The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate the beauty and completeness of the creation narrative in Genesis to motivate our work with Christ to restore truth and beauty in our environment.
The reading from the Book of Genesis presents the Days of Creation.
* [1:2] This verse is parenthetical, describing in three phases the pre-creation state symbolized by the chaos out of which God brings order: “earth,” hidden beneath the encompassing cosmic waters, could not be seen, and thus had no “form”; there was only darkness; turbulent wind swept over the waters. Commencing with the last-named elements (darkness and water), vv. 3–10 describe the rearrangement of this chaos: light is made (first day) and the water is divided into water above and water below the earth so that the earth appears and is no longer “without outline.” The abyss: the primordial ocean according to the ancient Semitic cosmogony. After God’s creative activity, part of this vast body forms the salt-water seas (vv. 9–10); part of it is the fresh water under the earth (Ps 33:7; Ez 31:4), which wells forth on the earth as springs and fountains (Gn 7:11; 8:2; Prv 3:20). Part of it, “the upper water” (Ps 148:4; Dn 3:60), is held up by the dome of the sky (vv. 6–7), from which rain descends on the earth (Gn 7:11; 2 Kgs 7:2, 19; Ps 104:13). A mighty wind: literally, “spirit or breath [ruah] of God”; cf. Gn 8:1.
* [1:5] In ancient Israel a day was considered to begin at sunset.
* [1:7] The dome: the Hebrew word suggests a gigantic metal dome. It was inserted into the middle of the single body of water to form dry space within which the earth could emerge. The Latin Vulgate translation firmamentum, “means of support (for the upper waters); firmament,” provided the traditional English rendering. (Genesis, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 104 praises God the Creator and Provider.
* [Psalm 104] A hymn praising God who easily and skillfully made rampaging waters and primordial night into a world vibrant with life. The psalmist describes God’s splendor in the heavens (Ps 104:1–4), how the chaotic waters were tamed to fertilize and feed the world (Ps 104:5–18), and how primordial night was made into a gentle time of refreshment (Ps 104:19–23). The picture is like Gn 1:1–2: a dark and watery chaos is made dry and lighted so that creatures might live. The psalmist reacts to the beauty of creation with awe (Ps 104:24–34). May sin not deface God’s work (Ps 104:35)! (Psalms, PSALM 104 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is healing the Sick in Gennesaret.
Tamorah Whitney (2015) comments that Creation continues every day. New Year’s in the winter is a relatively recent phenomenon. New Year’s used to be in the spring because of course the creation happened in the spring – all those plants blooming for the first time. Spring is the world’s birthday.
And in the Gospel, Jesus is continuing the tradition. The people are sick, but they are healed from Jesus’ word or touch – or even by touching something he touches. Wellness is created in them where it has not been. Like the first miracle, this last miracle is still creation. Let him create in us healing, wholeness, where there had been emptiness. Every day is creation. (Whitney, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Christ's wounds bring healing and life,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.
"The Lord of hosts was not signaling weakness as he gave sight to the blind, made the crooked to stand upright, raised the dead to life (Matthew 11:5), anticipated the effects of medicine at our prayers, and cured those who sought after him. Those who merely touched the fringe of his robe were healed (Mark 6:56). Surely you did not think it was some divine weakness, you speculators, when you saw him wounded. Indeed there were wounds that pierced his body (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:33; John 19:18, 31-37), but they did not demonstrate weakness but strength. For from these wounds flowed life to all, from the One who was the life of all." (excerpt from ON THE CHRISTIAN FAITH 4.5.54-55.16) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis 1:1-19 comments that today’s first reading takes us all the way back to the beginning and shows us that the same is true for God’s creation. He planned everything, down to the smallest detail, and made sure that it all happened in the right order.
As you fix your eyes on God’s handiwork, let awe and wonder fill your mind. Let delight for his goodness lift your heart. Praise and thank him for the amazing world he has created!
“Lord, my heart is full of joy as I behold the wonder of your creation! Thank you, Father, for this beautiful world!” (Meditation on Genesis 1:1-19, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on deep symbolism in the Genesis account that dates from about 550 BCE that resonates with Babylonian mythology, the power of words in the Hebrew mind, and the understanding that without blood and breath, plants could not be alive and the caution of the author not to use names of minor deities in this account. Friar Jude notes that the crowds seeking healing in Mark’s Gospel only needed to reach out in faith and trust and touch Jesus' cloak.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes how we can demystify the word mysticism.
I use the word mysticism in a very traditional and classic sense. It’s not to indicate something esoteric and widely unavailable to ordinary people. It does, however, point to something that is only available to individuals who go beyond the surface and exterior, those who experience the inner grace and connectivity of all things. As Jesus, Paul, and Bonaventure each said in their own way, mysticism is often foolishness to the educated and obvious to the simple.
I emphasize connectivity because that is the unteachable gift I always see in true mystics. This is what makes them different from other people. It’s also a quality that makes them seem rare. Mystics know and enjoy the connected core of reality that is hidden to those who neither desire it nor search for it. “What you seek is what you get” (see Matthew 7:7–8). Joy is also intrinsic to mysticism. When deep joy is not present in our lives, we might well be “religious,” but we’re definitely not mystics (Rohr, n.d.).
We take in the beauty and poetry of Creation in Genesis as a nudge to seek the help of the Spirit in our participation in the mission of Christ to heal the chaos in the world.
References
Genesis, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Reading. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/1?1
Meditation on Genesis 1:1-19. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/02/10/1201290/
Psalms, PSALM 104 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/104?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Loving Mystery. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-loving-mystery/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Many Were Made Well. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=feb10
Whitney, T. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/021025.html
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