DESPITE the seemingly never-ending spread of COVID-19, summer is lovely, except when the temperature rises and heat invade us. Plants and flowers bloom, and birds keep chirping. And at times, a cool breeze comes in the late evening to refresh us.
I wonder if the rest of the creations are aware of what we human beings go through these days. Do plants and animals see our sufferings and anxieties? Does the wind care of what we go through? Is the ocean deaf to our longing to enjoy its freshness? Do trees notice our tiredness?
We like to think that they are aware of our pains and struggles, as we too empathize with them in their sufferings.
A few days ago, a friend shared with me his loss—his dog just died, and he is in tremendous distress. I called to console him and to sympathize with his sad state. I could hear in his voice how he suffers. And I’m sure his beloved dog understands his owner’s pain.
This Sunday’s reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans (8:18-23) expresses the unity of all creation, particularly in pain. “We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now, and not only that but we, ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.”
Here Paul tells us that human beings are not the only ones who are suffering from the limitations and distresses of life. All creation suffers with us.
This truth is based on the Old Testament conviction that the existence and destiny of creation and humankind are bound together. In Genesis 1, God creates people in his image and gives them responsibility for what happens to the earth. In Romans, Paul preaches that because of Adam’s sins, the earth is subject to “futility.”
Here we find that when humanity disintegrates, the rest of creation suffers too. It’s what Pope Francis contends in his encyclical, Laudate Si. He writes, “The human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together; we cannot adequately combat environmental degradation unless we attend to the causes of related to human and social degradation.” (#48)
This contention brings up the urgent need for solidarity among us, human beings, and the rest of creation, to fight the pandemic. We need to protect one another’s health, mainly if it entails wearing a mask and keeping our distance. We need to adhere to medical experts’ guidance and government leaders in protecting one another against this virus.
We need to root out any division, corruption, indifference, lies, and other ill human behaviors in our fight against this pandemic. For us, Christians, the way to do it is by living the Spirit of the Gospel, which involves love, compassion, service, truth, justice, and peace.
We’ll win this fight against the coronavirus, notably when we embody the Spirit of Christ and the Gospel in our everyday lives!
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Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.
