Daily Meditation for January 7, 2026

Mother Earth, Father Time. We like to ascribe human characteristics to elements in our lives. At recent New Year’s celebrations, we may have seen human depictions of Father Time reminding us of the passage of time. Mother Earth does not have such depictions, but the blue marble as seen from outer space is considered an icon of our time. Only in recent history have we been able to see such an image. Throughout the history of humankind, Mother Earth, this blue marble, has been doing as all mothers do — caring for us. However, it is now time for humankind to show its right relationship to Mother Earth and care for her by conserving the resources she holds on behalf of her own and our health. What happens to Mother Earth happens to us. It is a sobering thought that warrants our attention.

By Mariterese Woida, OSB