As I reflect on today’s readings, especially in Isaiah, I see God, truly as part of ebb and flow of life and all that has existence.

The Sacred is deep within each of us. We are called to live it. The world around us is filled with the Beauty and the richness of the earth, which day by day sustains us.

We are called to make friends with the earth, as the way to a new social order and ecological justice.

Are we really conscious of the fact that we are interconnected with all the species in the earth?? -- all part of the stardust of the first galaxies.

I love that saying: “We are always at home but never alone!”

The Ephesians readings tell us, also, to be fully present to the Sacredness and mystery of life – to rediscover the fire in our lives.

Creation is the love act of God and love requires love. The Sacred is found in everyday life – especially in our loving.

Our ability to know and love and sing about the great mystery of God within the earth is part of our dignity as images of God.

We can now look more deeply into the story of the human, not as rulers of creation, but as partners and co-creators with God in the continual unfolding of the mystery that is all around.

Perhaps, at this moment in history, Jesus is telling us to stand up and be counted – live with the mystery and the unanswered questions. In time perhaps we will live on into the answers.

Remember the Ecological crisis we have today is of our doing. Brought about by us thinking we owned the Earth, instead of the earth owning us.

Before it is too late, we need to stretch back the boundaries of our comfort zone – to take action and search for a common ground.

Too late, we’ve learned – more consumerism – more garbage. We hope that the one question our future children and grandchildren will not ask us is: “How did you let this happen -- the destruction of God’s earth?”

When we honour the aspirations of the heart, we rediscover the God of the Universe and recover a hope-filled future.

If we could view cosmology through the lens of the Incarnation, we would see that, while something is always dying, at the same time something is being born. Look around these grounds and see the regenerative powers of the earth in operation. When we experience these signs as Sacramental moments they become a source of hope, so badly needed in our world today.

I have heard someone say “Hope is the oxygen of the soul.”
We know we cannot live without it.

When I look out over this glorious view of ours, here as I have done so many times during the lat 60 years, I know my love for Creation started here at Maryholme.

As the Isaiah reading says “You shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace.” That is what Maryholme has done for me and I’m sure for many others who have come here. On this day we should be filled with gratitude to God for sharing His beautiful earth with us for these 60 years.