Word to the Wise
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 - Tuesday in the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 1:16-25 and Luke 11:37-41,]I am not ashamed of the Gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek. For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith; as it is written, "The one who is righteous by faith will live." The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness. For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them. Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse; for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. [Romans]
Every year for the past 10 years I have spent some vacation time on the Pacific coast of Oregon. My daily walks on a historic path by the ocean have been a constant reminder to me of the power and immensity of God's creation. Visits to places like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite Park, Yellowstone Park and other locations of great natural beauty reinforce the message that literally shouts at me from the scenes. What I cannot visit in person I can see in the pages of the National Geographic magazine that arrives monthly. So, I experience some of the frustration that St. Paul expresses when he speaks out against idolatry or atheism. Idolatry makes a god out of something created by God. Atheism denies there is such a thing as God or a god! The human response to God is appropriately FAITH.
Judaeo-Christian tradition rejects pantheism which would make a god of material creation, and panentheism which would find God living inside of created things. We cannot have a god of our own designs. For St. Paul, whether the person is pagan or atheist or agnostic would not matter. God is evident through God's works. Therefore a lack of faith comes down to a willful desire NOT to believe in or recognize God through all that God has created. He makes a similar point in his famous speech in Athens at the areopagus.[Acts 17:22-30].
Psalm 19 begins: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. One of my old philosophy professors put it well when he said over and over again to us, "Look and see!" AMEN