Tuesday of the
Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
(Genesis 1:20-2:4a; Mark 7:1-13)
In the movie “Jurassic Park” humans try their hand at
creation. Actually they attempt to recreate
an idyllic island where children may see the wonders of dinosaurs. The enterprise fails, however, because of
human miscalculation and vice. Genesis
reports today part of the story of God’s creation. It works marvelously, at least to the extent
that the same humans do not interfere.
Today’s reading relates the fifth and sixth days of
creation and the seventh day of rest.
God first makes the creatures of the sea which include birds. Then He turns His attention to land animals
making domestic stock before populating forest with wild beats. Of course, God reserves for last the pinnacle
of His creation – human beings. They are
made in the image of God with a mind and will.
They also are given dominance over the rest of the earth. But they are forbidden from abusing
anything. This command is implied in God’s
first words to humankind. Men and women are
to eat seed-bearing plants and fruits from trees. But forgetting the command, they will soon bring
about discord in creation.
The issue of eating only vegetables and fruits has been
resolved in accord with most people’s liking.
But God’s mandate to live in harmony with the rest of creation is still
in force. We are to care for the earth
and to treat our co-creatures humanely. These
tasks entail the curtailing of greed and the cultivating of respect. When we do so, we do not oppose our nature as
evidenced in today’s reading. We only improve
defective elements of our culture.
