A Blessed and Ominous Friday

 O Most High, all-powerful, good Lord God,

to you belong praise, glory,
honour and all blessing.
Be praised, my Lord, for all your creation
and especially for our Brother Sun,
who brings us the day and the light;
he is strong and shines magnificently.
O Lord, we think of you when we look at him.
Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Moon,
and for the stars
which you have set shining and lovely
in the heavens.
Be praised, my Lord,
for our Brothers Wind and Air
and every kind of weather
by which you, Lord,
uphold life in all your creatures.

from the Canticle of Creation -- St Francis of Assisi

This morning Roman Catholics around the world are invited to participate in an online event to celebrate the ways in which they have responded to the challenge the late Pope Francis made to all Christians, those of other faiths, and all people of good will to care for the planet. This is the 10th anniversary of his encyclical Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home. While I won't join the event I am grateful for the legacy of both Saint Francis and Pope Francis and for all those who have responded during this decade. No doubt there is a tone of celebration and trepidation today. 

The lead on the CBC hourly news early this morning was the wildfires raging across the country resulting in evacuations and states of emergency in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Large areas of Canada are tinder dry and the beginning of wildfire season so early is unprecedented and almost certainly a result of climate change. While politicians are again pushing a fossil fuel agenda to strengthen our sovereignty and boost the Canadian economy we are literally going up in smoke. We are facing a moral, spiritual, and economic crisis and we must pray and act for the health and well-being of Creation.

Yesterday I went on a road trip with my brother  to visit an amazing guy, 95-years-old, who we've known since childhood. Jim was a water bomber pilot for decades and had adventures across Canada as well as seven other countries around the world. I kidded him that Manitoba was looking for pilots to fight the fires and he reminded us that he continued to qualify to fly until he was 87. We chatted about the extent of wildfires across the continent as a grim reality of our times. 

At the end of our visit I offered to pray, and he accepted readily. It was a tender moment and now I wonder if I should have included the safety of those who are being displaced and those who are responding to these conflagrations. 

I hope that there are plenty of points of light in today's Laudato Si event despite the ominous realities unfolding in so many places. 

Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Water,
who is very useful to us,
and humble and precious and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, for Brother Fire,
through whom you give us light in the darkness:
he is bright and lively and strong.
Be praised, my Lord,
for Sister Earth, our Mother,
who nourishes us and sustains us,
bringing forth
fruits and vegetables of many kinds
and flowers of many colours.
Be praised, my Lord,
for those who forgive for love of you;
and for those
who bear sickness and weakness
in peace and patience
- you will grant them a crown.
Be praised, my Lord, for our Sister Death,
whom we must all face.
I praise and bless you, Lord,
and I give thanks to you,
and I will serve you in all humility.