Friday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
People often ask me how they can know God is real. Usually my answer sounds like this, “have you looked outside recently?” This is my answer because God reveals Himself every day through the Beauty of His creation.
Today’s first reading points out the grandeur of creation and how it is so easily missed. The beginning of the reading says, “All men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of God, and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing him who is, and from studying the works did not discern the artisan.” The writer is pointing out to us that the beauty and power we see in creation should lead us to the Creator, not replace Him. The author then speaks of people who admire the sun, moon, stars, fire, or wind but fail to recognize that these are only works of God’s hands. Their errors are understandable, for creation is indeed magnificent, but it remains incomplete without the wisdom to see beyond it.
This passage calls us to a deeper vision. The way that one feels when looking at something wonderful is meant to bring to mind the creator, not the creation alone. When we stop at creation, we limit our wonder; when we see through creation to God, our wonder becomes worship. The writer reinforces this notion by saying, “For from the greatness and the beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen.” This should call us deeper into the reality that God is trying to reveal Himself to us daily in many different ways. My challenge to you is to reflect at the end of the day on what way He tried to reveal His grandeur to you.
Reflection by Mark, seminarian
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections