Men are a part of nature. Men and everything in nature all come from one and the same Source. Men have consciousness and reason while nature seems to be inanimate, devoid of these faculties. And yet, nature seems to be more attuned to our common Source that men are. Nature daily proclaims the goodness of the Lord. Every morning, the sun wakes all of nature up to another day full of hope, potentials and promises. And every night, as the sun sets, nature settles down to rest with humility and gratitude for the day that was. The passing of the seasons celebrates God’s care and love for all that He has created. Everything dies during the fall: trees shed their leaves, plants burrow deep into the earth, animals hibernate or migrate. During winter, all of nature is buried in the earth’s tomb of silence. Then, life comes back in all its beauty and splendor at the break of spring and come to a full flowering in the height of summer. Indeed, all the earth proclaims the Lord!
Nature is sensitive to God’s presence which I often miss or take for granted. Nature is obedient to God’s way as life unfolds. I often think I know better. Nature sees the hand of God in every little thing that happens. I fail to see God even if I was already staring Him in the face. Immersing myself in Nature, I pray that I can be as sensitive and receptive to the Divine Presence that sustains our universe.
Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”