The Rev. Dr. Leah D.
Schade
#ClimateMarch #ParisClimateConference
Texts: Psalm 25: 1-10; Luke 21:25-26
“There
will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress
among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves” (Luke 21:25). So said Jesus over 2000 years ago. Certainly the first hearers of his words and
readers of this text could have had no idea about the kind of roaring of the
sea and waves we are currently seeing on this planet.
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| Flooding in Pakistan: Getty Images |
According to scientists at NASA, “Sea levels have risen about 8 inches since
the beginning of the 20th century.
The ocean is projected to rise by as much as 3 feet or more by the end
of this century,” (http://climate.nasa.gov/climate_resources/125/). What
will this look like for our planet? It would mean that our coastal and
low-lying cities would be inundated with flood waters. Especially at risk will be the poorer
citizens of these cities who have no resources to move to higher ground, the
homeless who have no place to go, and the sick and elderly who may be too
fragile to endure these rapidly changing conditions, not to mention the myriad
health problems that accompany flooding.
Why is this
happening? According to NASA, our ocean
absorbs more than 90% of the heat trapped by human-produced greenhouse gases
such as natural gas and carbon dioxide from burning oil and coal. This extra heat causes the sea level to rise
because the ice sheets and glaciers are melting at an unprecedented rate.
 |
| Arctic ice pack has diminished 13% since 1979 due to rising sea temperatures. Photo credit: NASA |
Then Jesus
told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 3as soon as they
sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near.
So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of
God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all
things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not
pass away,” (Luke 21:29-33).
Again,
Jesus points us to nature as a harbinger of things to come. And again, certainly his original hearers
could not have foreseen the kind of thing I’m noticing here in Central PA in
mid-November and December. After all the leaves had
dropped from the trees in preparation for the winter months, I am noticing buds
sprouting from the tips of branches from some of the trees and bushes.
We’ve had many warm days – in the high 50s and low 60s. The sun has been shining and people are out enjoying the nice weather. Friends are telling me they are seeing roses bloom and cherry trees blossom. In November and December. Part of me wants to say, isn’t this balmy weather wonderful? But the other part of me knows – this is not right.
 |
| This is a forsythia bush blooming in December in Lewisburg, PA. |
We’ve had many warm days – in the high 50s and low 60s. The sun has been shining and people are out enjoying the nice weather. Friends are telling me they are seeing roses bloom and cherry trees blossom. In November and December. Part of me wants to say, isn’t this balmy weather wonderful? But the other part of me knows – this is not right.
The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released a report
with data showing that October had a combined average temperature over global
land and ocean surfaces that was the highest in the 136-year period of
record. “This marked the sixth consecutive month a monthly global
temperature record has been broken and was also the greatest departure from average for any month in the 1630 months of
recordkeeping, surpassing the previous record high departure set just last
month.”[1]
 |
| Source: http://climate.nasa.gov/climate_resources/125/ |
NASA also released a
report that the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached 400
ppm. It’s supposed to be at 350 ppm for
the planet to be able to maintain a climate equilibrium. But because of our global economic system
that has required the extraction and burning of fossil fuels, clear-cutting of
forests, and industrial animal agriculture, CO2 levels have reached the highest
level they’ve been in millions of years.
As Dr. Erika Podest, a
carbon and water cycle research scientist, said in her response to this news: “Even
more alarming is the rate of increase in the last five decades and the fact
that CO2 stays in the atmosphere for hundreds or thousands of years. This
milestone is a wake up call that our actions in response to climate change need
to match the persistent rise in CO2.” (http://climate.nasa.gov/400ppmquotes/)
How interesting that on
this first Sunday of Advent we hear these words of Jesus carrying so much dire
warning about things to come. We talked
about this passage in our Bible study before the service, and were struck by
the words that seem to describe what is happening in our world – everything from
political terrorism to racial hatred, from war refugees to mass shootings that
seem to occur weekly.
These stand in stark
contrast to the advertisements and holiday music blaring from our radios and
hand-held devices and television screens.
Images of millions of eager shoppers lining up at stores to get the best
deals for their Christmas list proclaim that all is right with the world. Click the link – your Christmas shopping has
never been easier! Your friends and family
and dog will love you for giving them these pieces of colorful plastic made
from oil, driven to your store in trucks fueled by gas, lit up by hundreds of
lights powered by electricity from burning coal and natural gas, that will be
thrown into the trash and taken away by more trucks burning gas, and sit in
landfills for the next several hundred years.
But don’t worry – as long as you get yours, as long as your lifestyle is
maintained, as long as you are comfortable while all of this is happening – that’s
all that really matters, right?
How are we as Christians
to respond to all of this? What are we
to think when the very holiday that is to proclaim God’s love and forgiveness
and light coming into a world darkened by sin has been turned into one big commercial
for capitalism and consumerism? How are
we to respond to the pressure to produce, sell, buy, and acquire which is in
direct conflict with Jesus’ command to “Be on guard so that your hearts are not
weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life”
(Luke 21:34)?
Perhaps this is the
year when we stand up and say: that’s enough.
Instead of adding fuel to this fire of consumerism that is burning up
our planet and leading to a devastating climate crisis, we make a conscious decision
to take a step back and reassess our priorities. Instead of racing with the mindless mobs
toward the cliff, we stop, turn around and begin walking in a different
direction.
For two weeks, political
leaders from all over the globe met for the United Nations Conference on Climate Change. Nearly 150 heads of state and
government gathered to address the crisis of global warming and what
steps need to be taken to avert the worst-case-scenario for our planet and
humanity. Where were they meeting? Paris, France. Yes, the same place where just a few weeks
prior to the conference, terrorism rocked the city with explosions and gunfire killing and wounding
hundreds of people. Climate change
activists had been planning a peaceful march in support of their leaders to
take the biggest steps forward on global cooperation for ending our addiction
to fossil fuels and curb the worst effects of climate change. But the march had to be cancelled because of
security concerns.
So instead, marches
have been taking part all over the world by people in their own towns and
cities.
Even those who weren’t near a
local march were encouraged to take selfies with their shoes to show their
solidarity with the marchers. Our family
did this as well. Instead of adding our
fuel to the fires of Black Friday, we played games, threw the football, and
took part in our own march in solidarity for the planet.
“[Be on guard so that] that
day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who
live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you
may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to
stand before the Son of Man,” (Luke 21:36).
This is the season to
be alert and pay attention to the signs and signals nature is sending to
us. Earth’s fever is rising. Islands are disappearing. Species are dying off at historic levels.
Droughts are increasing and intensifying.
Floods are inundating entire countries.
But as Christians, we
also proclaim that Creation
contains within itself the very signs that remind us of God’s presence in the
world. The countless species of trees
and animals and insects and microbes, the beauty of forests, oceans, deserts
and grasslands – all of Creation attests to the loving power of our Creator
God.
And there
are things we can do to align ourselves with that power instead of trying to
oppose or undermine it. As research oceanographer
Dr. William Patzert advises: “Listen to
the scientists, vote wisely, beat carbon addiction and put humanity into the
game.” (http://climate.nasa.gov/400ppmquotes/).
And, as
Christians, we add Jesus’ instructions:
“Be on guard, be alert. Pray for
strength.” Churches will need to be
places that heighten that alertness, marshal that prayer-power, and help organize
the resources that will be needed to help our poorest and most vulnerable folks
survive the effects of the climate crisis. This is exactly the time when Christians need
to lift their voices, move their feet, and join their hands with like-minded
brothers and sisters of all religions and ranges of belief in peaceful,
prayerful protest of all the forces that are undoing God’s Creation and the
fabric of civilization.
We can
start with this prayer from Psalm 25 that can orient us to our calling during
this Advent season:
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach us your paths.
Lead us in your
truth, and teach us,
for you are the God of our salvation;
for you we wait all day long.
Be mindful of your
mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Do not remember the
sins of our youth or our transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember us,
for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
Amen.
More ideas for sermons about the Creation-Crisis can be found in my book Creation-Crisis Preaching: Ecology, Theology, and the Pulpit (Chalice Press, 2015).
And visit the website for more ideas for connecting faith and Creation:
[1] NOAA National
Centers for Environmental Information, State of the Climate: Global Analysis
for October 2015, published online November 2015, retrieved on November 27,
2015 fromhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201510.
Accessed 11/27/15
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