Daily Reading: 14 May

(from www.christianaid.org.uk)

Creation day six

Something to read

'And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.’ And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’ So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’ God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.'

- Genesis 1: 24 -31.

Reflect

The reading today depicts the vast array of creatures, including human beings, all sharing a home on Earth. We have seen this in the stories from Kenya as families and their livestock thrive when there is plentiful water. Donkeys have strength to carry water. Goats and cows can provide milk for breakfast, helping children concentrate at school.

Rosalia Kusungo Ndangihi used to walk to collect water from 6am to 6pm, but now it takes her just 30 minutes to reach the nearby dam. She is a climate change champion. She says: ‘We are making ourselves the first on the frontline of climate change. I feel that it’s my earth dam, so I am happy.’

Respond

Water is so essential to life, it is no wonder that Jesus says he is living water and invites whoever thirsts to come to him. (John 4:1-15) We pray that Jesus’ words will speak to the thirsty parts of our soul and our societies.What is this unquenchable thirst that keeps the global economy consuming more and more resources which perpetuate the climate crisis?

Pray that the global economy may stop driving climate change and that, together, we may be able to tackle the roots of inequality, allowing life on Earth to thrive. Take time to reflect on all you have learned about in this devotional. Consider what your action might be in response.

Prayer

Water of life, who quenches all our thirsts,become in us a spring that gushes up to eternal life,flowing through our giving, acting and praying that all may drink deeply from your abundance and all of creation may thrive.Amen.