“In the beginning…God saw that it was good…God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good.” (Genesis 1:1, 4, 31)
It all begins with God and it all ends with God. It all begins with God’s creative love and it all ends with God’s loving embrace of all creation in Jesus Christ. The story of creation in today’s first reading is not to be read as a historical or scientific account. It, nonetheless, teaches an important theological or religious truth: God not only created the world but He created it good.
Genesis is not a science book. It cannot be used as an argument against evolution or the “Big Bang” theory. But it does give us God’s view of creation as blest and good. Seven times God steps back like an artist to admire His work and declares that it is good, indeed very good. God has given over and entrusted this good creation into our hands. Have we reverenced this gift entrusted to us or have we squandered and destroyed our rivers, streams, earth and air?
Pope Francis warns us: “This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will” (“On Care for our Common Home, #2).
Let us rekindle our reverence for creation with the words of St. Francis of Assisi:
Most High, all powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessing…
Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and you give light through him….
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
in heaven you formed them clear and precious and beautiful.