May we absorb the truth that God is paying attention to us, and to each human life, personally and individually.
SCRIPTURE
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.
-- Psalm 8:3-9
REFLECTION by Fr. Terry Gensemer
How often we ignore the phrase, "stop and smell the roses" and instead submit to the all too "urgent" task at hand.
Is this tendency what keeps us, at least in part, from acknowledging that God's care for His sacred creation is paramount in His own mind?
The Psalmist speaks of God's handiwork: the heavens, the work of his "fingers," and then points to God's masterpiece -- human life. He declares to us that God is mindful of us. God keeps His masterpiece in His thoughts.
God, the creator of the awe-inspiring heavens, is not distracted by the tasks before Him. He is not pulled away, as we might be, by thoughts of something "more important."
God is paying attention to and attending to His crowning glory, His masterpiece of creation, which cannot be duplicated or replaced, which surpasses the beauty of all other created things -- the human being.
There is no way to adequately describe how God feels about us as human beings. There are no words to fully portray His love, compassion or desire to be in communion with us.
Perhaps, the closest we can come, is to contemplate the thoughts of a mother as she gazes for the first time at her newborn child.
God cares for Life. We, as His followers, should take time to consider the life He has created and called upon us to love and protect.
PRAYER
Lord, you are the creator of all things. Guide my thoughts to consider your creation in all of its majesty, beauty and holiness. Guide my heart especially to your creation of precious human life.
Help me to comprehend how essential life is in your own heart. Teach me to appreciate, love and protect all human life through your son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
When we consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars that You have ordained, then Lord, cause us to consider also the most precious nature of the baby in the womb, and to do all we can to protect these innocents. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.