Reflection
In today’s first reading, St. Paul tells the Christians in Corinth that they are “spiritual babies” as long as they try to take credit for what only God can do:
…neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth.
— 1 Corinthians 3:7
And then St. Paul gave the Corinthians a challenge to humbly join their human efforts with divine efforts, having faith in God’s Spirit working within each one of them as the foundation of their community:
For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
— 1 Corinthians 3:9
St. Paul wrote to address his concerns about problems in first century Greece (Corinth); and yesterday, Pope Leo wrote a letter to the entire world about his concerns. The letter is for the World Day of Creation, which starts the Season of Creation (September 1st to October 4th). In his message, Pope Leo deplored the results of war:
the interaction between armed conflicts and environmental degradation often creates a vicious cycle, which destroys ecosystems, contaminates essential resources, such as air and water, and undermines food security. This fuels poverty, inequality, and new social tensions that can contribute to the emergence of further conflicts.
What is more, Pope Leo continued,
war creates wounds that damage the whole fabric of life and reveals a deeper failure to live in God’s image and likeness, to respect life and to care for the Earth entrusted to us.
Like St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians, Pope Leo calls us to use our gifts to build God’s kingdom:
Let us imagine a world in which the energies currently invested in war are directed toward integral human development, to overcoming poverty, protecting human dignity and reconciling divided peoples. Such a vision reflects faith in the coming of God’s Kingdom.
And like St. Paul, Pope Leo challenges us to be co-workers (collaborators) with God in this immense task, moving forward in humility and faith:
If we take up this task with humility and faith, we will become collaborators in God’s work of renewal. We will move, slowly but surely, from desert to garden, from division to communion, and from violence to peace.
[Pope Leo quotations are taken from: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/messages/creation/documents/20260815-messaggio-giornata-curacreato.html]
