Peace with Creation: A Prophetic Call from Isaiah 32
By the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar
“The fortress will be abandoned… until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field… My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.”
— Isaiah 32:14-18
The Season of Creation invites us to rediscover our calling as caretakers of God’s creation, and Isaiah’s prophetic vision speaks powerfully to our reality today. He imagines a world transformed: once desolate lands renewed, abandoned cities restored, and God’s Spirit poured out to bring justice, peace, and harmony.
This vision feels particularly urgent in the Middle East, where conflicts and wars have deeply scarred both people and the environment. Forests have been burned, fertile lands abandoned, rivers polluted, and biodiversity threatened. With water scarcity rising, climate change worsening, and displacement increasing, nature has become an unspoken victim of human violence.
In this context, the voices of our church leaders call us to repentance, hope, and unity. In his invitation to the Season of Creation, Pope Tawadros II reminds us: “The way we treat Creation and one another is overshadowed by war between people and a war against Creation. We need to repent.” From Jerusalem, Archbishop Hosam Naoum prays: “In the midst of violence, we pray for peace, justice, and love to unite peoples.” And at the Ecumenical Prayer Service on September 1, the Maronite Patriarch blessed the faithful, urging: “Live in peace with Creation and with every person, respecting their dignity and sacredness. Glorifying the Creator passes through the peace we build with those created in His image.”
Isaiah reminds us that peace, justice, and the renewal of creation are inseparable: “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever” (v.17). Without justice among peoples, there can be no healing for the earth; and without healing for the earth, human life itself cannot flourish.
As part of its mission, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is contributing to this call through several initiatives during this Season of Creation and beyond. The theme has been at the heart of recent reflections and meditations, including during the latest partners’ meeting, which gathered organizations from around the world. In Lebanon, an Ecumenical Prayer Service will gather diverse scout groups to witness Christian unity and care for creation. In Cairo, on 10–11 October 2025, MECC is organizing a Symposium on Eco-Theology, bringing together theologians, church leaders, and environmental actors to reflect on ecological justice and inspire collective action. Additionally, ecological days are planned in Lebanon and Jordan, featuring tree planting, moments of prayer, and awareness campaigns to encourage a deeper commitment to protecting God’s creation.
Photos: Meditations on the Season of Creation during MECC partners’ meeting, on 11 September 2025