Embedded Files
We also call The Catechism the CCC
Say Say Say!! (Say Say Say by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson 😁)
Fr. Mike is talking about the same thing…slow in the beginning
Now we are launching deeper and deeper into BEAUTY
Yesterday we talked about God being ALMIGHTY
And how His MIGHT is being OMNIPOTENT
How God being ALMIGHTY is UNIVERSAL
He is ALL-POWERFUL
God being ALMIGHTY is LOVING because He is God the Father
God being ALMIGHTY is MYSTERIOUS because God can do ALL THINGS
AND YET…
There still is suffering and evil that exists in this world
This does not take away from God’s MIGHT
This does not take away from God’s POWER
This does not take away from God’s ABILITY
Today we are talking about God as CREATOR
IN FACT…
Today’s paragraphs highlight the way in which we know God to be Creator is of ABSOLUTE IMPORTANCE
IT IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT!!
GOD IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS!!
Paragraph 282 says, “Catechesis on creation is of major importance. It concerns the very foundations of human and Christian life: for it makes explicit the response of the Christian faith to the basic question that men of all times have asked themselves:...”
“Where do we come from?”
“Where are we going?”
“What is our origin?”
“What is our end?”
“Where does everything that exists come from and where is it going?”
THIS IS SO SO IMPORTANT!!
Tomorrow we are going to EVEN DEEPER into the reality of what we are saying about CREATION
The questions these paragraphs address are of ABSOLUTE IMPORTANCE
Remember when we talked about the mystery of the relationship between FAITH AND SCIENCE?
SCIENCE asks the question HOW AND WHAT
WHAT IS THIS?
HOW DID IT COME TO BE?
FAITH asks WHO AND WHY
WHO MADE THIS?
WHY DID THEY MAKE IT?
Today we are going to highlight that there is the MIND OF GOD
There is the WILL OF GOD
There is a BEING who is INTELLIGENT
He is MORE THAN JUST INTELLIGENT
Here is this BEING, God Himself, who created EVERYTHING
THINGS VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE
This world and this universe IS NOT A COSMIC ACCIDENT
IT WAS CREATED ON PURPOSE!!
IT WAS CREATED FOR A PURPOSE!!
That’s what we will talk about today and for the following days
So let's say a prayer as we begin this day!!
Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father Almighty, we praise you, and we give you glory. You are the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, of all things visible and invisible. And so we trust in you. We trust you because, not just because of your power. We trust because we also have asserted, you have revealed that you're not just powerful. You are the Father All-Powerful. You are the Father Almighty. That your power is rooted in love because you are, your deepest identity is love. And so we can trust you. Help us to trust you even more. Lord, help us to open our minds, open our eyes, to be able to see what it is you wish to show us about the beauty of creation and your role as the Creator of Heaven and Earth, of all things visible and invisible. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”
These paragraphs spell it out for us
Paragraph 279 says, “We shall speak first of the Creator, then of creation, and finally of the fall into sin from which Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to raise us up again.”
We are beginning to talk about the Creator Himself
Even before talking about our Lord Himself…
We talk about the Christian perspective on Creation
The first Christian perspective is…
ALL THAT EXISTS
THINGS SEEN AND UNSEEN
CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
ALL OF IT COMES FROM GOD!!
So…
Paragraph 280 says, “Creation is the foundation of ‘all God’s saving plans.’”
God made this world ON PURPOSE
THIS IS SO SO IMPORTANT!!
There are many philosophies that have come about like atheistic materialism
It says this world is a cosmic accident
It says this world came into being by random chance
Therefore, you and I exist by random chance
We are nothing more than space dust
We are nothing more than a cosmic accident
Some people think that’s fine because isn’t it incredible that we mere mortals are space dust?
Isn’t that incredible?
THE ANSWER IS NO!!
THAT IS NOT INCREDIBLE!!
It might say SPACE
BUT…
It also says DUST
We Christians believe that we are dust and we shall return to dust
ASHES TO ASHES!!
BUT…
That is simply our PHYSICAL HUMAN FORM
We believe in ASHES TO ASHES AND DUST TO DUST
BUT…
WE DO NOT COME FROM DUST!!
WE COME FROM THE LORD!!
THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH!!
THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS SEEN AND UNSEEN!!
THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE!!
Even though we will return to the earth after we die
GOD HAS DESTINED US FOR RESURRECTION!!
THAT IS INCREDIBLE!!
The atheist view is TOO SMALL AND TOO NARROW
We Christians have a WIDER VIEW
We have a WIDER MIND
We have a BROADER MIND
Not only are we interested in the QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THIS?
HOW DID IT COME TO BE?
We also want to know the answers to these questions…
WHO MADE US?
WHY DID THEY MAKE US?
We get the answer from Sacred Scripture as God reveals Himself
Paragraph 283 highlights the POWER AND GOODNESS OF SCIENCE
We may call them the MATERIAL SCIENCES
Paragraph 283 says, “The question about the origins of the world and of man has been the object of many scientific studies which have splendidly enriched our knowledge of the age and dimensions of the cosmos, the development of life-forms and the appearance of man.”
So the age of the cosmos and how old the universe is, science has dived deeply into that and has given us some pretty good answers
Some of those studies are REMARKABLE
The size of the cosmos etc.
The ever-expanding universe that we live in is REMARKABLE
Even the development of life-forms as organisms ADAPT and CHANGE and EVOLVE
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE GIFT!!
To see these theories come to be more and more clearly known
INCREDIBLE!!
THAT DOESN’T DISQUALIFY GOD’S HAND!!
IN FACT…
Paragraph 283 continues, “These discoveries invite us to even greater admiration for the greatness of the Creator, prompting us to give him thanks for all his works and for the understanding and wisdom he gives to scholars and researchers.”
It does not take ANYTHING away from God’s Glory to realize…
Here is the One who SET THIS UNIVERSE IN MOTION
Here is the One who HOLDS IT IN EXISTENCE
According to certain laws like gravity, the laws of physics, the laws of subatomic you know…EVERYTHING
The reality is that it DOES NOT TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM GOD’S INTELLIGENCE
IT DOES NOT TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM GOD’S GLORY!!
The DEPTH OF THE MYSTERY of the universe ALL comes from the INFINITE DEPTH of the MYSTERY OF GOD HIMSELF
SO WE GIVE GOD EVEN GREATER THANKS!!
WE GIVE GOD EVEN GREATER ADMIRATION!!
AND!!
How incredible is this??
We thank God for the WISDOM, the BRAINS, the MINDS of SCIENTISTS
THE MINDS OF HUMAN BEINGS!!
Think about this…
We are PART OF CREATION as human beings
OUR MINDS ARE PART OF CREATION!!
The fact that any normal being, and scientists, can ask these questions…
“WHO ARE WE?”
“WHY ARE WE HERE?”
“WHERE DID WE COME FROM?”
“WHERE ARE WE GOING?”
That we all get to ask that question is REMARKABLE!!
It highlights the GOODNESS OF THE CREATOR who gave ALL OF US MINDS LIKE THIS
SO SO INCREDIBLE!!
Paragraph 284 says, “The great interest accorded to these studies is strongly stimulated by a question of another order, which goes beyond the proper domain of the natural sciences.”
Remember, science can ask “HOW” and “WHAT”
BUT…
Paragraph 284 continues, “It is not only a question of knowing when and how the universe arose physically, or when man appeared, but rather of discovering the meaning of such an origin: is the universe governed by chance, blind fate, anonymous necessity, or by a transcendent, intelligent and good Being called ‘God’? And if the world does come from God’s wisdom and goodness, why is there evil? Where does it come from? Who is responsible for it? Is there any liberation from it?”
We will talk about that in the days ahead
We need to be able to ASK and ANSWER these questions
BUT…
Paragraph 282 asks questions, “Where do we come from?”
“Where are we going?”
“What is our origin?”
“What is our end?”
“Where does everything that exists come from and where is it going?”
WHY IS THERE SOMETHING RATHER THAN NOTHING??
Paragraph 282 continues, “[Those questions] are decisive for the meaning and orientation of our life and actions.”
If we miss that…
What do we mean by that?
If I believe that this world is an ACCIDENT then there are some SEVERE RAMIFICATIONS to that (for anyone who believes that this world and existence is some sort of random accident, I challenge you to take a look at the human circulatory system!! 🤓)
If I believe that this is ALL JUST CHANCE…
If I believe that this is ALL JUST MATTER…
If I believe that ALL THERE IS, IS THE MATERIAL WORLD…
THERE ARE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES TO THAT!!
LOGICAL NECESSITIES!!
FOR EXAMPLE…
If all this world, this universe, as large and beautiful as it is, is just stuff hitting stuff…
Matter hitting matter…
Atoms hitting atoms…
Subatomic particles floating around subatomic particles…
THEN EVERYTHING IS JUST PHYSICS!! (Which would mean that I am in deep deep trouble because although my Dad has a PhD in physics, that gene clearly skipped me haha 🤣🤣🤣)
Which means…
IT IS ALL PRE-PROGRAMMED!!
IN A MATERIAL WORLD…
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FREE WILL!! 🤯🤯🤯
IN A STRICTLY MATERIAL WORLD…
WHERE THERE IS NO SPIRIT…
WHERE THERE IS NO SOUL…
WHERE THERE IS NO GOD…
ALL THERE IS IS STUFF HITTING STUFF HITTING STUFF
Which means…
YOU ARE NOT THINKING YOUR OWN THOUGHTS!! 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
YOUR THOUGHTS ARE HAPPENING TO YOU!! 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 (Since this totally sounds like The Matrix, I leave you with this… The Matrix - Whoa 😁)
Because your brain is just stuff hitting stuff hitting stuff
It is all pre-programmed
You and I are simply COMPUTERS
WE NEED GOD IN ORDER TO HAVE FREE WILL!!
NOT ONLY THAT!!
BUT…
WE NEED GOD IN ORDER TO HAVE RIGHT OR WRONG!!
Without God…
Without a Creator…
If this world is just an ACCIDENT…
YOU DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT AND WRONG!!
You either have PREFERENCE
OR…
You have UTILITY
THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO OPTIONS!!
Right??
Without God…
IF this world is JUST AN ACCIDENT…
You only have PREFERENCE AND UTILITY
Why are you doing this?
Because I want to!
Why are you doing this?
Because it works!
THAT’S IT!!
AND YET…
We all KNOW that there is such a thing as RIGHT OR WRONG
That CAN ONLY EXIST when there is FREE WILL
That CAN ONLY EXIST when it is MORE THAN JUST PREFERENCE OR PRINCIPLE
When it is MORE THAN JUST WHAT I LIKE OR WHAT WORKS versus WHAT I DON’T LIKE AND WHAT DOESN’T WORK
Does that make sense?
In order to have GOOD AND EVIL…
In order to even say, “This is wrong!” or “That’s bad!”...
YOU NEED TO HAVE GOD!!
WITHOUT GOD THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS RIGHT OR WRONG!! 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Even an atheist who curses or rejects God because of evil in the world…
You actually NEED God to even KNOW what evil is!!!! 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
(I need to pause for a second because today’s episode has been ridiculously mindblowing!!)
Without GOD there is NO GOOD
There is just what I LIKE or what WORKS
Does that make sense?
If it doesn’t, we will talk about it as we go further
It has been an INCREDIBLE JOURNEY so far
Fr. Mike feels like we are water skiing sometimes…
Going along the surface…
BUT…
At times we need to take a beat and dip BENEATH THE SURFACE
DIP DOWN DEEPER (HEY!! ALLITERATION!! 😁)
Hopefully today is one of those moments where we get to ask this question…
“Ok God, you have revealed that you ARE and you created this world ON PURPOSE and FOR A PURPOSE. So what is that? What is that purpose?”
IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US!!
As we leave today, we need to reiterate Paragraph 279, “We shall speak first of the Creator, then of creation, and finally of the fall into sin from which Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to raise us up again.”
We recognize in Paragraph 280, “IN THE BEGINNING when God created the heavens and earth, he envisaged the GLORY OF THE NEW CREATION IN CHRIST.”
FROM THE BEGINNING!!
WHEN GOD CREATED EVERYTHING!!
What was in His mind was that YOU AND I would be created FOR and CHOOSE TO HAVE a relationship with Him
That we would be brought into HIS OWN DIVINE LIFE
THAT is why God made Heaven and Earth
THAT is why God created ALL that is visible and ALL that is invisible
SO THAT YOU AND I COULD HAVE NEW LIFE IN JESUS!!
SO THAT YOU AND I COULD BE BROUGHT INTO THE ETERNAL LOVE OF THE TRINITY IN A WAY SURPASSING THE UNION ADAM AND EVE HAD WITH GOD!!
WHICH IS JUST INCREDIBLE!!
So…
WHO AND WHY?
WHO?
GOD HIMSELF!!
WHY?
SO THAT YOU AND I COULD HAVE LIFE WITH HIM FOREVER!!
THAT’S WHY!!
THAT’S WHY THERE IS A WORLD!!
THAT’S WHY THERE IS SOMETHING RATHER THAN NOTHING!!
BECAUSE GOD LOVES YOU!!
AND HE WANTS YOU TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM!!
Fr. Mike is praying that ALL OF US get to have that ETERNAL LIFE beginning in this life and enduring FOREVER
Fr. Mike is praying FOR YOU!!
Please pray for Fr. Mike and for each other!!
I cannot WAIT to see you tomorrow!!
Scripture References & Reflections
- compiled by Andrew Adamany
Bible Translation - RSVCE
CCC 279 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Holy Scripture begins with these solemn words. The profession of faith takes them up when it confesses that God the Father almighty is "Creator of heaven and earth" (Apostles' Creed), "of all that is, seen and unseen" (Nicene Creed). We shall speak first of the Creator, then of creation and finally of the fall into sin from which Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to raise us up again."
Genesis 1:1–2
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters."
CCC 280 "Creation is the foundation of "all God's saving plans," the "beginning of the history of salvation" that culminates in Christ. Conversely, the mystery of Christ casts conclusive light on the mystery of creation and reveals the end for which "in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth": from the beginning, God envisaged the glory of the new creation in Christ."
Romans 8:18–24
"I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved."
CCC 283 "The question about the origins of the world and of man has been the object of many scientific studies which have splendidly enriched our knowledge of the age and dimensions of the cosmos, the development of life-forms and the appearance of man. These discoveries invite us to even greater admiration for the greatness of the Creator, prompting us to give him thanks for all his works and for the understanding and wisdom he gives to scholars and researchers. With Solomon they can say:
Wisdom of Solomon 7:17–22
"For it is he who gave me unerring knowledge of what exists,
to know the structure of the world and the activity of the elements;
the beginning and end and middle of times,
the alternations of the solstices and the changes of the seasons,
the cycles of the year and the constellations of the stars,
the natures of animals and the tempers of wild beasts,
the powers of spirits and the reasonings of men,
the varieties of plants and the virtues of roots;
I learned both what is secret and what is manifest,
for wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me."
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse