Text: Mgr Paul Smith at Mass for Laudato Si Animators

Laudato Si Animators with Mgr Paul Smith

Mgr Paul Smith gave this memorable homily at Mass held in the woods, at the end of the Laudato Si' Animators Retreat at the Laudato Si' centre, Salford, on 6 September 2025.

Once upon a time, in a world not very far away, in fact the very common home we inhabit today, walking the same surface as we do, our ancient ancestors roamed this planet.

They beheld the amazing features that they encountered, the earth beneath, the heavens above, the forests around them and the creature-life that inhabited them. And eventually they began to reflect and ask themselves questions - "how, where from, when, why" perennial questions we still ponder on and debate in our own age.

Out of those questions every culture produced stories - myths - as they attempted to answer those questions. Our own scriptures adopted some of them in those first books of the bible. But with a unique slant as they were written after a long history of encounter with and faith in the reality of the God of their (and our) ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To those and others of his People, God had revealed himself in word and in deed.

And so in a very real sense they were led not only to behold the wonder of creation, They realised that "the heavens proclaim the glory of God".

We have come a long way since then and our relationship with the world around us has in recent centuries taken on a darker side and from a sense of wonder and awe has emerged a dysfunctional relationship as we have seen the planet earth as simply a source to be exploited. (not everybody everywhere, however….and certainly hugely affected by the Industrial Revolution)

I have just finished reading the autobiography of Pope Francis and he describes that dysfunctional relationship in quite dramatic words at the beginning of the second chapter….

"Emigration and war are two sides of a single coin. It has been rightly said that the greatest producer of migrants is war - war in one guise or another, since climate change and poverty are, essentially the sick fruit of a blind war that man himself has declared - against a fairer distribution of resources, against nature, against his own planet" - we are far from being at peace with it

Interestingly and appropriately the theme for this year's Season of creation - "Peace with Creation".

These thoughts of Pope Francis are a reflection of many of the themes in Laudato Si, whose tenth anniversary we celebrate this year. And his further thoughts in Laudato Deum where he expressed his frustration that the situation is not getting any better as those with power and influence do not seem to have moved any further forward with policies that will turn our global situation around.(news yesterday of intent to 'drain the North Sea oil'!)

But Pope Francis' reflections are not simply to foster a pragmatic approach to the global crisis, but to give a theological foundation that for us as Christians, underpins our approach and the spirituality that comes from that foundation.

Our readings today give us some insights into the challenge.

Wisdom - the writer challenges the attitudes of those who have not managed to develop their thoughts beyond the conclusion that creation itself is a manifestation of many deities. They are blind to the unique Divinity, the God of our Fathers who has revealed himself to his People.

Maybe this is also a prophetic word that challenges modern day deities - greed, profit, injustice, consumerism, power.

On the other hand our Psalmist makes belief in our unique God of Creation an explicit prayer rejoicing that the heavens proclaim the glory of God.

And Paul takes that a step more - everything is indeed created through and in Christ Jesus. Hence his fingerprint is in all his handiwork and we can see him in it all if we take the time to observe the world around us. He also points to the time when all things will be transformed in the New Creation when "all things will be reconciled through him" the war with creation will come to an end. It perhaps reminds us that whenever we individually or corporately bring about a project of restoration we are not just doing it for the sake of it but we are anticipating this New Creation as well as sowing seeds of hope that our desired "Peace with Creation" will finally become reality.

And Jesus invites us to see in the lilies of the field and the birds of the air an attitude of delight in what is around us that leads us to trust in its beauty and dignity and live in harmony with it. Without these attitudes that grow into a sense of awe and wonder, there is no way we can avoid the temptation of seeing ourselves with an unhealthy sense of having "Dominion over all creatures" - "domineering" - indeed of "tyranny, as Pope Leo describes it, quoting Pope Francis.

This word rather jars for me when used in Eucharistic Prayer 4 that I am using today and it can be an excuse for an unhealthy sense of "domination/domineering" in the sense that we see permission to treat our planet earth, our "Common Home", however we please, as a source to be exploited, whatever the cost in ecological terms, not realising the interconnectedness of all things, the "knock-on effect" of that exploitation, not the least of which is the effects on the poorest of the world.

But in fact the root of the word implies a call to act like the "Dominus", the Lord of Creation, a totally different level of meaning that instills a need for respect and seeking to discern how to relate to and with the creation around us, how to be at peace with it..how to regard it with the eyes of God.

And there is also another dimension underpinning our vision for creation, viz. its destiny and dignity - the "New Creation" when all things will be transformed in Christ and that "War with creation" will find healing and reconciliation.

I was looking at the reflection questions for this gathering and I am sure that in sharing your experiences you will have found great fellowship in doing so and found inspiration for ongoing projects that will sow seeds of peace whichever corner of creation you work in.

...

Questions to reflect on before the day:

What have been your biggest positives since the last time we met together?

What are some of the challenges you face? What are some of the barriers?

What are some of the creative ways / events / resources you have been part of?

Where do you find the beauty of Creator God in urban environments?

Prepare a five-minute talk on good practice you would like to share (optional but please let us know in advance. Please note there are no IT facilities on site.)

"The relationship with myth is always important. It's a way of contemplating that helps us to open our minds to the mystery of reality. And this is why different peoples separated by thousands of years in geography and history sometimes share myths that bear resemblances; the true myth raises deep questions and digs into human experience to reach the essence and the truth."

Pope Francis' Autobiography Hope. Page 45.