TWO TUNICS

TWO TUNICS

“If anyone has two tunics he must share with one who has none.” John the Baptist’s blunt words, to those who came to him at the Jordan River seeking advice about the future, speak to us on the final day of the Climate Change talks in Paris. Two days ago there were 380 objections to the draft agreement. A day later that was down to 50. Finally an agreement was reached.

It is an astonishing event. Its decisions affect every country in the world. No one, no matter how rich or powerful, can insulate themselves from the effects of climate change. At the moment there is drought in California, floods in Ireland and, where I am in Zambia, four months so far of unusually hot weather. Secondly a consensus is growing that not to act will cause catastrophe in the future with hugely expensive consequences. While to act now will not only control warming – and so save incalculable numbers of people’s livelihoods - but the costs of acting are going down all the time as new technologies are developed to provide alternative forms of energy to burning fossil fuels.

Countries dragged their feet over earlier climate change conferences during the past twenty five years but today there is an overwhelming desire for action. Pope Francis recognised this when he wrote, “there is reason to hope that humanity at the dawn of the twenty first century will be remembered for bravely shouldering its responsibilities.” (Laudato Si #165)

When the human family comes together like this; when leaders make the compromises needed to reach an agreement for the common good and when technologies coalesce to provide the necessary means to solve problems, it has to be a cause for celebration. “Shout for joy, daughter of Zion, Israel, shout aloud.” The prophet Zephaniah’s words (3:14) now have flesh. Benefits for one mean benefits for all! There are no losers in this type of agreement except those who think of nothing but profits and see limits on the emission of greenhouse gases as limits to making ever more money.

That so many are ready to “bravely shoulder their responsibilities” is remarkable. It erases the lament of Jesus when he wept over Jerusalem; “if only, on this day, you had recognised the things that make for peace.” (Luke 19:42) We have recognised it and we have acted. That is something! 

13 December 2015                             Advent Sunday 3 C

Zephaniah 3:14-18                             Philippians 4: 4-7                               Luke 3:10-18