How can “On Care for our Common Home” prevent me from becoming like an empty bird’s nest in a leafless tree in December and move me beyond isolated “interventions” to “#save” the environment, toward inclusive policies shaped by all stakeholders—while reflecting on how Joseph’s dream in today’s Gospel (Matthew 1:18–25) might challenge me, even through unexpected imagery like a priest’s recurring December dream of Santa and Rudolph transforming his family into rat people❓
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.
This question invites reflection on how faith, imagination, and community collaboration intersect in addressing both spiritual and worldly concerns. On Care for Our Common Home challenges me to rethink how I approach saving the environment—not through isolated “interventions” but through policies rooted in dialogue and shared responsibility. This shift invites me to move beyond temporary fixes to long-term efforts that can truly “save” our common home for future generations.
Joseph’s dream in Matthew 1:18–25, where he accepts his role in God’s plan to “save” humanity through Christ, offers a model of faith and trust. Even a seemingly whimsical connection—like a priest’s dream of Santa and Rudolph transforming his family into rat people—can remind me that unexpected experiences or symbols might inspire me to reconsider how I can contribute to saving both souls and creation.
Yet, navigating this call to “save” what matters most can feel overwhelming when personalities and politics complicate the path forward. Daily reflection, grounded in faith, becomes essential in helping me “save” my focus and energy for the work God has entrusted to me. Without it, I risk becoming like an empty bird’s nest—once filled with purpose, now abandoned and vulnerable to the winds of distraction.
Isn’t this precisely why I am reminded each day to reflect in this way, so I might better understand my purpose in a world desperately in need of salvation…
We need to stop thinking in terms of “interventions” to save the environment in favor of policies developed and debated by all interested parties.
From paragraph 183 of ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME