Fast for Mother Earth: A Holy Week sacrifice

I was glad to have tuned in to Sining Gising, an NCCA TV show on NBN 4 for its Palm Sunday observance that featured a special message of reflection from his Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales supporting a new values orientation program “Fast for Mother Earth.” This was initiated by the Earthsavers Movement founded by former Senator Heherson T. Alvarez now President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Adviser on Global Warming and Climate Change. “Fast for Mother Earth” is a different kind of penitence that highlights the need for man to control wastes in dumpsites including dirty and contaminated water coming from homes and industries which are leftovers of the inordinate appetite of our modern communities. Alvarez stressed that a withdrawal from our wasteful consumption habits, a cutback of a meal a day, could provide some relief for our beleaguered environment and drive home the point that the solution to the degradation of our environment would be the disciplined use of energy like electricity and vehicle fuel, water and food, forest and all other resources.

As we recall the agony, death and resurrection of Christ this Holy Week, the world is in the midst of suffering with the global economic meltdown and climate change. The Cardinal wisely recalls for us “that the resources on earth are limited. It might be unimaginable for some but even that drop of water is all numbered.”  He warns us that time will come, if we do not take care of our resources, one day we will face the blatant truth of the rage of nature getting back at mankind. He stated further, “We all know that we have only one world which God created for our abode, our home on earth. Man’s abuse of the earth’s resources has resulted to poverty, climate change, damaging typhoons and desertification, lack of water and many other difficulties”. 

The Cardinal effectively points out — a reasonable solution — Respect and Love for Mother Earth by abstinence and casting of the bad habit of over-consumption. He advises us to be judicious and sparing in the use of our resources when so many more people are in need. We must engender the heart of compassion. Like a teacher, Cardinal Rosales reminds us “that God made us on this Earth, God knows that if we live here as his guests, we must behave. We must take care of our home. We don’t see any other place in space where man could live. Let us not waste this blessing. We have to fast for Mother Earth: pag-ayuno sa mga yaman na hindi naman natin sukat kailangan, iyong sobrang biyaya na ibininigay ng lupa ay ipagpabukas natin upang anihin naman ng iba. Ito po ang hinihingi natin-iyung hindi aksayang paggamit ng yaman ng kalikasan.” His Eminence is a unique Servant of God known for his concern for the environment even as he was shepherding his flock in Mindanao several years ago.

We are very appreciative of the Cardinal’s leadership for the partnership of the church with government in undertaking a common cause of earth survival and profiling climate change solutions — this year’s Earth Day theme. We also commend Secretary Alvarez for his perseverance in focusing on caring and protecting the environment as a right to life issue. Fast for Mother Earth started almost 17 years ago. Now, with a strong push from the church, a cultural earth-saving initiative can likewise take its place as a tradition in commemorating Semana Santa. Cultural traditions linked to our observance of Holy Week have prevailed and have even become tourist attractions just as the Oberamergau passion play in Germany. Marinduque has the Moriones Festival, there is the yearly sight in the streets of the flagellants in Pampanga, the 105-year old Senakulo in Cainta, Rizal, the culturally diverse manifestations of Salubong in Bohol’s parishes and the Pabasa that has been specially nurtured by the community in Bulacan and in many homes all over the country hosted by families as their panata, the symbol of our contrition and penance as well as gratitude for God’s gift of love to save us from the curse of sin.

Let us all offer our personal sacrifice by Fasting for Mother Earth: Buy less, re-use in creative ways, recycle and compost, save and contribute to Pondo Pinoy to support the various social projects of the church for the poor which would include environmentally linked livelihood opportunities. Let us all be part of the revival and resurrection of our dying Mother Earth.