Dorothy Stang S.N.D. July 7, 1931- February 12, 2005
“A Morte da floresta é o fim da nossa vida” which is Portuguese for “The death of the forest is the end of our life.”
(The quote printed on the white t-shirt often worn by Dorothy Stang.)
In “Give Us This Day,” a reflection on the life and mission of Sr. Dorothy Stang, murdered advocate for poor farmers in the Brazilian Amazon and the rainforest that is their home, was places on the page facing this morning’s Mass reading from Genesis 1:20-2,4a. It seems fitting to reflect on the life of the courageous woman from Dayton, Ohio and the words of scripture recounting God’s creating the universe and this earth out of primal chaos. “God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good.”
So did Dorothy. She loved the rainforest and the poor people it shelters and helped indigenous people farm small plots enabling them to make a living without decimating the forest. She gave her life protecting them and their home from greedy land owners and loggers who exploited both for personal gain. Dorothy was murdered walking on her way to a meeting with local farmers, the Bible her only “weapon.”
The juxtaposition of these two readings spoke to me this Mardi Gras day. A day of celebration and parties, the Mardi Gras (French for Fat Tuesday) gets its name from the tradition of using up fat, rich foods in the pantry before beginning Lenten fasts. In some countries the day is called “Pancake Day” after the custom of eating those sweet treats before Ash Wednesday.
What does Mardi Gras have to do with Dorothy Stang and the creation story? Celebration of life. Appreciating the glory of it. Living to protect and reverence the gift it is, even when such passion requires sacrifice. Dorothy reverenced the gift of Divine life in the created world and in its poor. Her passionate commitment to both engendered fear and hatred as well as love.
In Genesis, God celebrated creation by taking a day off to enjoy it. The Spirit had entered chaos and transformed it into pulsing, radiant life. Of all kinds. Life that continues to grow and change and challenge, creative chaos in its soul.
I want to celebrate creation today. I’ll likely use the food traditions as license to whip up a batch of brownies to share or a pancakes for dinner. I also hope to spend the late night outside with a friend, sitting around a fire and marveling at the night sky, drinking a glass of wine, enjoying friendship and creation. While I will try to tame snacking habits, my Lenten fast will have less to do with food, and more to do with uncluttering my soul, making time to reverence enjoy, and serve the Divine Spirit in the world.
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