As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops says that Genesis uses a,
“literary structure of six days”
rather than specifying that there were six actual days as we know them now, with 24 hours in each day.
The USCCB ALSO goes on to tell us the creation events in the first three days, directly correlate to the creation events in the second three days.
On day one of creation,
“The Earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep,” (1:2).
Then God said let there be light, and there was light! As simple as that! God separated the light from the darkness, He called the light day and the dark He called night. We don’t know where the light is coming from, or the darkness, or what the light and darkness is covering, just that they exist because He made them exist.
On day two, God created an
“expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters,” (1:6).
Uhm, what? I had to read and re-read that one a couple of times, then consult the USCCB take on this passage. They tell us that,
“the water is divided into water above and water below the earth so that the earth appears and is no longer without outline,
Saltwater seas and fresh water under the earth are separated from water in the heavens, as well as an expanse which God called, “Heaven”. I always wondered why it’s generally thought when you’re little that Heaven is up in the clouds, and this appears to be where we get it.
On day three, we get the land and the seas. He called the dry land earth, and the waters He called seas. They’re separated and put in their own places. Separating the opposites seems to be a trend here. Light from dark, waters on the earth from waters in the heavens/atmosphere, dry land from the seas.
On the dry land, God put vegetation.
“Plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them, after their kind,” (1:11)
This is the first time we read that God reflected back on what He had created,and
“saw that it was good”
Well, of COURSE it was good! God created it!
How often is it that we can truly look back on something we have created and known it was good? It can be SO easy to just do things halfway, just to get them done. Doing things halfway or providing less than our best effort doesn’t do anyone any good. Whether it is with school, spending time with family, or finishing a project at work, we do nobody justice by putting forth our best effort.
I wear a consecration bracelet on my left wrist. Every time I look at it, I’m reminded of the love our dear sweet Mother Mary has for us, and the struggles and efforts she went through to bring us Christ and be our Spiritual Mother. It’s a physical reminder to work on my patience (something I tend to struggle with) and to give whatever I’m working on my very best effort, no matter how hard or boring or unpleasant the task at hand may be. It’s such a helpful thing to me, to have a physical reminder no matter where I am (at the office, at the gym, or anywhere else) to give my best as Mary and our Lord have given.
Study Questions
How can you remind yourself to give your very best at everything you do to our Lord?
What physical or spiritual prompts can you use as a reminder to keep prayerful, and to offer your very best efforts in everything you do?
I find apps and calendars to be a wonderful help not only in accomplishing what I need to for school or work, but also for learning more about our wonderful faith.
