Sermon

 A Call to Care for God’s Creation

Ocean Sunday

Today we gather to celebrate “Ocean Sunday,” a day where we turn our hearts and minds toward the vast, life-giving waters of the Earth’s oceans. 

The ocean, in all its grandeur and mystery, tells a story—a divine narrative of God’s creative power, care, and presence.  In the Bible, water is often used as a symbol of life, renewal, and transformation. The oceans hold a unique place in this sacred story, offering lessons of depth, beauty, and even stewardship

Quiz 

How many Oceans are in the world?

Could you name them? 

Oceans of the World 

Historically, there are four named oceans: the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic. However, most countries - including the United States - now recognize the Southern (Antarctic) as the fifth ocean

Explaining today’s Gospel Reading

Today’s gospel reading situates us to the shores of the Lake of Gennesaret 

This is not an ocean but a very large body of water. 

We read that the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear the word of God and he then asked the fishermen’s boats to use them as his teaching vessels. 

A vessel intended for fishing is now converted to a platform for teaching about the Kingdom of God.

Luke does not tell us what he taught but what is significant in the Lukan narrative is what follows after Jesus had finished teaching. 

He commanded the fishermen to cast their nets deep into the sea regardless of the fact that they had caught nothing throughout the night. 

These were the experts who knew how to fish and Jesus as a carpenter’s son was not an authority in this sphere of life. 

They could have said, Lord what you are saying does not make sense. 

We know how to fish and that the night is the best time to catch fish and now it too late for us to continue with fishing 

We will try it sometime 

Instead they saw something authoritative in Jesus’ teaching and obeyed. 

The result was unbelievable-a lifetime catch

This was a turning-point for Peter and his friends. 

He suddenly acknowledged the lordship of Jesus Christ and confessed his sins. 

What was supposed to be an ordinary fishing day turned to be a conversion experience for Peter

What appears to be a daily fishing site turned to be a holy ground to experience God’s presence. 

This became a transformational experience for Peter and his friends. 

From now onwards they will no longer be fishermen but apostles of Jesus Christ. 

All this happened at the Lakeside. 

Water became a sacred spot to encounter Jesus’ presence. 

A Call to Care for God’s Creation

As Christians, we are called to be stewards of creation.

 Genesis 1:28 gives humanity dominion over the earth, but that dominion comes with responsibility. 

The oceans are facing unprecedented challenges today and I will briefly highlight the following challenges. 

Habitat Destruction

Our actions are resulting in the destruction or alteration of a variety of marine habitats and the animals that live in them cannot adjust quickly enough.  

Our dependence on the marine environment and the pressure of human activity has grown significantly in recent years

Carbon Emissions

The ocean is central to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and stabilizing the Earth’s climate.

However, increasing greenhouse gas emissions have affected the health of the ocean  – warming and acidifying seawater – causing detrimental changes to life under water and on land, and reducing the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide and safeguard life on the planet.

Oil Spills

When oil accidentally spills into the ocean, it can cause big problems. 

Oil spills can harm sea creatures, ruin a day at the beach, and make seafood unsafe to eat. 

Noise Pollution

Unwanted sound, or noise, can have a large impact on the marine environment, because noise can blanket a very large area, potentially preventing fish or whales from hearing their prey or predators, finding their way, or connecting with mates, group members, or their young.

Plastic Pollution

Large items of plastic can capture and entangle marine mammals and fish and stop them from escaping, usually leading to starvation, injury and predator vulnerability.

 Discarded fishing nets can also smother and break coral reefs, preventing healthy growth.

Overfishing

The Mediterranean Sea is the most overfished place in the world. 

Fish populations have dropped dramatically over the past fifty years. 

Overfishing can impact entire ecosystems.

 It can change the size of fish remaining, as well as how they reproduce and the speed at which they mature.

Destructive Fishing

Destructive fishing is among the most significant threats to productive oceans and healthy wildlife populations

Bottom trawling is an industrial fishing method in which a large net with heavy weights is dragged across the seafloor, scooping up everything in its path. 

These nets are capable of destroying enormous swaths of fragile seafloor habitats, including fragile cold-water coral and sponge ecosystems. 

 Once destroyed, these ancient and ecologically vital communities may take decades or longer to recover

Conclusion 

These challenges threaten the delicate balance of marine ecosystems, the very ecosystems that God has entrusted to us.

We are called not to dominate but to protect and preserve.

 Stewardship means we must actively work to safeguard the oceans, ensuring that future generations experience the same beauty and bounty we enjoy today.

 This is not just an environmental issue; it is a deeply spiritual calling. 

Protecting the oceans is an act of worship, a response to the God who made all things good.

As we celebrate Ocean Sunday, let us take a moment to reflect on the majesty, power, and beauty of the oceans.

 They are a living reminder of God's creative work, His sustaining grace, and our call to care for His creation. 

Just as the ocean is ever-changing, with tides rising and falling, so too are we called to be ever-changing, continually growing in our faith, stewardship, and love for the world around us.

 Let us commit ourselves to be faithful stewards of the oceans, to see them not only as a resource but as a sacred gift from God. 

And as we do so, may we hear the ocean's song of praise, joining in the chorus of all creation, giving glory to the Creator who sustains us all. 

Prayer

Gracious and mighty Creator, we thank You for the oceans and all they provide. May we learn from their beauty, their strength, and their endless rhythm. Teach us to be faithful stewards of this gift and to care for the earth as a reflection of our love for You. Help us to see the divine in the natural world and to honour You in all that we do. Amen.