Search

Results

Exploring the word

16 Oct 2016 - Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

When former Vice President Al Gore starred in the documentary An Inconvenient Truth in 2006, experts crawled out of the woodwork to debate the arguments Gore presented about the gravity of climate change and our role in it. As whole forests brown and die around me in New England thanks to the gypsy moth encouraged by the warming trend, my heart aches for the planet and how we continue to abuse it. Chesapeake crabs have moved a bay or two north. Maine lobsters are becoming Canadian lobsters. Cranberry bogs have to go farther north to succeed. Pretty soon we’ll be growing oranges in Georgia and peaches in Maryland. I get climate change denial: It’s lousy to embrace a truth we don’t want to hear. No one wants to get wind that their kid is doing poorly in school, their spouse is unhappy, their chosen profession is about to be replaced by a robot. It’s rotten to suspect the world’s remaining superpower may be losing its exceptionalism. It’s tough to come to the conclusion that someone we love has done something terribly wrong, whether that someone is our parent, our country, or our church. Inconvenient truths are part of life. The first wrinkle shows up in the bathroom mirror, and before you know it, things are growing all over you that didn’t used to be there. Hair goes grey or goes away altogether. The belly protrudes. The doctor says you can’t eat the thing you love anymore. Joints ache and the pain turns out to be permanent. Loved ones you thought would be there always age and die or simply disappear. So when Saint Paul tells Timothy to expect and accept the inconvenience of the gospel, it should be no surprise. We’re to persist in faith and conviction and right action whether it happens to suit our plans or is extremely uncomfortable to do so. Sometimes it’s easy to come to church and sometimes it’s hard. That’s true for everybody, even the priest! Sometimes we feel like praying and sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we feel passionate about our spouses, our families, our work, and sometimes they’re all just commitments we’re obliged to fulfill. Sometimes we want to share our resources generously with the poor. And at other times we want to spend our money on that thing we don’t need but really, really want. Paul advises Timothy, a new church leader who will soon replace Paul’s whole generation of governance, to persist in doing the right thing despite how he feels in a given moment. Emotions are one thing; dedication is another. Feelings come and go but we’re free to go higher in our decision-making. Is faith inconvenient? You bet it is. Now get to it. Related scripture links They were not counted: Matt. 14:21; Mark 6:44; Luke 9:14; John 6:10 Widows’ garb: Gen. 38:14, 19 Widows are cheated and oppressed: 2 Kings 4:1; Job 22:9; 24:3; Ps. 94:6; Isa. 1:17; Jer. 7:6; 22:3; Ezek. 22:7; Zech. 7:10; Mal. 3:5; Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47 Judges treat widows dishonestly: Isa. 1:23; 10:2; see story in 2 Sam. 14:4-11 The law defends widows: Exod. 22:22-23; Deut. 14:28-29; 16:11-12, 14; 24:17-22; 26:12-15; 27:19; Book of Ruth Christianity in the widow’s corner: Acts 6:1; 9:36-41; 1 Tim. 5:3-16; James 1:27 Do justice: Mic. 6:8 Catechism links Justice: CCC 1807; 2401-2449

Authors Alice Camille

climate change Environment Faith conviction

Restricted
Poverty and hunger loom in global warming’s wake

23 Oct 2016 - Preaching the News for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

“The Lord hears the cry of the poor” is the psalmist’s plaintive and memorable refrain this Sunday. The question is will we here on earth hear their cry in time to drastically slow the pace of global warming? If not, up to 122 million more people worldwide could be living in extreme poverty by 2030 as a result of climate change and its impacts on small-scale farmers’ incomes, a major UN report warned on Monday. Climate change is a "major and growing threat to global food security,” said the report, warning that it could increase the global population living in extreme poverty dramatically, with farming communities in sub-Saharan Africa among the hardest hit. The 2016 State of Food and Agriculture report, published by the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), calls for “deep transformations in agriculture and food systems” and for the world’s half-billion small-scale farms to receive particular support. The report warns that without “widespread adoption of sustainable land, water, fisheries and forestry practices, global poverty cannot be eradicated.” It adds that action must also be taken to reduce farming’s own contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. Because a majority of the world's poorest citizens are sustenance farmers and herders, climate change and its agricultural consequences pose a unique threat to the livelihoods of some of the most vulnerable populations. The majority of the world's small-scale farmers are found in rural regions of the developing world. Some of these regions will be especially susceptible to heat waves, droughts, and rising sea levels. “In some particularly vulnerable places, such as small islands or in areas affected by large-scale extreme weather and climate events, the impact could be catastrophic,” the report's authors point out. “There is no doubt climate change affects food security,” FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said in a news release. “What climate change does is to bring back uncertainties from the time we were all hunter gatherers. We cannot assure any more that we will have the harvest we have planted.” Higher temperatures and more extreme weather events will affect the ability of small-scale farmers to provide for their families. But climate change won't just threaten the world's poor. It will also affect the ability of all types of farmers to grow food for the rest of the world. A more volatile climate will result in unpredictable agricultural yields. “Everybody is paying for that, not only those suffering from droughts,” Graziano da Silva added. October 14 was World Food Day, and this year’s theme was “Climate is changing, food and agriculture must too.” Events held that day at the Rome headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations focused on the need for countries to address food and agriculture in their climate action plans and take action to strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers to guarantee food security. World Food Day has been held annually since 1945. Lessons drawn from the readings “The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds,” the first reading assures us. We here on earth also have to respond to the cry of the most vulnerable among us. We can start by pressuring our political leaders to take concrete, significant steps to curb global warming, as well as examining our own lifestyles to see where we can be more “carbon neutral” and eco-friendly. The personal is the political! Final thought in light of the news Though the potential impact of climate change paints a bleak picture, present day progress in tackling extreme poverty worldwide is more encouraging. In fact, the number of people living in extreme poverty during the past decade continued to fall, despite the 2008-09 financial crisis and slowing global economic growth, according to a World Bank study released Sunday. In the report, “Poverty and Shared Prosperity,” the World Bank says the progress proves that eliminating extreme poverty is an achievable goal. The study found that in 2013, fewer than 800 million people lived on less than $1.90 a day. That's less than 11 percent of the global population. As recently as 1990, about 35 percent of all people lived in such extreme poverty. That means about 1.1 billion people rose out of extreme poverty in the past quarter century. So there is hope. But we must act now on climate change to continue moving in the right direction.

food security climate change global warming poverty small scale farmers sustenance farming world food day

Restricted
Poor countries to lead the way on green energy

27 Nov 2016 - Preaching the News for the First Sunday of Advent, Cycle A

Jesus uses the unexpected flooding in the time of Noah as an object lesson in staying alert and prepared for the coming of the Lord. A group of the countries most at risk from the ravages of climate change, including island countries likely to flood, said they would strive to make their energy production 100 percent renewable “as rapidly as possible,” as part of efforts to limit global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), which numbers 48 nations, also committed to update their climate action plans submitted as part of the UN climate pact agreed upon in Paris last year and prepare low-carbon development strategies for mid-century, both before 2020. But they emphasized they would need additional funding for more ambitious steps to reduce emissions and protect their people from extreme weather and rising seas. "We aim to survive and thrive," wrote the member countries of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) in a two-page decision adopted Friday at the climate talks. They also reaffirmed their commitment to keeping warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures, the most ambitious climate target of the Paris Agreement. This climate action pledge was welcomed by climate officials and experts as one of the more aggressive to come out of the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 22). The UNFCCC is the umbrella treaty that led to the Paris Agreement last year. Another was a pledge by more than 300 companies and investors that they would work to realize the promises of the Paris Agreement and urged American leaders to adopt policies and funding to support them. Promises like these, though, were not much of a salve on the big worry festering at the Marrakech talks—the concern that the United States would abandon the treaty when President Donald Trump takes office. He promised to do so during his campaign. Former U.S. vice president and environmental activist Al Gore says the move represents a bold vision that "sets the pace for the world's efforts to implement the Paris Agreement and move even more quickly to solve the climate crisis." "Their move is globally significant as the carbon pollution from these countries is roughly equal to that of Russia," says Greenpeace International Executive Director Jennifer Morgan. There was also a hint of impatience among CVF members with the progress being made by richer countries. "We don't know what countries are still waiting for to move toward net carbon neutrality and 100 percent renewable energy," says Edgar Gutierrez, Costa Rica's minister for the environment. "All parties should start the transition, otherwise we will all suffer." Lessons drawn from the readings This Sunday’s first reading from the Book of Isaiah offers an inspiring vision of nations working together peacefully, having beaten “their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.” “Let us walk in the light of the Lord!” exclaims the author. Global challenges must be met by global solutions, nations working together in peace for the greater good of the entire planet. Final thought in light of the news Climate change is perhaps the signature global issue. Let us walk in the light together by supporting efforts to stem the very real damage being done to our environment by the undeniable reality of global warming.

climate change global warming Environment climate vulnerable forum climate action pledge paris agreement renewable energy
Quote of the week

27 Nov 2016 - Preaching the News for the First Sunday of Advent, Cycle A

"There is no prosperity, justice, and peace on a planet that is on fire." --Mattlan Zackhras, minister in assistance to the president of the Marshall Islands, at a forum meeting at the U.N. climate talks in Morocco. Megan Rowling, Reuters

climate change
Fact of the week

27 Nov 2016 - Preaching the News for the First Sunday of Advent, Cycle A

On average, each American is annually responsible for using enough carbon-dioxide emitting energy to melt roughly 538 square feet of sea ice. How much Arctic sea ice did you melt today?

arctic sea global warming climate change
Looking back on a year of success, setback, and surprise

25 Dec 2016 - Preaching the News for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Cycle A

The Book of Isaiah brings “glad tidings” this Christmas Day, while the psalmist speaks of “wondrous deeds.” On January 1, the Octave Day of Christmas, the gospel of Luke tells us that “all were amazed” by the news they heard from the shepherds. As the historical year draws to a close and salvation history begins anew, 2016 will be remembered on the international stage for breakthroughs such as the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change as well as breakdowns such as the tragic Syrian civil war. On the domestic front, surprising levels of evangelical support contributed to Donald Trump’s presidential victory, and that support was voted the top religion story of the year. The most comprehensive international agreement ever to combat man-made climate change took effect November 4, less than a year after negotiators from more than 190 countries reached a final deal on the issue, a deed that many considered a wondrous breakthrough. The Paris Agreement commits participating countries to working to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and transparently reporting those results with the goal of keeping global temperature rise from pre-industrial levels below 2°C (3.6°F) by 2100. “This is our chance to set us on course toward a safer, more sustainable and more just future for all on a healthy planet,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said shortly before the milestone was reached. “Let us seize the moment and be true to the values and aims of our organizations.” The agreement represents a significant achievement for President Obama, who made addressing the issue on the international stage a top priority in his second term. In brief remarks from the White House in November, Obama called the achievement a “turning point for the planet.” The milestone was celebrated immediately by climate policy makers and advocates, but many pointed out that the deal is just a first step in addressing climate change. The Paris Agreement provides a framework for countries to develop and share their plans to address climate change, but scientists say the current plans fall short of the agreement’s target. The framework requires countries to reconsider their pledges every five years, hopefully to improve upon them, but experts say those improvements should start now given continued signs of accelerating global warming. Not all has been glad tidings on the international stage. The Syrian civil war looks to be entering a new phase after the fall of Aleppo, more than five years after the Arab Spring of 2011. The war gradually evolved into a complex set of overlapping conflicts that range from regional rivalry to religious conflict. President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Iran and Russia, is opposed by the Islamic State and a web of rebel groups that are believed to be funded by Sunni powers in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf. The United States has so far chosen not to act except in opposition to the Islamic State, but with a change of administration looming, that stance may change. A study by the Syrian Center for Policy Research released in February 2016 estimated the death toll of the war to be 470,000, with 1.9 million wounded (reaching a total of 11.5 percent of the entire population either wounded or killed). As of March 2015, Al-Jazeera estimates 10.9 million Syrians, or almost half the population, have been displaced. Close to 4 million have been made refugees. And tragically, no resolution is in sight. On the domestic front, Religion News Association (RNA) reports that its member journalists were amazed by the support Donald Trump received from white evangelical Christians in his election as president of the United States. That support was voted the top religion story of 2016 in the RNA’s annual Top 10 Religion Stories of the Year Poll. Trump's election alarmed many on account of comments in which the president-elect vilified Muslims and illegal immigrants and in which white supremacists enthusiastically supported him. But others said they voted for the GOP candidate because of his stances against abortion and illegal immigration and in favor of gun rights and conservative judicial nominations, as well as concerns over the economy and terrorism. In the first reading on the Octave Day of Christmas, Moses is called to speak to the Israelites. The RNA’s “Religion Newsmaker of the Year” honors are shared between Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the Muslim Gold Star parents of U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in Iraq. The Khans were called upon to speak at the Democratic National Convention this July, where they denounced Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the country as unconstitutional. Members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, who gained national attention while protesting a pipeline route through what they consider sacred lands, received honorable mention. This marks the first time in four years that Pope Francis hasn't landed at the top of the newsmaker list. He was voted Newsmaker of the Year three consecutive years beginning in 2013. Francis, however, is still going strong as he celebrated his 80th birthday on December 17. He celebrated the milestone by sharing breakfast with eight homeless people in the Vatican before heading to Mass. Lessons drawn from the readings Perhaps the psalmist says it best on the Octave Day of Christmas: “May God bless us in his mercy. May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us. So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation.” Let us hope and pray that the world might learn the works of salvation and lay aside the works of destruction this coming year. Final thought in light of the news Perhaps our hope and our prayers will be enough to tip the balance toward justice and peace this coming year. As you rejoice, rest, and regroup for a new year over the holidays, spend some time reflecting on small ways you can help tip the balance toward good this coming year. None of us can do everything, but each of us can do something. Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

paris agreement climate change global warming syrian civil war donald trump Pope Francis

Restricted

← Previous 1 2 3 4 Next →