Faith Reflection
By
Archbishop Leonardo Z.
Legaspi, O.P. D.D.
(The Homily of His Grace in the Occasion of the Launching of
Mt. Isarog Integrated Area Development Program (MIADP)
June 22, 2005 at the Parish of San Francisco, Naga City)
Over the years, I reflected on this connection between our people
and Mt. Isarog. I have long been convinced that this connection
symbiotic, that somehow the life of each depends on the other.
Even more than this connection – so real close – is providential,
i.e., God’s will.
I hope you do not think that I am romanticizing the importance of
Mt. Isarog. This vision is grounded on our faith. The Bible tells
us that God created his beautiful and fruitful world for all His
creatures to live in (Gen 1:1-2,4), and that He has given us the
task of being stewards of his creation. (Gen 19-20)
A clearer case is the covenant, which God made with Noah after the
flood. Here the relationship, which links God, human beings and
all the community of those living together, is unmistakable.
The Rainbow which God made with Noah after the flood emphasizes
this linkage. The Rainbow which we still see in the sky, is a
constant reminder of this bond and challenge (Gen 9:112)
This covenant recognizes the very close bonds which bind living
forms together in what area called ecosystems.
Our faith tells me that as people of the covenant, we are called
to protect endangered ecosystems, like our forests, mangroves and
coral reefs and naturally, Mt. Isarog.
This covenant urges us to establish just human communities in our
land. More and more, we must recognize that the commitment to work
for justice and to preserve the integrity of creation are two
inseparable dimensions of our Christian vocation to work for the
coming of the Kingdom of God in our times.
This is our faith vision. This is my vision for Mt. Isarog. I am
not just motivated by ecology, by practical sense. For me, it is
my faith as a Christian that provides the reason for the Project
we are laun-ching today.
I am convinced that – at the end of the day – the greatest need is
to develop a new attitude towards the natural world. But this is
practically impossible without the new vision.
This new vision must blossom forth from our understanding of the
world as God intends it to be.
