Christ's resurrection renews the face of the whole Earth

Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change

April 18, 2025

Since it's Holy Week and many of us are likely busy marking the Triduum, preparing for Easter, and perhaps entertaining children who are home from school or childcare this Friday, I'll keep today's newsletter concise.

In his NCR spirituality column this week, Dan Horan explores an idea first developed by Sister of St. Joseph Elizabeth Johnson: "deep resurrection." He quotes the theologian at length, saying:

"The logic of deep resurrection sets out from the insight that Jesus of Nazareth, the Word made flesh, was a genuine part of the community of life on Earth. His body existed in a network of relationships drawn from the whole physical universe. As a child of Earth he died; the earth claimed him back in a grave. Risen from the dead by the creative power of God, he has been reborn not as a pure spirit but as a whole historical person, a member of the Earth community, radically transformed. One with the flesh [sarx] of the earth, his risen humanity bears the hope that the future final transformation of the world will be the salvation of everything, including the groaning community of life, brought into a blessed future by the holy God of love."

Horan connects this idea to the words of Pope Francis in Laudato Si':

"The ultimate destiny of the universe is in the fullness of God, which has already been attained by the risen Christ. … The final purpose of other creatures is not to be found in us. Rather, all creatures are moving forward, with us and through us, towards a common point of arrival, which is God."

What else is new on EarthBeat:

Planting Laudato Si' seeds of hope

by Michael Sean Winters

The group of higher learning institutions follows "a mission that transcends political cycles and embraces faith and the tools of science to inspire new learning bringing us closer to creation — the source of all health," said Ted Smith.

Ireland's birds are at risk. One man hopes to aid them in avoiding extinction.

by Céire Kealty

More than half of Ireland's birds are in decline. Séan Ronayne hopes recording each bird's song on film might help encourage people to save them and the ecosystems they call home.

NCR recipes for Lent: Pesto

by John Grosso

When I eat this family pesto recipe, I am always transported back to my mom's kitchen on Good Friday at about 5 p.m., right after church.

What's happening in other climate news:

Trump officials say destroying endangered species' habitats isn't 'harm' —Dino Grandoni for The Washington Post

More women view climate change as their number one political issue —Jessica Kutz for The 19th*

EPA appeals judge's ruling requiring it to unfreeze climate dollars —Lesley Clark for E&E News

Trump announces 'termination' of 'illegal DEI' settlement over raw sewage in poor, majority-Black Alabama communities —Lee Hedgepeth, Dennis Pillion for Inside Climate News

In Louisiana's 'Cancer Alley,' Black communities get all of the pollution, few of the jobs —Tristan Baurick for Grist

Trump administration issues order to stop construction on New York offshore wind project —Jennifer McDermott for the Associated Press

Climate science isn't giving your kid anxiety —Emily Atkin for HEATED

'All of his guns will do nothing for him': lefty preppers are taking a different approach to doomsday —Aaron Gell for The Guardian

Final Beat:

At the end of Lent each year, I like to revisit Elizabeth Varga's 2023 column for EarthBeat about how meatless meals aren't just for when you're trying to eat simply.

Recognizing that many people abstain from meat during Lent with a penitential posture, she wanted to highlight how plant-based recipes can also provide what you need for any elaborate feast!

Check out the five indulgent plant-based recipes she shared with EarthBeat.

Thanks for reading EarthBeat.

Stephanie Clary
Environment Editor
National Catholic Reporter
sclary@ncronline.org