You are created in the "image and likeness of God." How special is that? You are made to emulate the great Creator. In you, others may encounter the Divine. You are the Crown of Creation.
What a beautiful grace! What a powerful gift!
And yet, we must always remember that "with great power, comes great responsibility." It is not enough to simply be created in the image of God. Humanity has been endowed with the responsibility to care for all of Creation.
This is what Pope Francis is insisting upon in his latest encyclical, Laudato Si. We share in a deep responsibility to take care of creation and allow it to flourish.
The first creation story in Genesis illustrates, in spectacular poetry, the love and care poured out by God in each moment of creation. Where other creation stories during that time contained gods of violence and vengeance, the god of the Hebrew Bible, our God, invited the universe into being. "Let there be," and it was good.
This creation story ends with the formation of a new being. Different from those before, this one was made to be an "image" of God.In ancient times, specifically those during which the Bible was written, while a king was away from his people, a plaster cast was placed at the head of the town. This replica of the king signified that the people of the place were to be governed and cared for in the same manner that would be done had the ruler been present. In a way, it demonstrated continued care for those the ruler had dominion over. They were not forgotten.
The Book of Genesis, written in Hebrew, has the word for plaster cast found where in English we read image.
Wow.
Not only were we created to resemble God, but according to the Hebrew, we were made to be replicas of the Divine and share in dominion over the rest of creation. But we must remember that this dominion must also replicate the Divine. We are to care for creation with the same compassion and love poured out for us by Christ.
If we are to truly be the Crown of Creation, we must be willing to pour out our love and compassion as well. Not only to our neighbor, but to all of God's magnificent and holy creation.
Peace,
Sarah
*** Linking up with Blessed Is She and #BISsisterhood and Faith and Fellowship
This is great satah. I love the connection to Laudato Si. Made in God's image we are called to relate to creation the way he does. With the type of investment like the creator has.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Amy! Isn't the Creator so GOOD?!
DeletePeace, Sarah
Thank you Sarah, for reminding us of our important responsibility to care for this beautiful physical world God has created for us. It's so easy for us to just focus on the spiritual and not the physical.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Thanks so much for reading, Rachel!
DeletePeace, Sarah
Oh, this is lovely and such a great reminder of the truth that we are made in God's image. We have lost the wonder of that, I fear.
ReplyDeleteBlessings.
I fear the same. It's up to us to share that beauty and recognition of Grace with others. Such a HUGE responsibility! Thanks for reading, Michele!
DeletePeace, Sarah