September 12.    GO GREEN, GROW GREEN.  (From Becoming Eco-Friendly Families)  If a teacher at school asks, “Who here considers themselves green, or is going and growing green?”  What answers would she get?  Do young people understand what going green is better than adults in families?  It is growing to be more environmentally friendly, making efforts to protect and build rather than destroy the earth. The ideal was adopted about 50 years ago and is presented in documents such as the 2000 Earth Charter.  Some social or church programmes promote “Greening the parish” by using plants and trees to beautify the setting, keeping the area clean and using solar heating and water harvesting.  So are you a greenie?  Do you ever think of seeing this in relation to the Tree of Life and the Cross?

Going green’s 10 points for you to check your attitudes.  Ask, “Do I: …..”

  • Praise and thank God for the gift of his creation.
  • Lobby and vote with your mark and your feet with elections coming up. 
  • Be conscious of plastic’s uses in all forms, avoid single use plastic and recycle.
  • Educate yourselves around best eating habits and foods.  
  • Check your carbon footprint, make changes to reduce carbon emission.
  • Save money – buy fewer unnecessary or new items, repair what you can.  
  • Use biodegradable and sustainable cleaning and beauty products 
  • Practice sustainability out- and indoors. Don’t litter, pick up others’ rubbish.  
  • Support environmental causes, sustainable businesses and investments,
  • Spread the word, even facing ridicule at times.   

Growing green is also an activity.   

  • Plant trees, especially indigenous or fruit trees or those needing little water.
  • Grow your own vegetables and herbs,  quick growing and water-wise
  • Grow highly nutritious micro-greens in a pot
  • Make compost,  feed and care for the soil.
  • Take frequent walks in nature, appreciating that green means beautiful.  

Reflect, share, act. Scripture:  Jesus said, “no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit.   The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good and the evil man of his evil treasure produces evil.  Luke 6:43-49.  Pope Francis: St Francis, faithful to scripture invites us to see nature as a magnificent book in which God speaks, granting us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness.   Francis asked that part of the friary garden always be left untouched so that wild flowers and herbs could grow there and those who saw them could raise their minds to God the Creator of such beauty.   LS 12. Eco-tip. Research “greening” projects in Africa like the “Great Green Wall” across the Sahel in North Africa.  Pray for greater greening awareness for all, e.g. tree planting but note the value of indigenous and edible plants and shrubs.

DAILY FAMILY PRAYER from Season of Creation 2026.  May God our Father, who brought water from a rock, sustain us in the desert. May Christ our Lord, who is Living Water, refresh us for the work of restoration.  May the Holy Spirit carry us on currents of grace until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amen. St Francis guide and inspire us on our way.