My dear Parishioners,

Peace! The first article of the Apostle’s Creed is: I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of Heaven and Earth. There are forty “in brief” statements in The Catechism of the Catholic Church which treat this article of our saving faith. What follows is a reflection on article 416.

Part of our faith in ‘God the Father Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth, of all that is seen and unseen’ includes the Fall or Original Sin. This is also called ‘Adam’s sin.’ Part of this includes the good creation of our human race and the gift of free will which, in part, makes us image God.

Another part of the good creation of our human race includes the gift of ‘original holiness.’ This was the state we found ourselves in before Original Sin began our downward spiral away from God. We existed in God’s image in many ways: our existence mirrored God’s existence; our free will mirrored God’s free will; our abilities to know and love mirrored God’s all knowing and eternal love (1 John 4:8); so too the good state in which we were created included our being holy as the Lord our God is holy (Matthew 5:48; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:15-16). Now, since the Fall, holiness is found in us only by God’s grace in us. Grace won by Christ’s death and resurrection which we celebrate annually between Good Friday and Easter, but in fact, we celebrate Christ’s victory over sin (anti-holiness) each time the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered. The holiness which the Saints enjoy, is even greater than the ‘original holiness’ of ‘the beginning’ insofar as we are now not only creatures but heirs, co-heirs with Christ and citizens of Heaven (Ephesians 2:19; James 2:5).

Yet another part of God’s good creation of the human race included the right relationship which existed between Heaven and Earth, God and us. This was forfeited by Adam’s sin, Original Sin. Again, Christ’s death and resurrection are the remedy. On the Cross justice and mercy have met (Psalms 4:1; 36:10; 40:10; 85:10; 89:14; 103:7; Proverbs 21:21; Hosea 2:19) so we are not restored to the ‘original justice’ of the garden but enjoy the benefits of the Divine Mercy made known in the Blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16; Ephesians 2:13; Hebrews 9:14; 10:19; 13:20; 1 Peter 1:2, 18-19; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5).

What Adam had received from God in Creation: being, life, free will original holiness and justice… was received not only for himself but in trust for all mankind who would descend from him in consequence of God’s command to be fruitful and multiply, fill the Earth and subdue it… In this way the Fall or Original Sin or Adam’s sin effects us all. Thanks be to God for Christ who is the New Adam whose obedience unto death saves us and offers us a glorious eternity if we in turn, by His grace obey the holy will of God.

God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr