20 September 2026 3rd Sunday in the Season of Creation
Joel 1:8-10, 17-20 Psalm 18:6-19 Romans 8:18-27 Matthew 3:13-17, 4:1-2
Our reading from Joel could easily be describing the situation in the world here today. Climate Change has caused crops to fail all over; fire and flood have decimated arable farming land as well as natural bushland and many animals, both farmed and native are suffering from lack of food, diminishing natural environment and protection.
Water is one of the most powerful elements on the face of the planet. The flow of water over land creates riverbeds, and if the flow continues for long enough it creates a river valley. Water is important for industry; fishing, recreation, crops, transportation, these all rely on water. On a personal level it is necessary for food preparation, cleaning and bathing. While it is true that the human body can survive for up to three weeks without food, we can only survive three days without water. It is essential for our existence.
Water can be both powerful and fragile at the same time. 70% of the earth is covered by it; it remains one of the most important natural resources we have, yet the lack of available clean water is one of the major causes of poverty and disease in the world. Care of the Earth’s water supply is essential for the continued survival of our planet.
Water is a major part of our Scriptural texts. Water has been both the source of deliverance and destruction. It was life giving in the desert for the Israelites. Jesus tells the Samaritan woman he is the source of living water; he also uses it for healing and as an image in his teaching.
In today’s gospel, water is the avenue for baptism. Through the waters of baptism we are connected to God, to community, to all of our salvation history. In the waters of baptism we are infused with the Spirit to do God’s will.
So, what role does water have for your life. On the mountain, and the valley, the water we use comes directly from rain. But in Canungra, it is provided through the town water network. Depending on rain for our water can be problematic. Sometimes there is too much, and the water floods our backyards, our streets, and maybe even our houses. Depending on the town network can also be problematic because when rain has not adequately filled the reservoir our water use is restricted. All this is impacted by our carbon footprint and our abuse of our environment. If we look at the global picture, over 2 billion people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water, and this situation will only get worse due to the effects of climate change. When we look at a world map, we are surrounded by water; oceans, rivers, lakes, yet only 0.5% of the Earth’s water is usable, and the situation is not likely to improve any time soon. Glaciers and snowpacks are diminishing, and they are threatening water supplies and increasing the flood risk, and we have seen the impact of that recently in the Nepal disaster. Rising sea levels mean some island nations face loss of land and livelihood, and some are disappearing entirely.
In the desert, Moses struck the rock to give water to the Israelites. Ezekiel speaks of God’s life-giving water flowing from the temple of God. A river, growing ever deeper restoring barren land, reviving waters and sustaining flourishing ecosystems. What can we do to join this revival. When we take notice of and responsibility for, the ecological damage of our land, we are one step closer to healing the land. You may think one person cannot make a difference, but when ten, or a hundred, or a thousand, ‘one persons’ take that step, the change can be mind-blowingly dramatic. And we are invited to see our responsibility in all this. Just as we are connected to God through the water of baptism, so we are connected to creation through our community. We are invited to embrace our interconnectedness; we are invited to immerse ourselves in the water and actively safeguard it and work toward the renewal of creation so that environmental healing and human well-being may flourish together. Let us embrace the Spirit that infused us in baptism and work toward the renewing of God’s creation.