Hear the groans of creation – and respond

In this Sunday’s gospel (Mk 7:31–37), we find Jesus healing a deaf man with a speech impediment. With a touch and a word — “Ephphatha,” meaning ‘Be opened’ — Jesus restored the man’s ability to hear and speak clearly.

This miraculous act of healing serves as a powerful metaphor for our relationship with creation and our call to environmental stewardship.

Pope Francis, in his message for last Sunday’s World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation to begin the month-long Season of Creation, echoes this call for openness and action. Under the theme Hope and Act with Creation, he invites believers to listen attentively to the groans of creation and to speak out boldly in its defence.

The Pope draws inspiration from St Paul’s Letter to the Romans, particularly 8:19–25. Here, Paul speaks of creation groaning as it awaits liberation, much like the deaf man in Mark’s Gospel longed for healing. This groaning, Pope Francis explains, is not just an expression of suffering but also of hope—a hope rooted in the promise of God’s redemptive love.

Just as Jesus opened the ears and mouth of the deaf man, we are called to open our hearts and minds to the cry of creation. The Pope reminds us that our faith is not passive but active, “impelled by a desire for love, fraternity, friendship and justice for all.” This faith compels us to dream with our eyes wide open, envisioning and working towards a world where humanity lives in harmony with nature.

Pope Francis emphasises that Christian salvation is not limited to humanity alone but extends to the entire universe. Our common home, the Earth, is meant to be a place of joy and a promise of happiness for all. However, like the man in the gospel who could not fully participate in his community due to his impairment, our planet suffers from the effects of human sin and misuse.

The Pope calls for a “situated anthropocentrism” and a sense of responsibility for “a humane and integral ecology.” This approach recognises humanity’s unique role in creation while averring our duty to care for it.

It’s a delicate balance, much like the gentle touch Jesus used to heal the deaf man—acknowledging our power while using it with compassion and wisdom.

He warns against the arrogance of those who seek to dominate nature, likening it to Adam’s sin that tainted our fundamental relationships with God, ourselves, others, and the universe. Instead, he advocates for the humility of those who care for others and all of creation.

The message also touches on the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI). While recognising the potential benefits, the Pope cautions against unchecked power that could threaten lives and our survival. He calls for ethical limits on AI development, ensuring it serves peace and integral development rather than domination.

Ultimately, Pope Francis reminds us that our hope and action for creation are grounded in love —God’s love for us in Christ. This love, from which nothing can separate us, empowers us to be ‘tillers’ rather than ‘predators’ of the Earth. It motivates us to protect creation not just as an ethical duty but as a profound theological act, recognising the intersection of human and divine mystery in our stewardship of the planet.

As we reflect on the healing in Mark’s Gospel and Pope Francis’ message, we are called to a new openness—to hear the groans of creation, to speak out for its protection, and to act with hope and love.

Like the witnesses to Jesus’ miracle who were “astonished beyond measure,” may we too be moved to amazement at the beauty of creation and inspired to proclaim and preserve its wonder.