Faith in a Time of Pandemic – The Earth Belongs to God

LVIII
The Earth Belongs to God
(6/13)
The Earth is God’s and all that is in it; the world and those who live in it. (Psalm 24:1)

In a time of pandemic, it is important to remember who’s ultimately in charge of the universe and to whom our ultimate allegiance belongs. It’s important to place our challenges within the larger perspective of God’s presence in the created order – the earth, sky, land, and sea, the flora and fauna, ponds, rivers, lakes, human and non-human life. We are all part of a larger ecology which gives birth to all things.

We need to remember that our ultimate loyalty is to God and to sustaining God’s good earth. Created a little lower than the divine, our calling is to nurture our planet. It is to care for our world today and for future generations of human and non-human life.
The pandemic is real and we must do all we can to mitigate it through safe behaviors, vaccines, and cures. But, the pandemic is one of many realities we face each day. Let us remember that we live in a wonderful God-created world, that everything reveals God’s wisdom and that everything is intended to guide us toward spiritual and relational wholeness.

Let us give thanks for the blessings of the earth and in turn bless our planet by living more simply, treasuring all God’s children, and working to heal the earth.
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Thank you for this beautiful planet. Help us to be gardeners and nurturers of creation, giving life and hope to all creation by acts of compassion and care for our time and future generations. Amen.

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Bruce Epperly is a Cape Cod pastor, professor, and author of over 50 books including FAITH IN A TIME OF PANDEMIC, GOD ONLINE: A MYSTIC’S GUIDE TO THE INTERNET and the upcoming HOPE BEYOND PANDEMIC.