Ecological Conversion

By Richard Arnold – Working for Justice Panel Member

Mary responded generously and extravagantly to God’s love shown in Jesus’ healing of her brother Lazarus.

In 2022 Australia, God’s love is generously extended to all Australians by those who crafted the Statement from the Heart. This is a generous invitation to Walk Together and seek healing and wholeness and a better future for all Australians. Within this invitation is a call to care for the land. To live out a sovereign duty to ensure that the land is passed on to the next generation in a way that sustains the rich tapestry of life.

How are we to respond to this invitation?

At Brunswick Uniting Church in inner Melbourne, we acknowledge country with the following words: “We acknowledge and respect the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, the traditional custodians of this land since time immemorial. We are learning that the land is not ours to own, but to look after; and that if we listen, we may hear in it the calling of the eternal Spirit.”

We can respond to the generous invitation by listening - to become still and quiet and hear the calling of the eternal spirit, hear God’s voice. When we do stop and listen we cannot help, like Mary, to respond generously and extravagantly - and return the love showered on us by God’s wonderful creation by caring deeply for it. In this way we experience what Pope Francis calls an “ecological conversion”.

In 2022 the imperative is to contain global warming which is impacting climate change. Zero emissions by 2050 is far too late. We must strive for zero emissions by 2035.

It is not always easy to change our consumption habits or challenge others to do this and to cease their use of fossil fuels. But if we allow ourselves to listen, to turn around, to experience ecological conversion, we will not be able to resist pouring out our love through generous and extravagant actions to reduce our carbon footprint for the sake of God’s wonderful creation.