Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.     Genesis 1:26

Reflecting on the past year, and the increasing and accumulating reports of our earth's environmental distress, one can only wonder about what kind of stewards we humans are, and what kind we ought to be.

These questions we find aptly addressed in the above passage from Genesis. Its author strikingly links God's granting us dominion over the creatures of the earth to our being made in God's image and likeness. So if we are to understand ourselves and our dominion, we need to understand our God as best we can.

To Whom better to turn than the Lamb of God? And what kind of God is the Lamb? Our God is not a Lord who lords over us, one who confuses dominion with domination and domineering. Our God is a self-sacrificial God, one willing to give it all on the cross for those over whom He exercises dominion. His dominion is one is of servitude, one of a suffering Lamb, not of a prideful predator.

If this is the God we truly worship, and on whose dominion we are to model our own, then let us not misconstrue our God-given dominion as a license to rationalize and justify our exploitation of the earth and its creatures. Let us treat the earth and all creatures as God treats us, with care and compassion.

In this regard, we can consider the following questions:

• How does my current consumption of natural resources reflect care and respect for God's creation?

• How can I change my consumption patterns to reflect God's model of dominion rather than man's?

• How can I make my home more energy-efficient and shop and live with a mind to reducing the use of unnecessary packaging and harmful chemicals?

• How does my diet impact the well-being of the earth and other creatures?

• Am I conscious of how the food I eat gets to my table?

• How can I prayerfully work to ensure that my choice of food to eat takes into account my health, the health of the environment, and the humane treatment of animals?

Dear God, Thank you for the gift of dominion and help us not to misconstrue it as a license for domineering and domination. Help us to model our dominion over the earth and all creatures on your compassionate dominion over us. Amen.

Contributed by Pierre
Sunday January 14, 2007
Liturgical Year C Week 7