shade.
Our
readings this morning are saturated with what surrounds us—our
environment. Because of this, I
want to share five points about what we believe about creation.
First
point—creation is good. In the
first chapter of the Bible the creation of the world is described. After each day, what did God say?: “it was good.” This probably seems obvious to us, but believing in a good
world is unique to our faith.
Throughout the centuries there have been heresies—like Gnosticism or dualism—that
have utterly rejected anything material.
Or even today, some worldviews (like some Eastern spiritualities)
feature fleeing the world and/or body because material things are prisons for
the spiritual.
We
have always believed God’s creation is good. It demands our respect and stewardship—we are to take care
of the many gifts God has given us in nature.
At
the same time (second point) we must not go to the other extreme and think that
the created order is equal to God.
There are such belief systems today—pantheism, for example—which hold
that everything contains a piece of the divine. More common is treating nature out of a proper order. We were not created for nature—nature was
created for us. Thus, we have to
place the created world in proper order.
Trees are not gods. Pets
are not people. It is okay to eat
an animal.
Third
point: Jesus’ use of parables almost always refer to something found in
creation—a mustard seed, trees, sheep, vineyards and the like. Jesus teaches moral and spiritual
truths by referring to what his audience knew well.
Which
leads to a fourth point: spending time outside can and should lead us closer to
God. St. Bernard of Clairvaux was
said to be able to fall into mystical prayer by looking at a tree—because he
saw the tree’s Creator. He also
said something profound, a quotation I will only share now because the kids are
out of school! He said, “Believe me, you will find more lessons in the woods
than in books. Trees and stones
will teach you what you cannot learn from masters.” Again, this is a summer only quote. You will learn more in the woods than
in books! I tried telling my
seminary professors that, but they wouldn’t buy it.
At
this point (point five) some would refer to a common northern Minnesota
quip. You wouldn’t, because you
are at Church, but you know what it is: “I would rather be at the deer
shack/fishing/hunting, thinking about God, than in Church thinking about the
deer shack/fishing/hunting.” Do
you know what this thought process is called? Bovine waste material! While it is great to soak in creation,
we still need to leave the created order to enter the heavenly order and come
to Mass! You’re here on a
beautiful morning—well done.
I
have a homework assignment for you this morning. And given it’s hot in the church, this will be easy. Your homework: go outside. Okay, that
is too easy. Your homework: go outside and look for God.
We
live in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. The lakes, woods, trees, wildlife are
some of the best you could find anywhere.
Take advantage of this extraordinary part of God’s creation. Soak it in and see the Creator Who gave
us such great gifts.
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