Word to the Wise
Monday, February 6, 2023 - Monday in the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
[Gen 1:1-19 and Mark 6:53-56]In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw how good the light was. God then separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." Thus evening came and morning followed - the first day. [Genesis]
FEBRUARY 6 ST. PAUL MIKI AND COMPANIONS, martyrs
The majestic and profound story of creation in the Book of Genesis will form the first scripture for the celebration of the Eucharist this week. It stretches from the very "beginning" to the "fall" of Adam and Eve and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden [Chapters 1-3] The history of human meditation on this story could fill volumes. Just the debates over evolution that followed the publication of Darwin's work in the 19th century could occupy the attention (and still does) of millions of believers.
I can only capture "moments" in this narrative, but perhaps they will inspire the reader to go back and read the whole story in the first three chapters of Genesis and realize the power of Genesis' preaching. The narrative was woven together at some point from different strands of oral tradition to form the strong cord of human understanding of God's plan.
The "moment" that I want to highlight today comes from the first three words, "In the beginning..." The very title of "Genesis" means "beginning." It is a matter of faith that there was a "beginning" of time and matter and that the universe did not create itself! The moment "matter" came into being, so did "time." The nature of "light" and the consequence of its "absence" which is "darkness," becomes not just a subject for physics but for poetry and preaching (cf. the Prologue to the Gospel According to John and much of that gospel). But, "in the beginning," we are challenged to consider why there is "anything at all!" This really brings us face to face with God the creator who "began" it all!! AMEN