Introduction:
Welcome to the Lenten Lantern Session 2: Last week we have dealt with
the theme “Lent to Love”. Today’s theme is “Emit Faith, Limit
Carbon.” Since lent is associated with abstinence, self denial, we
often ask: “What should I give up for lent? Chicken or Chocolate? I
have asked a couple of my friends as to why they were fasting? The
answer was the same: “to reduce my weight.” The focus is on self
not on the Saviour’s Sacrifice. So for this week, I would like to
change the question: “What should I take up this lent?” For some
the answer might be the same, but for me, changing the question has
shifted my perspective, as to how I observe lent. In this sermon, I
would like to appeal to all of us to take up “Carbon fast” this
week, so I shall be focusing my reflection on how to ‘emit faith,
limit carbon.’
What
is carbon fast for lent? Carbon fast is a challenge we need to take
up to reduce the use of carbon based fuels, which contribute for
climate change. Materials such as oil, gas and coal are considered to
be fossil fuels, which are non-renewable. They not only pollute the
air but also release/emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which
is called greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Most
often when we talk about ‘climate change’, ‘global warming’,
‘carbon footprints’, we hardly do anything. But just by doing
some simple things, we would be able to discover a renewed
relationship with God, human beings and with the whole of Creation.
Light
in the darkness of lent
Soon
after my BD, I was posted in a village called Dudgaon, wherein there
is no power supply for at least 8 hours during the day, throughout
the year. In this particular village they had a very peculiar
practice, which is called ‘Oru Chikati’ meaning ‘Village
in darkness’. Every month, one night the village authorities used
to observe ‘Oru Chikati’ wherein the whole village would
be in darkness; I don’t know the reasons for this observance but
certainly there is something we can learn from this practice.
There
is a need to hear the voices of the indigenous people, dalits,
tribals, adivasi and through them hear the voice of mother earth and
all of God’s creation in our theology in order to go forward in a
more Earth-centered way. Due to globalization and technological
advancement, there has been an increasing alienation of human culture
from the rest of Creation. We are becoming unmindful of the people
living in darkness. But it is in darkness that we meet Jesus on the
cross of Calvary. The last three hours of Jesus’ sacrificial death
on the cross, there was a preternatural darkness as documented by the
Gospel writers Matthew, Mark and Luke and also confirmed by
extra-biblical historians: Thallus, Phelgon, and Africanus. In the
midst of such deep darkness, there was Jesus, the light of the world,
suffering in solidarity with the marginalized and groaning creation.
As we journey through this year’s lent, we need to realize that
Jesus meets us in darkness and makes it possible to recognize him in
each other and across space and time. In a season of the year, when
the darkness of night falls early, often that recognition is a
reminder that Jesus, the light of the world, illumines us in
darkness. The hymn writer George Bernard in the hymn “On a Hill far
away” puts it beautifully: “for the dear Lamb of God left his
glory above, to bear it to dark Calvary.” We need to live in
darkness if we want to live in solidarity with the people on the
margins, the poor and the groaning creation.
On a
lighter note, there is a romantic side to this slogan. (Sorry to talk
about romance during lent). In fact, just like this ‘candle light
service’, you can have ‘candle light dinner’ with your
spouse/friend during this week/lent. You will not only save energy
but also live more smartly. Practically, we need to switch off the
lights when not required. The more we reduce our energy consumption,
the more we can save and live more smartly.
Love
your world for it is good.
Archbishop
Desmond Tutu says, “Love the world just as much as God does...”
As Christians the important aspect of our practical life is to love
God and love our neighbours. Sallie Mc Fague, in her book “Super
Natural Christians” states that we need to extend this love to the
natural world. Because this idea of loving nature goes beyond
stewardship of the natural world as a resource; we value something
because of its usefulness but we need to value the earth not because
of its usefulness but value as something that, in and of itself, is
good. We need to echo the words of our Creator, “it is good”, not
because of its usefulness but because ‘it is good.’ “God so
loved the world” not because we are useful or significant. God
loved us just as we are and gave Her only Son to die for us and for
all the world. Let us therefore, love our world, the cosmos not
because it is useful or resourceful but because it is good. During
lent Jesus challenges us to love unconditionally and inspires us, as
people of faith, to create a society where all can enjoy earth’s
resources and also care for all creation.
Ignite
your Creed, limit Carbon footprints
What
does it mean to ignite our creed? “Creed’ from Latin ‘credo’
“I believe’, is a statement of beliefs which every Christian
ought to be able to accept and be bound by, says Alister Mc Grath.
Does our belief system accept earth spirituality as an important
aspect of our creed? There is ecological bankruptcy in our
spirituality. During this lent we need to enter into a spiritual
discipline of fasting from carbon. We are invited to make ecological
audit of our lives and see whether we are able to emit our faith and
limit carbon footprints.
We
need to begin to conserve fossil fuels by changing our lifestyle
creed. For example, we can reduce our petrol consumption, avoid using
plastic covers, because plastic does not break down easily and its
use is also harmful because when it gets in contact with heat it
produces chemicals which cause 52 types of cancer. All these are
overtly spiritual in the more usual sense that people understand the
word: meditation, prayer, self-reflection. The intention is to
practically do certain simple things that make a difference in this
world; and also empower to challenge ourselves to do more.
Most
of the time, we are unmindful of what we are doing and the impact it
has on the environment. Lent is the perfect time to think and take up
a new practice and develop it into a new habit, which would benefit
the earth. Therefore, this week let us take up Carbon fast as a
spiritual discipline as it gives us the opportunity to live in closer
harmony with God and with all of God’s creation. Jesus challenges
us to live in the darkness of lent, to live in solidarity with the
poor and groaning creation; love the earth for it is good; and ignite
our creed and limit carbon footprints
Moses S. Bollam
MTh I
Moses S. Bollam
MTh I
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