One week ago, a horrific earthquake shook the nation of Morocco, killing almost 3000 people.  As we were celebrating our Parish Homecoming this past Sunday, massive flooding caused two dams to rupture in Libya, killing probably over 20,000.  Human deaths caused by the fires on the Hawaiian island of Maui in August have risen to 115.  In the first 8 months of 2023, the United States has experienced 23 separate billion dollar climate and weather related disasters, the largest number ever recorded.  The toll on human life has been immense; the toll on non-human life has been incalculable.  All of this threatens to overwhelm us and cause us to become calloused and paralyzed.

While living in such difficult times, we, as God’s people, would do well to attend to the state of our hearts and minds.  Regular prayer focused on remembering God’s promises of abundant life and generous love may help us keep our hearts supple and compassionate.  Prayer often also serves to bring to mind conviction to act on behalf of those who have been affected by catastrophic events and helps us to imagine concrete ways that we may be the answer to our own prayers.  So, God’s people pray.

For most of us, however, prayer will not be enough. As God’s people who are attuned to the ways and will of God as they have been revealed to us in Scripture and through the Voice of God’s Spirit within us, we must speak truth as we understand it.  This can often be very difficult work as what we must say will make others uncomfortable or even angry.  A faithful response to catastrophic events often entails courageous truth-telling.  So, God’s people speak.

Words, however, are most powerful when they are backed up by action.  Who isn’t convinced and compelled and convicted by those who walk the talk?  The one who not only speaks truth but who actually does something about a catastrophic event is the one who is often most effective.  Raising money, picking up a hammer, bringing bottled water, praying with a victim, advocating for survivors, challenging the systems that have contributed to the catastrophe… all of these are among the many ways that God’s people are called to respond.  So, God’s people act.

All of this praying and speaking and acting can be so exhausting and unending.  It is far too easy to become dispirited by the enormity of the work.  And so, it is important to know, however, that this is God’s work and ultimately God’s responsibility.  It is critical to realize that, at the end of the day, as Julian of Norwich famously said, all shall be well.  So, when confronted with catastrophic events and our efforts to be God’s hands and heart in response, we do not lose heart.  So, God’s people remain joyful.

Most climate scientists postulate that these natural disasters will become more regular and more severe.  In response, we as God’s people,will not only persevere, we will be people of prayer, speech, action and joy.  And all shall be, and all shall be well, and all matter of thing shall be made well.

~Father Art