November 30, 2025
Matthew 24: 37-44
It is Advent season! It is a time of hope! It is a time of renewal It is interesting that this new liturgical season comes now, this year, after COP 30, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, where the world came to experience these changes here, in the backyard of the Amazon, in the city of Belém in the state of Pará, northern Brazil.
It was surprising how outsiders who saw our daily lives for the first time, with their look of surprise, made us see the ordinary as extraordinary: the mangoes falling in the streets, the Amazonian rain in the afternoon with all its strength, and the heat and humidity, sensations that can only be experienced here. The eyes of others on our daily lives made us see something so common with a different perspective, one of surprise.
In this new liturgical season, our faith and hope unite with those of all peoples who long for a new world, which is possible and urgent, since climate change affects everyone. The difference is that while a few are able to protect themselves and mitigate the consequences of floods, fires, and excessive temperatures, many others lose their lives, their homes, and their crops due to these changes. Is this fair? What would be justice in this scenario? What my country and your country do has consequences for everyone. We are all on one planet, but the consequences of climate change affect only one class, the poorest.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns us to be prepared, not as a suggestion, but as the only alternative. Today, the world warns us through the voice of indigenous peoples. One of the voices that resonates most today is that of Ailton Krenak, an indigenous environmental activist, philosopher, and writer. One of his books is Ideas to Delay the End of the World in which he challenges us to think outside the box in the face of humanity’s steps toward its end.
The actions of each individual and the actions of all of us mean that we are moving in the same direction, but as I have already said, some have privileged positions and others do not. It was no surprise that the president of the country that ranks second in terms of pollution did not attend the COP. Why didn’t he come? The question hangs in the air, but each of us has an answer and a reason, and the certainty that he does not want to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
We know that climate change is intrinsically linked to the capitalist model. Perhaps we need to read more and experience the Economy of Clare and Francis that emerged in 2019 when Pope Francis met with young people, economists, and civil society to rethink the current economic model, inspired by Francis of Assisi and, in the case of Brazilians, Saint Clare of Assisi, where we have an economy at the service of life where nature is not only exploited, but is alive and active in this new model, where the earth generously gives us its natural resources, but there can be no accumulation and we have to treat it well, so that there are fruits for all, after all, the earth is a living being.
How are we, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, friends, associates, volunteers, and collaborators around the world dealing with climate change? What are we doing in our individual and community realities?
Matthew 24: 37-44
Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Meet Sister Lucyane R. Diniz, SNDdeN
