27 September 2026 4th Sunday in the Season of Creation
Genesis 8:20-22, 9:12-17 Psalm 104:27-33 Revelation 22:1-5 Matthew 28:1-10
This fourth week in our Season of Creation is River Sunday and today we reflect on life that revolves around rivers; civilisations thriving in and around rivers; humanity choosing to settle by rivers that nourish and sustain them. But rivers can also be watery graves when lives are lost in the ferocious waves or tidal swells; and when the water dries up through drought, life is extinguished in the drying mud.
In our texts from Genesis, humanity was destroyed by water flooding the earth. Noah offers a sacrifice, with which God is pleased, and God promises that never again will the earth and its inhabitants be destroyed by water. The rainbow becomes a sign of this covenant, a sign formed by the evaporating water and the sun, another source of life and light that offers hope. The rainbow can only be seen when the sun is there, and the sun joins the rain to form the coloured bow. The rainbow is a reminder of the flood and the disobedience of humanity which caused it. And that same rainbow elicits emotions of joy, beauty, freshness, creativity and hope of new life. New life made possible by the power of God.
Psalm 104 is a hymn to creation which responds to the life-giving power of creation and it celebrates creation as the work of God. YWHW’s hand feeds all creation; YHWH provides food as gift to sustain life by enabling the earth to produce it. Therefore, YHWH is the source of life, and the world lives by the life-giving breath and spirit of YHWH. All creation survives and thrives, is fed and nurtured, by the food and breath of YHWH’s renewing power. Regeneration, rejuvenation, restoration, renewal; through the breath and spirit of YHWH.
Revelation describes a river, the ‘water of life’ flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb through the main street of the city. The tree of life is on either side, producing 12 different fruits which satisfy the hunger of all those who are hungry and the leaves heal the nations. Food and healing from a tree, from creation providing life and health.
It may seem strange that we hear the resurrection story this morning, but this story not only tells us of the reaction of the women to whom the risen Lord first appeared, it also describes the reaction of the earth. Through the earthquake the earth shows wonder, and it participates in the joy of the resurrection that offers the hope and promise of new life. And we see that the earth responds even before the resurrection is witnessed by humankind, signalling the close and intimate relationship between the earth and the divine. A new world, redeemed of sin, is ushered in by the resurrection. The Christ who was raised demonstrates the healing and renewing presence of God in creation.
Nature shapes and affects our lives, and the interactions between humanity and landscape provide us with insight into the divine. These readings today call attention to the significance of water, its healing properties and the renewal and restoration that is made possible by this life-giving water. We have been baptised in this water, and thus we have been renewed. Therefore, we are able to bring healing and renewal to the world as a mark of our identity as the baptised servants of God.
All life has been made possible by the power of God, YHWH’s spirit and breath provide endless regeneration, rejuvenation, restoration and renewal of creation. Creation provides us with life and health through the food and healing from the tree of life. What are we doing to this created wonderland. How do our actions harm it, can we bring healing and renewal to it as we follow our calling to be Children of God.