Day 20: Water Pollution Requires Prophetic Solutions
Harmful algae bloom in Lake Erie. Photo Credit: T. Archer//flickr
In today’s first reading, and throughout scripture, water is symbolic of the power of God’s grace to heal and give new life.
But water pollution and scarcity impact the survival of nearly a billion people worldwide. In the US, many take for granted that water will be there whenever we turn on the tap. Can we still make these assumptions when tension exists between individual and business water needs due to drought in California or when fertilizer run-off pollutes drinking water in Des Moines, Iowa and Toledo, Ohio?
In today’s Gospel, Jesus acknowledges the difficulty of being a prophetic voice in your own home. This resonates deeply as I think about the changes we need to make in the way we live in the U.S. to preserve and share God’s Creation for all. Protecting the human right to clean and accessible water will not be easy and it is only one piece of the climate change puzzle. Loved ones and friends might want to drive of us out of town or worse, like the people of Nazareth did to Jesus. God grant us the courage to find our prophetic voice to respond to climate change.
Reflection questions:
- In what ways has water been a sacred part of your life?
- What’s holding you back from being a prophetic voice on climate change?
Nick Napolitano is the assistant for social ministries for the Maryland and USA Northeast Provinces of the Society of Jesus. His wife Michelle and daughters Grace and Hannah live in the Bronx.
Nick is the assistant for social ministries for the Maryland and USA Northeast Provinces of the Society of Jesus. His wife Michelle and daughters Grace and Hannah live in the Bronx.
Nick:
I would suggest that the “human right to clean and accessible water” is a right that all flora and fauna should have.
Jim
True ! Water pollution can certainly affect our lives so i guess something needs to be done regarding this matter.