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Green Blades Preaching Roundtable

4th Sunday after Epiphany

Year C
February 2, 2025
Pastor Jonathan Dodson

Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm 71:1-6
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Luke 4:21-30

The lectionary readings for the day—Luke 4:21-30, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, and 1 Corinthians 13:1-13—offer profound insights into our call to care for God’s creation. Together, they reveal how God’s love and purpose for humanity inspire us to steward and protect the earth. This reflection culminates in Jesus’ words about a prophet being rejected in their hometown, resonating with the resistance often faced in addressing climate justice.

Jeremiah 1:4-10: God’s Call to Courage

Jeremiah’s call story reminds us that God chooses and equips individuals for challenging tasks, often from a young age. In this passage, God assures Jeremiah of divine presence and guidance, despite Jeremiah’s fear of inadequacy. The task of a prophet—to speak truth to power—is not easy, yet it is necessary for transformation.

In the context of creation care, Jeremiah’s call challenges us to embrace our prophetic role in addressing environmental degradation and advocating for climate justice. Like Jeremiah, we may feel unprepared or insignificant in the face of overwhelming challenges such as pollution, exploitation, and climate change. Yet, God promises to be with us as we speak out and take action. The call to “uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant” (v. 10) mirrors the work needed to dismantle harmful practices and nurture sustainable ones that honor God’s creation.

 

Psalm 71:1-6: Trusting God amid Challenges

Psalm 71 celebrates God as a refuge and source of hope throughout life’s trials. The psalmist’s trust in God is rooted in a lifelong relationship, beginning from the womb. This assurance of God’s faithfulness invites us to rely on divine strength as we face the daunting realities of environmental crises.

Creation care is often a long and discouraging journey, marked by setbacks and resistance. Like the psalmist, we are called to persist, trusting that God is at work even when progress feels slow. The imagery of God as a rock and refuge provides comfort and stability, reminding us that our efforts to protect the earth are grounded in God’s enduring faithfulness.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13: Love as the Foundation

Paul’s famous discourse on love serves as a guide for how we approach every aspect of life, including creation care. Love is patient, kind, and not self-seeking; it rejoices with the truth and perseveres. These qualities are essential in addressing environmental challenges, which require compassion, collaboration, and a commitment to future generations.

This passage calls us to examine our motivations. Are our efforts to care for creation rooted in love for God, our neighbors, and future generations? Love compels us to act selflessly, considering how our decisions impact the most vulnerable among us, including the poor and marginalized communities disproportionately affected by environmental degradation. Love also motivates us to care for the earth itself, recognizing it as a gift from God entrusted to our stewardship.

Luke 4:21-30: Prophetic Voices in Creation Care

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus faces rejection in his hometown after proclaiming that Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in Him. The crowd’s reaction underscores the difficulty of accepting uncomfortable truths, particularly when they challenge the status quo. Jesus highlights how prophets are often ignored or dismissed by their own people—a reality that resonates deeply with those advocating for climate justice today.

Climate justice, like prophetic ministry, calls for challenging entrenched systems of exploitation and privilege. Efforts to care for creation and address climate change are frequently met with skepticism, denial, or apathy, especially when they require sacrifices or threaten economic interests. Jesus’ words remind us that speaking truth about environmental stewardship may lead to rejection, but it is a necessary part of our calling as followers of Jesus.

The stories of Elijah and Elisha that Jesus references also carry a message of inclusivity and divine provision. Just as God’s care extended beyond Israel to a widow in Zarephath and a Syrian leper, creation care must transcend borders and benefit all of humanity. Environmental issues do not recognize national boundaries, and our response must reflect the global and interconnected nature of God’s creation.

Conclusion: A Prophetic Call for Climate Justice

The lectionary texts collectively remind us that caring for creation is both a prophetic call and an act of love. Like Jeremiah, we are called to speak and act boldly, trusting in God’s presence. Like the psalmist, we find hope and strength in God’s faithfulness, even when challenges seem insurmountable. Like Paul, we ground our efforts in love, seeking justice for all and honoring the gift of creation.

Jesus’ words in Luke 4 challenge us to persevere in the face of resistance. As pastors and leaders, we are called to be prophetic voices, advocating for sustainable practices, equitable policies, and a renewed commitment to the stewardship of God’s creation. Even when our message is met with rejection, we can find strength in knowing that we are part of God’s redemptive work, becoming midwives of hope to a world in desperate need of renewal.

Pastor Jonathan Dodson
Pastor Jonathan Dodson
Ebenezer, Minnesota

Pastor Jonathan Dodson is a child of God and a follower of Jesus. He serves in Northwestern Minnesota as pastor for Immanuel, Ebenezer and Bethany Lutheran. He is a first call pastor entering his twentieth year. Jonathan is part of the Care for Creation Task Force working in the NWMN synod. He completed, alongside friends, the Certificate for Climate Justice and Faith through Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. He enjoys everything an open air life delivers.

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