Such is the story of the heavens and the earth

The daily lectionary text for February 5th

Genesis 1:20-2:4a |  Psalm 8  |  Mark 7:1-13

Discussions about these first chapters in Genesis often focus on the literalness of the text, or humanity’s domain over the earth.  The world is a physical place for us, measurable and predictable and functional. Technology has given us access to medicine, industry, wealth and weapons. We are cut adrift from the rest of the world. We are regulated by human rules and traditions.  We are washed painfully clean, removing any sign of createdness on us and look down on the parents that created us in their love. The loss of this for Christian communities means that we cease to see God at work in the world, we cease to see God’s creativity radically and continuously shaping history and the world.

We need to see the joy of creation. Birds flying, sea monsters swimming, the water and land is teeming with new life - every species with its unique song to sing to the glory of God. We need to be concerned with the nature of the world as created by God. We need to open our eyes to the theophany of creation.  I’m write this from a place that is totally overrun by humanity; even Central Park is a romanticized version of the natural landscape.

We are part of a New Creation that breaks through slowly taking hold in our minds and hearts.  It is a new world where we love our enemies, and do good without expecting something in return because it is who we were created to be. It is a new world because the threat of death does not force us to hoard wealth and resources while those around us starve, were they elderly are honored, where nothing in creation is treated as if it wasn’t made specially by God. In our new world we know our beginning and we know our end, and the center of the universe is a crucified Lord.