Right in the middle of Victoria Square in the city stands a statue bearing the image and likeness of Queen Victoria. It was commonplace to erect a statue of the monarch in the far-flung parts of the empire so that the good citizens living there could see what their monarch looked like. No doubt this was a handy thing should you have bumped into her at the Central Market. Yet these statues often fulfilled another function, they showed that the land on which they stood was part of their dominion and subject to their rule. It’s a tradition going back to the Roman emperors. Every time there was a new emperor, statues would be put up all over the empire so inform the people living there that this was their new ruler and this was their land.
On this, the second Sunday in the Season of Creation, we come to Humanity Sunday where we consider our relationship to the earth and to all life on earth. Straightaway we know that we are a unique part of creation as we are the only part of creation made in the image and likeness of God. The reason for this becomes obvious when we read on that God then places us in a position of stewardship over the earth. Like a statue, we have been made in the image and likeness of God so we can mirror God to the world. We have been entrusted to represent God to creation and that means looking after it the same way God does. As we saw last week, God did not only bring forth life on the planet but created the world in such a way as to allow life in all its diversity to flourish. Like a house sitter, we have been entrusted with control over the earth and are accountable for how we have exercised this responsibility.
This gives us, as a species, a purpose to our existence. We are to act as God to this world. We are to behave in such a way that we show God to this world. We are to nurture and care for this world and see that our actions not only consistent with supporting life, but also nurturing life so it can thrive. Our society likes to consider that ecology is a political concern, but we can clearly see in Scripture, a theological imperative to care for the planet. And we cannot overlook a further dimension. If we understand that we are made in the image and likeness of God, then that image is present in every human being. If we fail to honour another person, we fail to honour God in whom likeness they have been created. Therefore, we are also under a theological imperative to create a world where human dignity, along with life, flourishes. As Jesus said, as you do the least of people, you do to me. Are we seeing everyone we meet in that way?