Homily: Fifth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

Fifth Tuesday of Ordinary Time (Genesis 1:20-2-4a) “Not Only God, but Very Good.”

The creation story is the first major myth of the Bible. As with all religious myths it contains truths that can give us an insight into the nature of the world and the nature of human beings who live in the world.

Many things strike us about the story of creation. The first is that God created the world. Next, is that God created the world in stages. The universe evolved over the course of the narrative. Another thing that is interesting is that the story reads like a litany. At the end of every day God looks at what is made. God says that everything he makes is good. And at the end of his all his efforts, he says it is very good.

Often, we grow pessimistic about our world. Someone might say that the world is not a fair place or that nature can be cruel. But we can remember through this story that the world at its root is a good place. The world is abused because of our carelessness and lack of concern for it.

As I look out my window and I see little snow on the ground and feel an unusual warmth in early February it is obvious to me and to people that I talk to that the world is changing. Almost no one today denies that actions of human beings have had an impact on our climate. We have not cared for mother earth the way we should. Most of us have not been good stewards. We have been given a good world and we have not treated it with care.

The other thing that we have not done is to take rest the way that God did. After all the work of creation God rested. We not only do not take care of our world, but we do not take care of ourselves. We rush from one activity to the next. When God finished his work, he rested on the seventh day. In the narrative there is not closure to that day. Perhaps that is a subtle reminder that all our labor must lead to rest and reflection. Labor must be balanced by prayer.

Reflection Questions:

1.    Do I believe the world is good? What good things do I see?

2.   Do I rest enough? What is the best way to rest?

 Dear Parishioners,

           This Saturday night we will be having our Marriage Day Mass. All couples will have the chance to renew their marriage vows. This is always an affirmation of the importance of the vocation of marriage. We also will be recognizing married couples who are celebrating significant anniversaries.

          The vocation of marriage is a building block of our society. Stable homes with committed married couples are very important. We hear often in church that the marriage covenant is a symbol of God’s commitment to his people. When we see a committed couple they are living proof that we can trust our God to be faithful.

          May Our Lady Pray for us today,

          Fr. Mark