Like Christmas, “Nature is Sacred”

This November 28thmessage of Aida Granert of Soil and Water Conservation came to mind last Tuesday morning, December 17, after we received this urgent message:

“This is an emergency report from a friend who passed by Balud, San Fernando. Gipamutol kuno ang mga acacia canopy karon lang gyud.

Human na sila pamutol.

Ang century old nga acacia sa Sibonga giputol pod nila, sa Sabang. Wala kabalo ang community. Esp kay di na sila mag butang og marks”.

We immediately forwarded this urgent message to DENR-7 Regional Director Melicor who immediately replied –“thanks.”

We have yet to receive from their office about who authorized the cutting.

Dr. Ernesto Militante, our tree specialist and tree surgeon, promptly asked; “Whose jurisdiction are these trees? Need to make a report with documentation.”

A partner who campaigned vs tree-cutting in Poro readily asked what they could do to help.

Another partner also sent updates that they were waiting for photos and videos of the said tree cutting to share with all concerned partners.

This Thirdweek of Advent is supposed to symbolize joy, right?

How can the Church rejoice when there are those out to continue to destroy God’s creations, our earth, our common home – the message and call of Laudato Si?

How can we rejoice when we know there are those busy cutting the trees?

Why?

Because their projects have deadlines to keep, so their project budget will be released sooner?

Because they believe that Pope Francis’ Laudato Si is intended anyway, not for them, but only for limited few interested, concerned, committed Church officials and followers?

Because “NATURE IS SACRED” only for a few, not them?

God’s earth is certainly not sacred for those who worship gold and power - for those who think road building and the budget for infra-projects are far more important than the budget for Filipino people’s health and education.

Why do we allow others, to use the words of Aida Granert, “topollute air/water, todecapitate mountains to build a house with a beautiful view, to cuthighways through forests to create short cuts, to hamper bees/butterflies’ ability to find/pollinate flowers with herbicides/ insecticides, to dis-embowel the earth to mine precious metals and carelessly leave it without any rehabilitation process?”

If those who authorize the tree-cutting and the desecration of God’s earth think they can get away with their ways, we are sure/reassured that, in God’s time and way, God will make them realize that He never sleeps, that Hisdivine justice is alive.

And so let us proceed remembering the reason for this Season.

Let us look back to the First Advent Sunday’s message of hope in Jeremiah’s words:“In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land.”

Let us recall the Second Advent Sunday’s message of faith and this Song of Zechariah inLuke 1:“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David.”

Let us claim this Third Advent message of joy inIsaiah 12:2-6:

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. In that day you will say: Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”