On October 4, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. He prayed: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.” Today, this prayer also calls us to make peace with creation.
In today’s fast-paced world, the broken relationship between people and nature is plain to see. Deforestation, pollution, and climate change show the wounds. Reconciling with nature is both an ecological need and a spiritual call. Healing the earth also brings healing to ourselves.
For centuries, people lived close to nature. They learned from its rhythms and drew food, shelter, and wisdom from it. But consumerism and exploitation have weakened this bond. The earth now groans, asking us to return with gratitude, humility, and hope.
Listening to Nature’s Wisdom
Reconciliation goes deeper than activism. It asks us to see our true place in creation. We are not masters. We are fellow creatures with the duty of stewardship.
Pope Francis reminds us in Laudato Si’: “The misuse of creation begins when we no longer recognize any higher instance than ourselves, when we see nothing else but ourselves.” Humility is the first step. Forests, rivers, mountains, and skies hold silent wisdom. When we treat nature as a companion, not a commodity, we begin to heal both the earth and our souls.
From Exploitation to Stewardship
The Bible says God placed humanity “in the garden to till it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15). This is a call to care, not to exploit.
We live this call through daily choices. We can reduce waste, conserve resources, protect biodiversity, and support fair policies. Each action, big or small, helps restore the bond with creation. Pope Francis says this is a cultural, spiritual, and educational challenge. It is a path of renewal.
Gratitude Changes the Heart
Gratitude is the seed of reconciliation. When we see the earth as a gift, we move from ownership to reverence. Forests, rivers, and animals are not things to use. They are companions in life.
“The entire material universe speaks of God’s love,” says Pope Francis. Each sunrise, each bird, and each tree is an invitation to wonder. Gratitude restores our spirits and brings us closer to God.
Conversion and Action
Healing our bond with creation needs both personal change and community effort. Gratitude and humility should shape our choices.
Simple steps matter: reducing plastic, conserving water, planting trees, and choosing simplicity in what we buy. Bigger steps are needed, too, policies that protect people and the planet. Each act is a gesture of reconciliation. Each step turns indifference into care.
Hope for Renewal
Despite the damage, nature shows resilience. Forests can grow again. Rivers can be cleaned. Species can return if given space. This mirrors our faith: new life can rise from brokenness.
“Hope would have us recognize that there is always a way out,” writes Pope Francis in Laudato Si’. Hope commits us to act, to repair, and to build a future where the earth can thrive.
Living in Harmony
To make peace with creation is to make peace with God and with one another. The journey calls for humility, gratitude, and hope. Each small act becomes a seed of harmony.
We rediscover the joy of belonging to creation. We remember our duty to care for our common home.
Here are a few steps we can take:
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Be grateful for nature’s daily gifts.
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Live simply, buy only what is needed.
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Reduce plastic, recycle, and compost.
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Plant trees or care for native plants.
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Respect wildlife and keep natural places clean.
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Support sustainable practices in schools, parishes, and communities.
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Include prayers for creation in worship.
A Prayer for the Earth
Lord, You created the earth in beauty and placed it in our care. Yet we have damaged forests, rivers, and air. Forgive us for forgetting we are part of creation, not above it. Teach us gratitude for every gift. Give us humility to tread lightly. Give us the courage to repair what we have harmed. Renew our hope that healing is still possible. May reconciliation with nature heal both the earth and our hearts. Amen.
(Fr. Ashok Sandil, an Indian Jesuit from Ranchi Province in Jharkhand, holds a doctorate in Computer Science. He writes on a wide range of topics, including computer science, spirituality, leadership, ecology, and more.)
