Reflection on July 21, 1982

https://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/jp2tb85.htm

I think we often think about the redemption of the body, but SJPII talks about the redemption of the whole world, all creatures, nature, etc. I don’t know if I have ever considered that. People talk about the disasters, war, pollution, etc. Sin brought all of that into the world and the world itself will be redeemed at the end of all things. Much like we cannot picture what our redeemed bodies will look like, I don’t think we can really comprehend the redeemed world or what that will look like. I was also thinking about global warming. I am not really a believer that climate change is solely the fault of man and there is evidence that the climate has had dramatic shifts throughout human history and before, so to think that we are totally responsible for any climate fluctuations and that government manipulation of things will automatically stop climate change is not a credible argument. But, when you look at the theological idea that sin was brought into the world, thus creating and affecting the world in a way that distorts it from what it was meant to be and climate change is part of that distortion, then man is fully responsible for climate change, theologically speaking.

SJPII tries to bring the abstract and lofty ideas of redemption down to practical application. The groaning and longing for redemption is our daily living out every day the Hope we have in the redemption. Hope of the redemption is the key, the rock we must cling to. It is not just us awash in sin, but the world which is affected. Our focus must be up, in hope, so we do not lose sight. It reminds me of Peter stepping out of the boat and walking towards Christ on the water. While his eyes were fixed on the Lord, he was fine. Once he took his eyes off the Lord, lost his focus, lost hope, he began to sink. What makes the world so dark these days is the lack of hope. The world is sinking because it has taken its eyes off of Christ. We have taken God out of schools, our of government, out of public, out of sight. Losing sight of God, we have lost our hope. We put our hope in money, in science, in celebrity, in illusions, and we sink because we see the waves, we are full of fear, and we have no Hope. Every day we need to remind ourselves of our redemption, renew our hope, and, like St. Peter, call out to the Lord when we feel ourselves sinking.