Jeremiah 20.7-9・Ps. 63. 2, 3+4, 5+6・Romans 12.1-2・Matthew 16.21-27
World day of Prayer for Care of Creation
(Month of Protecting All Life, Sept 1 – October 4)
Pope Francis has established September 1 as World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation. Today we offer a prayer for the protection of All Life. The specific theme for this year is taken from the book of prophet Amos, “Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream (Amos 5.24.)” So we have our theme “Let Justice and Peace Flow.” The gist of Pope Francis prayer for this year`s World Day of Prayer encourages us to renew our relationship with all Creation. Our hope is that all of us would no longer see creation as an object to be exploited but see all Creations as sacred gifts from our Creator to be cherished and be protected. We are encouraged to promote ecological education with our children and young people. We all together work in cooperation with local government, and other various organizations dedicated on environmental protection.
Today`s Bible Readings
The theme of our readings today may best speak about our natural longing of all what is above, so to say, of all what is of God rather than of this world. So is the theme of the World day of Creation which should not be taken as objects for exploitation since all beautiful things on earth came from God. . We are all invited to refrain from any form of abuse of creation but understand well God`s purpose of creating.
Prophet Jeremiah in our first reading today professes his commitment to proclaiming the message of God despite challenges. In here, for our reflection, we ask ourselves as to what extent are we able to commit to our Christian vocation. While dealing with different forms of challenges we become like prophet Jeremiah who finds himself in deep faith and with natural desire/longing to serve God.
St. Paul in his letter to the Romans, urges the people to offer themselves as holy men and women who do not conform to worldly affairs. St. Paul talks most specially to trust in God`s mercy that enables each one to refrain from conformity to worldly affairs and abuse of all creations including our human bodies. The same mercy of God allows us to find ourselves victorious even while under persecution and under various forms of pain for the sake of the Gospel. Indeed God`s wisdom is so far different from ours. Most of us if not all, find ourselves praying that all sorts of persecution and pains be taken away from us so we can live more convenient and better lives on this earth. Many times or maybe most of the time, we pray in this manner because we think that we can better serve Him when all these persecutions and pains be all taken away from us.
To sum-up specific themes of all our readings today, including that of the purpose of establishing World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation, we include in our prayers rather a petition that we may all be courageous enough, and persevere while under persecutions and pain until the end. For our further reflection then, our gospel reading today brings us to a common Christian understanding that the need for self-denial and willingness to embrace sacrifices and difficulties is a daily calling for Christian way of living.
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