Download Earth Sabbath Celebration For Unitarian Coastal Fellowship on

Earth Sabbath Celebration
For Unitarian Coastal Fellowship on January 24, 2016
by Rev. Steve Halsted
I chose the words of Chief Seattle to lead into my message to you today because they speak so
passionately about the sacredness of the Earth! And because they also segue so well with the teachings
of Thomas Berry, who as a cultural historian and eco-theologian, recognized and lifted up the ancient
wisdom of indigenous peoples like the Native Americans.
Thomas Berry was a Greensboro, NC native, a Catholic monastic, and an academic researcher and
teacher who Newsweek called, “The most provocative figure among the new breed of eco-theologians,”
and of whom Orion magazine said, ”Berry is our conscience, our prophet, our guide,” and Bloomsbury
Review said, “Berry’s book titled : The Great Work is the modern equivalent of the biblical book of
Revelation.
In an essay titled: “Our Way into the Future: A Communion of Subjects, Berry writes, “ Since the
appearance of “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson in 1962, we have been reflecting on the tragic
consequences of the plundering industrial society that we have brought into existence during the past
few centuries. That we should have caused such damage to the entire functioning of the planet Earth in
all its major bio-systems is obviously the consequence of a deep cultural pathology. Just as clearly, there
is a need for a deep cultural therapy…we must proceed with the task of creating a viable future for
ourselves and for the entire Earth community…the first condition for achieving this objective is to realize
that the universe is a communion on subjects, not a collection of objects.”
Although I hadn’t read this essay by Thomas Berry in August of 2010, in many ways my thinking at the
time somehow paralleled his. I can only attribute this to the mysterious working of what might be called
the “Holy Spirit!” It certainly came from a source beyond my limitations and wisdom. Here is an entry
from my personal journal dated Tuesday, August 10, 2010: “I awoke thinking and visioning about
establishing a mid-week “Earth Sabbath” program at church, focused on healing the Earth and healing
ourselves. It needs a good catchy name! So here is what it shall be called, “Earth Sabbath Celebrations!”
And the purpose of gathering together for Earth Sabbath Celebrations is to be therapeutic, to help us
begin healing our relationship with the Earth in a way that is worshipful in celebration of the goodness
of the Earth as referenced in the Book of Genesis, the first chapter.
What I was feeling “called” to develop was a monthly event in which we could celebrate “communion”
with the Earth! Our focus would be to commune with nature by celebrating the classic Greek four
elements of creation: earth, water, fire, air. Each of these are elements that carry sacred significance in
all the world’s major religious traditions; thus providing common ground between Christians, Jews,
Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Unitarian Universalists, Native Americans, etc..
If we are to reverse the damage that we, the human species, are causing to God’s Good Earth, and all
life within God’s Creation, we must learn to live in a “mutually beneficial” communion of Human-Earth
relations as Thomas Berry says. This is the Great Work before us, the challenge of our age!
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Through the Earth Sabbath Celebrations the participants are retraining themselves to listen to, to
commune with, and to more fully value the many voices of our Mother the sacred Earth. I believe this
faith expression is essential for the salvation of the world, as we know it today.
Again, I turn to the prophetic voice of Thomas Berry: “The devastation of the planet can be seen as a
direct consequence of the loss of this capacity for human presence to and reciprocity with the
nonhuman world. This reached its most decisive moment in the seventeen century proposal of Rene’
Descartes that the universe is composed simply of “mind and mechanism.” In this single stroke, he
devitalized the planet and all its living creatures, with the exception of the human. The thousand fold
voices of the natural world became inaudible to many humans. The mountains, rivers, wind, and sea all
became mute insofar as humans were concerned. The forests were no longer the abode of an infinite
number of spirit presences but were simply so many board feet of timber to be harvested as objects
used for human benefit. Animals were no longer the companions of humans within the single
community of existence. They were denied not only their inherent dignity but even their right to habitat.
As we recover our awareness of the universe as a communion of subjects a new interior experience
awakens within the human. The barriers disappear. An enlargement of the soul takes place. The
excitement evoked by natural phenomena is renewed. Dawn and sunset are once again transforming
experiences, as are the sights, sounds, scents, tastes, and feel of the natural world about us – the
surging sea, the sound of the wind, the brooding forests. All this could be continued in a never-ending
list of experiences that have been lost to large segments of the human community in recent centuries –
not because the phenomena do not surround us constantly, but because we have become locked into
ourselves, as though large segments of the human mind have become paralyzed. It is no wonder that
humans have devastated the planet so extensively! It was only a collection of objects to be used.”
As I said earlier, the Earth Sabbath Celebrations are meant to be therapeutic and transformative
experiences for our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls!
It’s unfortunate that Father Thomas Berry did not live long enough to serve under the present Pope
Francis. Berry died in June 2009, and Francis did not become Pope until March 2013. But it appears
obvious that these two great visionaries are kindred souls, and both much influenced by the life and
teachings of St. Francis of Assisi, as I have as well.
Let me share a few selected quotes from the Pope’s recent Encyclical on the Environment. Here are
some on humanities relationship with the Earth.
“ {The Earth} now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use
and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her.” (2)
“We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth (Gen.2:7) our very bodies are made up of
her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters.” (2)
“Nature cannot be regarded as something separate from ourselves or as a mere setting in which we live.
We are part of nature, included in it and thus in constant interaction with it.” (139)
“If present trends continue, this century may well witness extraordinary climate change and an
unprecedented destruction of ecosystems, with serious consequences for all of us. A rise in the sea
level, for example, can create extremely serious situations, if we consider that a quarter of the world’s
population lives on the coast or nearby, and that the majority of our megacities are situated in coastal
areas.” (25)
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As I reflect on the Pope’s Encyclical three things stand out to me from the message he wishes to convey.
I’ll call them the “Three P’s.” 1.) He is being Prophetic. 2.) He is being Pastoral. 3.) He is being
Practical. In these ways the Pope is being crucially relevant both to the cries and desperate needs of the
people of the Earth and the Earth itself!
A Prophet is one who calls the people back to their true identity as children of God, and to live in right
relationship with God and God’s Creation. To repent of their wrong doing, and turn back to what is good
and true and beautiful in God’s sight. These words clearly convey the Pope’s prophetic call to
action: “Many things have to change course, but it is we human beings above all who need to change.
We lack an awareness of our common origin, of our mutual belonging, and of a future to be shared with
everyone. This basic awareness would enable the development of new convictions, attitudes and forms
of life. A great cultural, spiritual and educational challenge stands before us, and it will demand that we
set out on the ling path of renewal.”
(202)
The take-away message that I perceive in the Pope’s prophetic words form a new “trinity” for our
present age! 1.) To love God! 2.) To love our neighbor as oneself! 3.) To love Mother Earth!
Turning to the Pastoral side of Pope Francis’ message he says: “The climate is a common good,
belonging to all and meant for all.” (23)
“Many of the poor live in areas particularly affected by phenomena related to warming, and their means
of subsistence are largely dependent on natural reserves and ecosystemic services such as agriculture,
fishing and forestry.” (25)
“Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political
and for the distribution of goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our
day.” (25)
In reflecting on the Pope’s pastoral message, I believe Climate Change is not just another issue to move
up higher on our list of world concerns. Rather it is the concern central to all other issues! As Rev. Jim
Wallis, President of Sojourners says, “Let’s take the 25th Chapter of Matthews Gospel and recognize that
all those whom Jesus calls “the least of these” will be directly affected by Climate Change.
“I was hungry.” Climate change could dramatically influence food supplies and create very
serious food shortages.
“I was thirsty.” Drought is a direct result of climate change.
“I was naked.” The impact of climate change could strip whole groups of people of everything they
have.
“I was a stranger.” This text has converted a whole movement of Christians around how we treat
immigrants- but climate change is already creating refugees of island nations.
“I was sick.” Public health is extremely affected by the pollutants in our environment, and climate
change increases that.
“I was a prisoner.” Global warming could cause massive social and societal disruption that easily can
create more crime and burden the criminal justice system. There is a direct correlation between rising
temperatures and rising violence.
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In the concluding paragraphs of his Encyclical Pope Francis proclaims: “Social love moves us to devise
larger strategies to halt environmental degradation and to encourage a “culture of care” which
permeates all of society. When we feel that God is calling us to intervene with others in the social
dynamics, we should realize that this too is part of our spirituality, which is an exercise of charity, and as
such, matures, and sanctifies us.”
Finally, on the “Practical” side, the Pope calls us all to “Hope-Filled Action”!
“Humanity is called to recognize the need for changes of lifestyle, production and consumption, in order
to combat this warming or at least the human causes which produce or aggravate it.” (23)
“There is an urgent need to develop policies so that, in the next few years, the emission of carbon
dioxide and other highly polluting gases can be drastically reduced, for example substituting for fossil
fuels and developing sources of renewable energy.” (26)
In conclusion, Pope Francis is speaking to all people inhabiting this good earth – not just his flock of
Roman Catholics. He is calling all people to rise-up, to awaken to a universal message that is Prophetic,
Pastoral, and Practical, and to find our own place within that message!
~How might we be more prophetic in our own community?
~How might we be more pastoral to our neighbors, both near and far who are suffering the injustices of
climate change presently in their daily lives?
~How might we be more practical about mitigating the effects of climate change in our local, state,
national and international policies and legislation?
In light of the environmental message of Prophets and Visionaries around the world, and advocates,
especially people of faith from all great religious traditions, the United Nations has stepped forward to
present a unified set of agreements to tackle the practical and technical elements of combating Climate
Change. Let me take a moment to quickly summarize the major achievements of the very recent (Dec.
2015) Paris Agreement. There are five main points:
1.) A long term goal to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees centigrade, the level beyond which
scientists say we will see the worst extremes of global warming. And pursue efforts to limit the temperature
increase to 1.5 degrees.
2.) National pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the 2020’s, setting out how they plan to limit their
greenhouse gas emissions, done by some 185 countries and covering over 90% of global emissions.
3.) A further plan to make countries pledge deeper emission cuts into the future, improving their plan every
five years.
4.) Rich nations are to provide funding to poorer countries mobilizing $100 billion per year until 2025 and
raising more than $100 billion thereafter.
5.) A plan to monitor progress and hold countries to account, by mandating a set of transparency measures
and reviews.
An overview of the Paris Agreement seems to signal a greater hope for maintaining a livable
climate into the future and a greater cooperation among the nearly 200 nations participating and a
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greater sense that the citizens of the world who advocate for clean energy, clean air and clean water
etc. are actually being listened to !
The tipping point toward accepting the science of Climate Change appears to have occurred across the
globe. Could the Paris Agreement been better? Yes – probably. But the more important question is –
will it succeed? And here, I believe the answer can be YES!
But only if we (you and me and others like us) keep up the pressure for practical, prophetic, and pastoral
action as people of faith! Keep working toward expanding clean – renewable energy sources, and
keeping fossil fuels in the ground, as much as possible! Keep making lifestyle choices that honor the
sacred Earth! And keep making “Earth Sabbath” events a celebratory discipline and focus of our spiritual
journey for the sake of our souls and the soul of our Mother Earth!
So let’s remember the wise words of M.L. King Jr. who said: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it
bends toward justice.” And today we say: Including Justice for the Earth!
AMEN!
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