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Water of Life for Creations that Thirst Professor Dr. Matthew Koshy Punnackad The Church of South India “To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life” (Revelation 21:6) Opening prayer Lord, help us to honour the intrinsic value of water, the purpose of water, how it has been connected with all things in nature, and to hear the voice of water. Lord forgive us, if we have negated the divine blessing of Water. Let your heavenly blessing – the Water of Life – flow abundantly to quench the thirst of all. Amen. Many wars of the 20th century were fought for oil. Wars of the 21st century will be fought for water. In 2016, three hundred and thirty million people, more than a quarter of India’s population, were hit by drought. High temperatures plagued almost all parts of India, with scores of deaths reported from heatstroke. This year, temperatures have risen earlier than normal, increasing concerns about the rising death toll. The whole creation has been groaning for water due to desertification, which is an irreversible process. Migration of poor people and wild animals is now common. The people of India who are vulnerable to the effects of climate change have done the least to cause it. Because climate change is a global phenomenon, we are asking developed countries to stop the morally wrong and misguided development paradigm they are following. We think globally and act locally. Locally, we fight against those who raze the hills, destroy wetlands, and clear the forests, while ignoring the sanctity of those same hills, wetlands and forests which are the storehouses of water. We are networking with other environmental NGOs who resist development activities that disturb the rhythm of nature. Recently, we declared our solidarity with an agitation against the construction of an airport on 2.8 km2 of land. We declared that we do not need an airport by denying the basic right of water to the eighty percent of people of that area. Due to this mass agitation of the people, the government had to abandon their “development project.” In addition, we are promoting rain water harvesting in each of our parishes to preserve and enhance the groundwater table; and we are propagating a wonderful plant, Vetiver, which is a very effective means of soil and water conservation, sediment control, land stabilization and rehabilitation, and phyto-remediation. The Holy Bible assigns attributes of divinity to water by relating it to Yahweh, God, heaven, and even Jesus himself. Innocent Jesus, who was persecuted and crucified by the people with vested economic and political interests, said, “I am thirsty.” The meaning is symbolic, but it also speaks clearly and directly. The innocent poor people of India and other living beings are suffering due to scarcity of water, which is one direct and terrible result of climate change. Like Jesus two thousand years ago, they are now saying, “We are thirsty.” “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink…” (John 7:37). Divine blessings are showered upon all creatures on this Earth, and it is the right of living beings to get the heavenly gift of water – abundantly. That is why Revelation states that “to the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life” (not only to human beings, but to all creations that thirst). The Church must resist investing in unethical human activities and unjust development paradigms. Both go against the rhythm of nature. Instead, we must collaborate with God for the redemption of nature. As we go forth in Christ, let us remember that water is a divine blessing to be treasured, to be shared with all of creation and all generations to come Questions for Reflection How do you feel about water as a reason for going to war? Would you be willing to share limited water supplies, if a neighboring community had no water? An executive of a large multi-national corporation has said that water is a right, but not a free good. What do you think he might mean? Could the same principle apply to the air we breathe? Recommended Resources For further reading and study on conditions of ongoing drought and the water crisis in India, – as well as responses by the church: https://www.google.co.in/search?q=drought+in+india+2016&espv=2&biw=1600&bih=775&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiAy_Cyla_OAhVKtY8KHdF0BEwQsAQIGg India’s Severe Drought Causing Havoc http://www.ndtv.com/topic/india-drought?browserpush=true http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/india-facing-its-worst-water-crisis-ever-himanshu-thakkar-116051400704_1.html Earth Bible Sermons (three volumes 2015, 2016) edited by Dr. Mathew Koshy Punnackad, published by CSI & ISPCK www.ispck.org.in Water struggle (2007) edited by V. J. John, published by Bishop’s College, Kolkata/ISPCK www.ispck.org.in

The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. —John 6:51 Jesus the Christ did not talk in this truly shocking way (see John 6:60) so we could worship bread and wine. He came so that we would recognize his presence in all things, not just in the human body of Jesus, not just in the human body of God’s people (1 Corinthians 12:12ff), but even in the nurturing elements of the earth, symbolized by the  food of bread and wine (1 Corinthians 11:23ff), and therefore to the very edges of creation (Romans 8:19). From the way we treat the planet, other humans, and sometimes even ourselves, it seems we don’t understand or really believe this. When you don’t recognize that the Christ Mystery is universal, that God is present in—and is saving—all of creation, you can choose what you respect and what you disrespect, what you love and what you hate. t. The  Baltimore Catechism answered the sixteenth question, “Where is God?” quite clearly: “God is everywhere.” So the challenge is – as we come from the Eucharist and our holy meal of bread and wine, what message do we bring to the food or snacks we serve after Church? Is it honouring to God to serve sugary junk food or drinks in non-recyclable Styrofoam cups? Our service of food should be as honouring to God as the service of the Eucharist. In our serving of snacks or food after church we have the opportunity to be role models, challenging the prevalence of junk foods in society, by modelling healthy organic foods that are of benefit to our bodies and the planet.   Adapted from Richard Rohr

If you would learn more, ask the cattle, Seek information from the birds of the air. The creeping things of earth will give you lessons, And the fishes of the sea will tell you all. There is not a single creature that does not know That everything is of God’s making. God holds in power the soul of every living thing, And the breath of every human body. —Book of Job 12:7-10 [1] From the beginning of the Bible to the end, it is clear that a loving God includes all of creation in God’s Kingdom. In the Genesis story, God’s love, beauty, and goodness overflow into creation; and all creatures, including humans, are living peacefully in God’s presence. Isaiah prophesies the “peaceable kingdom” to come (11:1-9; 65:17-25). In Revelation, John hears “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe” giving God “blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13). Finally, John sees “a new heaven and a new earth” (21:1) and the Bible ends with a new garden, complete with “the river of life-giving water” and “the tree of life” (22:1-2). God shows authentic and primal concern for all animals by directing Noah to take a male and female of every species onto the ark (see Genesis 7:2-3) to be saved. After the flood, God makes a covenant, not just with people but with all of creation: “God said: ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I am making between me and you and every living creature with you for all ages to come: I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth’” (Genesis 9:12-13, emphasis mine). Our current methods of commercial animal farming are damaging to the environment as well as cruel  to animals. One way of reducing your meat consumption is to return to the traditional Lenten practice of eating fish on a Friday. But do please make sure that it is a sustainable fish that you choose. For example here is the list of sustainable fish for South Africa: http://wwfsassi.co.za/sassi-list/ If you google sustainable fish for your country you can see which fish is endangered and avoid buying that.   Meditation adapted from Richard Rohr

Genesis 25:34 “Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way.” In order to avoid devastating climate change it is important that we curb the world’s huge and increasing appetite for meat. The global livestock industry produces more greenhouse gas emissions than all cars, planes, trains and ships combined, but a worldwide survey finds twice as many people think transport is the bigger contributor to global warming. “Preventing catastrophic warming is dependent on tackling meat and dairy consumption, but the world is doing very little,” said Rob Bailey, the report’s lead author. “A lot is being done on deforestation and transport, but there is a huge gap on the livestock sector. There is a deep reluctance to engage because of the received wisdom that it is not the place of governments or civil society to intrude into people’s lives and tell them what to eat.” The recent landmark report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that dietary change can “substantially lower” emissions but there is no UN plan to achieve that. We can all do our bit to help by including more beans and pulses into our diet – sharing recipes, influencing others. Eating less meat also reduces heart disease and cancer. What’s not to like?? Reference https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/dec/03/eating-less-meat-curb-climate-change