Word to the Wise
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 - Tuesday in the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
[Genesis 1:20 - 2:4a and Mark 7:1-13]God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying: "Be fertile and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth.."
The profound truths contained in just these few lines of Genesis have given birth to thousands of volumes of commentary! What does it mean to be created "in the divine image?" If God created male and female in the divine image, how do we dare discriminate against women on any level and especially in our church? What does the expression, "male and female he created them..." mean? A later chapter in Genesis will offer us at least one response to that question, but scripture scholars will remind us that the author of the first chapter of Genesis was probably not the author of that response. Does "male and female" mean only what it meant when the words were written? What does "male and female" mean in God's plan today?
What challenges are contained in the expression: "Be fertile and multiply....?" In some European countries and to some extent in certain populations in the USA, the birthrate is negative in regard to keeping up with the rate of death. Population questions shape government policies about compulsory birth control. In China, a couple are fined if they have more than one child! What does "fill the earth and subdue it..." mean? Does this give license to environmental destruction and wholesale consumption of any resource on earth? Is there no stewardship implied?
Perhaps this is all too much for a Tuesday! But I cannot let the profound implications of this first chapter of Genesis go without noting the questions that it has raised and continues to raise for people of faith and even for those who do not believe. I urge the Beloved Congregation to read this first chapter over and over again. Please don't ignore the point that God saw all of this creation is good, even if it does raise a lot of questions. AMEN
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