Good morning!

Today is Earth Day.  Some of you might not know much about this day.  Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 . . . today . . .  where events are held worldwide to increase awareness and appreciation of the earth’s natural environment.

There are many things you can do to help support Earth Day and honor our planet.  Some things that I do include:

• ·         Recycling

• ·         Planting trees and flowers and working in the garden and

• ·         Biking, walking and carpooling when possible

My mom drives a hybrid car now and my dad owns Tangerine Power which is a company designed to promote community solar.

But, there are more things that you can do in making an Earth Day pledge, like:

• ·         Use less water

• ·         Eat more local foods and

• ·         Always use reusable shopping bags at the grocery store

In the Gospel today, we learn that the disciples, after seeing Jesus risen from the dead, were at first scared and then overjoyed.  Jesus greeted them with “peace be with you” and tells them that repentance and forgiveness of sins must be proclaimed. 

This message, for me, is also appropriate for Earth Day in a couple of ways. 

So, who here has ever planted a tree or a flower?

Well, after I plant something, I step back to see how it looks and I get that joyful feeling like there are still green, beautiful plants on this earth.  Well, that is the same joyful feeling the disciples had when they saw Jesus but they were probably also thinking . . . wow . . . we still have a teacher, we still have someone to lead us and the world toward God.

Humans have damaged our planet throughout the years, so now is the time to give back to the earth.  Forgiveness of sins.  You should help by making an Earth Day pledge because God has given us this beautiful world . . .  so why waste it?

Repent and replant! 

Happy Earth Day!