This March 22nd, we celebrate World Water Day. For us as believers, a natural resource is a gift from God, granted for our sustenance and development. Therefore, it demands our care and gratitude as a divine gift.
This is a very special opportunity for us to reflect on the importance of water as a vital resource for our lives. However, in a world where natural resources are being depleted and environmental threats are increasingly serious, it is urgent to become aware of the water crisis we face. Therefore, caring for water should not be merely an issue or problem for others. On the contrary, our very experience of faith and relationship with the Creator calls us to embrace these challenges as an act of respect and love for creation.
Let us allow ourselves to be enlightened by the documents Laudato Si and Laudato Deum, and see how they call us to an urgent ecological conversion that compels us to care for water, a good so essential to life, as an act of compassion toward the planet, toward our brothers and sisters.
Water: a common good and a divine gift
In the Holy Scriptures, water is presented as a divine gift, a vital resource that sustains life. In the first book of the Bible, Genesis, God creates water and distributes it on earth, providing it for the prosperity of human, animal, and plant life. Water is also a sign of purification and a sign of divine grace. In the New Testament, Jesus offers Living Water (Jn 4:10-14), and it is through the water of baptism that we are incorporated into the Body of Christ.
Global water crisis: an urgent call to action
Our century is experiencing a crisis never before seen in history. Access to clean, safe drinking water is at risk due to pollution, climate change, and the excessive exploitation of water resources. According to the UN, more than 2 billion people worldwide lack access to quality drinking water, posing a serious threat to the health and well-being of millions of people.
Pope Francis, in his encyclical Laudato Si (No. 32), points out that “Water is a universal right, but its use is threatened by commodification and waste.” This difficult situation particularly affects those living in extreme poverty. He also demands that human beings take concrete actions to protect water and guarantee access to it for all, as an act of justice and solidarity.
Once again, Laudato Si offers us a profound reflection on the care of our common home, highlighting the interconnectedness of all living beings and the human responsibility to protect the planet. The encyclical emphasizes the need for metanoia (metanoia), that is, a profound and significant change of mentality, translated into a true commitment to ecological sustainability. Pope Francis affirms that: “Environmental degradation is a degradation of the poor” (cf. no. 48), since those who suffer most from the consequences of environmental impact are those living in vulnerable situations.
In this way, water protection becomes an ethical and social issue, ultimately affecting both the environment and humankind. Laudato Deum, the most recent document, delves into the urgency of the ecological crisis and makes a clear call to a radical change in our lifestyles to halt the deterioration of natural resources.
Sister water, sister earth
Throughout history, many saints and Church Fathers have spoken about creation as an act of love for God. Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of environmentalists, is a clear example of this love for the environment, so much so that it led him to express his profound respect and admiration for all forms of life in his famous work, "Praise of Creatures," recognizing in them the imprint of divine creation. Saint Francis understood that water, like all elements of nature, is a gift from God that must be protected and valued.
Saint Teresa of Ávila also spoke of the need to care for creation. I understand that our love for God is expressed in respect for all He has created. In this sense, caring for water becomes a way of living our faith, showing gratitude for the gifts we have been given.
How can we take care of water?
Once we are called to care for creation, we must live in such a way that with every action we take, we can protect the resources God has given us. This isn't an exercise in grand initiatives; this environmental complexity in which we find ourselves requires concrete actions, however small these gestures may seem, in favor of caring for the planet, which will have a great positive impact on our Mother Earth.
- Reduce water waste.
- Need for education and awareness about the importance of water.
- Support for public campaigns in favor of environmental care.
- Personal commitment to ecological conversion.
To reinforce this awareness of water conservation in a dynamic and fun way, we recommend the educational game "H2O Emergency." This game allows participants to understand, through challenges and strategies, the importance of responsible water management and the consequences of wasting it. This is a fun educational tool ideal for children, young people, and adults who want to learn about the water crisis in an interactive and entertaining way.
Caring for water is an urgent priority in our time, especially on World Water Day. As Christians, we must understand that water is a sacred resource, created by God for the well-being of all humanity. It is time to act. Our planet, our common home, cries out for our help. Every small action counts, and as believers, we are called to be stewards of creation and to live with a true commitment to caring for water and all the resources God has entrusted to us.
The song of the creatures
Praise be to you, my Lord, with all
your creatures, especially the
Lord Brother Sun, who is the
day, and through which you enlighten us;
And it is beautiful and radiant with great
splendor: from you, Most High, take
significance.
Praise be to you, my Lord, for the
Sister Moon and the stars, in
The sky has formed them clear and
precious and beautiful.
Praise be to you, my Lord, for the
Brother Wind, and through the air and the
cloudy and calm and all weather,
by which you give to your creatures
livelihood.
Praise be to you, my Lord, for the
sister water, which is very useful and
humble, precious and chaste.
Praise be to you, my Lord, for the
Brother Fire, by which
You light up the night, and it is beautiful and
cheerful, robust and strong.
Praise be to you, my Lord, for our
Sister Mother Earth, who gives us
sustains and governs, and produces
different fruits with flowers
colors and herbs.
Praise and bless my Lord, and
give thanks to him and serve him with great
modesty.
