Word to the Wise
Tuesday, February 12, 2013 - Tuesday in the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Kgs 8:22-23, 27-30 and Mark 7:1-13]God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.
The lines from Genesis quoted above could take days to comment on! Volumes of theology have been written about their meaning! The one line that springs to my mind by way of commentary comes from Shakespeare (I think it's in "Hamlet!") "What a piece of work is man!" Nevertheless I will venture my own reflection in the hope that it may be helpful.
What captures my attention is the idea that we are made in the divine image! The fundamental goodness of the human person is the starting point of all human existence. This is a hard truth to keep in mind when one recalls some of the human persons who committed terrible evils throughout history! Yet there are more than enough persons who have truly reflected the goodness of God in their lives. But the implications of Genesis' words go deeper. If we are made in the image and likeness of God, how can we claim in good conscience to destroy any human person from life in the womb to capital punishment? It is a great mystery to understand why God gave us humans free will that enables us to destroy the very creation that we are a part of! St. Augustine's famous line comes to mind, "You have made us for yourself, O God, and our hearts will be restless until they rest in you!" Still we have a choice about that rest!
The arrival of Lent tomorrow will bring an end to the Genesis scriptures for awhile. The news of Pope Benedict's impending resignation will command the attention of the church for some time to come. In New Orleans, today, Mardi Gras reigns! If you can find a feew moments to meditate on the first two chapters of Genesis, I think you'll find it worthwhile. "What a piece of work is man!" AMEN
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