seventh sunday after pentecost

“DESPOILING CREATION”

“God is concerned not just with his creation as a whole, but with every living creature individually. It is true that his care for the whole world never fails. Thus, if the whole creation deteriorates through the activities of particular creatures, God takes corrective measures, bringing the whole back to himself. In the case of animals and insects he is never angry, because their misbehavior is irrational. But human beings are rational; so if human beings despoil his creation in any way, he rebukes and punishes them. It is the purpose of all creatures, rational and irrational, to play their part in fulfilling God’s purpose.”

‍ -Origen (185 A.D. - 254 A.D.)