Our Lady of Guadalupe and Climate Change

Imagine this scenario: My husband and I are behind on our mortgage payments. We are using almost-maxed-out credit cards, just to buy food to feed the kids. Our roof is leaking because we cannot afford to make repairs. I decide to take a job, stacking shelves at the local supermarket. I take a middle-of-the-night shift, so as to keep disruption to our family life at a minimal. And what do we do with the small amount of money I bring in? Forget warm boots for the kids' feet this winter! We want to be ecologically responsible! We use my pittance to buy CFLs for the lamps and bamboo flooring to practice our yoga.

It seems that this is what the world's leaders are doing right now, as all the Henny Pennies gather to discuss how the sky is falling because of too many people breathing out too much carbon dioxide, too many people eating too many cows passing methane into our precious planet, the stupid Catholic Church needing to be taxed because they won't do anything about population control. [Okay, no world leader has suggested that, I think; I read it in a com-box at The Times (London) website.] World leaders are pledging money to "go green" on an international scale, but I have to wonder who it is that is getting the money. Who is getting rich off of this snake oil scheme? Granted, I've been paying attention to this climate change convention with only half a brain -- but my head does reel from all the millions of dollars that are being put forth to combat global warming. The richer nations of the world are called upon to help our not-as-materially-wealthy brethren by . . . . what? . . . . helping them go green? "Let them eat cake!" is what comes to mind in this debacle. Better expressed is what I read in the "Liturgy of the Hours Supplement" this morning, for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It's from a message of Pope Paul VI to the people of Mexico, in 1970 (any points of emphasis my own):

Christians can do no less than to show solidarity in seeking a solution to the situation of those to whom the bread of culture has not yet come nor the opportunity of honorable and justly remunerated work. They cannot remain indifferent while new generations find no path for the realization of their legitimate aspirations, and while part of humanity continues to be placed at the margins of the advantages of civilization and progress. For this reason, on this celebrated feast, we urge you from our heart to give your Christian life a clear social sense -- as the Council has asked -- that you may always be in the front line in all efforts to attain progress, and in all the initiatives for improving the situation of those who suffer want. See in each person a brother or a sister -- a brother or sister in Christ -- in such a way that the love of God and the love of the neighbor become united in the same love, alive and operative, which is the only thing that can redeem the miseries of the world, renewing it in its most profound root, the human heart. The person who has much should be conscious of his or her obligation to serve and contribute with generosity to the good of all. The person who has little or who has nothing should, with the help of a just society, make every effort at self-improvement and of going beyond self, and even cooperating in the progress of those who suffer the same situation. And, all of you, feel the obligation to unite fraternally so as to help forge this new world for which the human race longs. This is what the Virgin of Guadalupe asks of you today, this fidelity to the Gospel, of which she knew how to be the most eminent example.

When I read that, it strikes me that the last thing I want to say to God, when I stand naked before Him at the end of my life, is "my brother was starving, so I helped him reduce his carbon footprint." It's sad that the majority of our fellow brothers and sisters do not even comprehend the New World for which the human race longs. The new world is not meant to be a world without people, because they are just a drain on resources. It's insane that we've so many tangible problems in front of us today, and the world's leaders are focusing on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It's almost like a family of alcoholics in denial: they know something is wrong, but won't be honest about the problem; so they start repainting the outside of the house as a way to present the picture of a healthy family to the world, as this is so much easier to tackle than the true problem.

But I am not falling into despair about this. Yes, I'm frustrated that elected leaders seem clueless about the real problems in the world. Yes, I'm frustrated that the international community feels that the most important thing to talk about is climate change and that it won't deal honestly with terrorism, AIDS, poverty and the like. However, rather than despair, I think it's a good opportunity to truly focus on the tiny, tiny part of God's kingdom that is in front of me. And it's a fitting tribute to our Heavenly Mother. She didn't make a name for herself by defending her Son and arguing with the Pharisees. Everything we know of her from the Bible, she's saying "yes" to what God puts in front of her and "pondering in her heart" those things that are beyond her immediate scope. I think it is the most realistic way most of us have to bring about the Kingdom of God -- follow by our Blessed Mother's example.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

Update:
Someone else agrees with me:

Not everyone agreed with the protesters. A young economist from Copenhagen watched as the crowd march by.

“In a hundred years people will say, why did we do so much for the climate, when you could have done so much for the people starving," he said.