By Christina Bagaglio Slentz, Ph.D.
Sept. 1, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, begins the Season of Creation, a time when faith leaders around the world direct our collective attention to the care of our common home. The season concludes on Oct. 4, the Feast of St. Francis.
This year’s theme, “Peace with Creation,” draws on Isaiah 32:14-18, in which the prophet laments the desolation brought about by a broken relationship between God and his people. He envisions with hope, however, a Kingdom of Justice, where wilderness becomes a garden land through the outpouring of the Spirit upon the people. In this land, Isaiah proclaims, “The work of justice will be peace; the effect of justice, calm and security forever.”
How does a garden differ from wilderness? What role do people play? What experience do people have in the wilderness vs. a garden? Where do we find peace?
Seeds of peace and hope
In his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, “Seeds of Peace and Hope,” Pope Leo XIV contemplates Isaiah’s words.
He explains that our prayerful “determination and concrete actions” are necessary for the world to experience God’s love as spoken to humanity through the material universe. He cites Pope Francis’ description of this loving revelation as a “caress of God.” Pope Leo argues Isaiah’s message is timely, as environmental degradation and conflict in our material world evidence a grave shortfall in our work for justice.
He writes, “On all sides, injustice, violations of international law and the rights of peoples, grave inequalities and the greed that fuels them are spawning deforestation, pollution and the loss of biodiversity. Extreme natural phenomena caused by climate changes provoked by human activity are growing in intensity and frequency (cf. ”Laudato Deum,” 5), to say nothing of the medium- and long-term effects of the human and ecological devastation being wrought by armed conflicts.”
Here we see the difference between a garden and wilderness. In a garden, people act as co-creators, working in right relationship — justly — with God’s creation to bring about peace and harmony with nature. By contrast, in the wilderness, people are often depicted in competition with nature and lacking a relationship with creation — in a “nasty and brutish” state of nature, void of peace. Pope Leo challenges us to see our role in transforming wilderness into garden land by working for justice. As Christ becomes the grain of wheat that dies to bring forth our salvation, we are called to be and to sow seeds of peace and hope, transforming the wilderness of this world into God’s Kingdom of Peace.
Gardens of peace in our diocese
In our community, several groups are sowing seeds of peace and hope. In May, at St. Michael’s School in Poway, high-schoolers worked with kindergarteners planting native and pollinator-friendly plants in their Mary Garden. Within days, monarch caterpillars took to the milkweed, formed chrysalides, and hatched after about a week. As U.S. Fish & Wildlife considers the monarch a threatened species, this action sows important seeds of hope, recognizing the world depends on pollinators.
At Notre Dame Academy, first-grade teacher Jacquelyn Scott and her students put faith into action, weeding untended beds and restoring them with rich, organic potting soil and low-drought plants. Helped by a parent landscaper and volunteers who dug the holes, this intergenerational action shows determination, planting a love for God’s creation in the hearts of our little ones.
At Kairos House, where formerly incarcerated men live in Christian community as they transition to life outside of prison, residents have planted trees and a vegetable garden where the property was previously wild and unkempt. This work of restorative justice has transformed the yard into a peaceful gathering space, with shaded seating and flourishing citrus trees of every flavor. Families can now visit and enjoy cookouts featuring herbs and fresh greens from the garden.
Grow your garden this season!
This Season of Creation, how might you sow seeds of peace and hope, working for justice in our world? Deepen your sense of ecological spirituality by attending our Season of Creation Mass with Bishop Ramón Bejarano on Sept. 20 at 4:30 p.m.
Parishes, schools and families are especially encouraged to explore our electronic resource folder at bit.ly/SOC25eFolder, where you will find:
- Bulletin inserts
- Creation Care Prayers of the Faithful
- Lesson plans for the Feast of St. Francis
- “Laudato Si” foundational materials and more
Learn more by participating in our community read, “What Does the Bible Say About Creation?” by Father David G. Monaco, CP, which we will discuss over Zoom on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.
This and other events, such as those shown in the green box, are listed on our Creation Care landing page, bit/ly/SDCCPage.
As always, reach out to Christina Slentz at cslentz@sdcatholic.org for more information.
