Living Laudato Si’
Jane Mellett
Last month we saw one of the world’s biggest cargo ships, the Ever Given, get stuck in the Suez Canal. While this event provided much needed light relief in the form of many memes floating around social media, it also highlighted some pretty startling statistics. The ship had 20,000 forty-foot containers on board, transporting foods, machinery, cars, garments and lots more consumer goods. Approximately 370 ships were blocked from travelling up and down the canal, a traffic jam to beat all traffic jams. It was also an expensive traffic jam! About 12% of global trade passes through the canal each day. According to news reports, the blockage was holding up over $9 billion (€7.66 billion) of trade each day. No doubt, some of the trade on these ships are essential items, but we know that much of it springs from out-of-control consumerism. So as consumers we are left with questions about what we really need and where it comes from. That was the take away from the Suez Canal debacle for me. Do we absolutely need to order an item from the other side of the world to satisfy a momentary craving? Laudato Si’ invites us to reflect on many things, but a throwaway culture and unbridled consumerism is a recurring theme: “A constant flood of new consumer goods can baffle the heart and prevent us from cherishing each thing and each moment” (LS, 222).
It is really important that we include in our spiritual practice, reflections on our relationship with God’s creation. As we enter into examining our conscience on certain issues can we include a reflection such as: “I ask God for the grace to look closely to see how my life choices impact creation, the poor and vulnerable. What challenges or joys do I experience as I recall my care for creation? How can I turn away from a throwaway culture and instead stand in solidarity with creation and the poor?” This is not just an exercise for Lent, but part of a profound interior conversion that we are called to as Christians so that we can walk more gently on this earth.
Laudato Si’ invites us to celebrate the ‘little ways of love’, embracing small actions on a daily basis that can help live more in harmony with creation. One very simple action that Pope Francis suggests is reintroducing grace before meals in our families: “That moment of blessing, however brief, reminds us of our dependence of God for life; it strengthens our feeling of gratitude for the gifts of creation; it acknowledges those who by their labours provide us with these goods and reaffirms our solidarity with those in greatest need.” (LS, 227)
As we celebrate this Easter season we are invited to transformation. Can we create anew our relationship with creation and encourage our families and parishes to do the same?
Jane Mellett is the Laudato Si’ officer with Trócaire
