September has been quietly celebrated as the Season of Creation by Catholics, Lutherans, the World Council of Churches and many mainline Churches. While our primary emphasis this year has had to be on self-care as part of creation due to the Covid pandemic, we are still reminded of protecting our environment as a matter of care for the creation we are in and of. There are many aspects of our care for creation which we see and are called to help clean up for future generations. We see discarded plastic containers, wrappers, and even the ubiquitous cigarette filters everywhere. We are also subject to what our food growth, preparation and waste are doing to the environment. While we must be influenced by St. Francis of Assisi and his care for creation, we can also be influenced by how the native Americans cared for the environment. They expected the previous three generations to look after creation and they were responsible to the next three generations to do the same. We can finish the month and look to October 4, the feast of Francis, with a sense of his Canticle of the Sun, where he called us to be attentive and to treat one another and all as equals worthy of our care.
Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
