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 380.

There is a principle in Catholic thought which is expressed in Latin: Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi. This is translated as: the law of prayer (determines) the law of belief. Regarding the first article of the Apostle’s Creed the Catechism cites the Roman Missal (the red book with all of the prayer for Holy Mass) “Eucharistic Prayer IV.” This prayer is based on one written by Saint Basil (AD 329-379) and is full of rich imagery echoing our faith in the Creator God in whose image we are made.

How is it that we are in the image of God? Even before the Incarnation, when God became like us in all things but sin (Hebrews 4:15), we are said to exist in the Divine Image (Imago Dei). That the human soul is a spiritual ‘part’ of us bodily creatures is a major source of this image of God in us. God is a Spirit (John 4:24). The human soul is that which allows us the ability to know and to love. These two (2) powers of the soul likewise show us to be in the image of God who is all knowing and Love (1 John 4:8; Esther 13:12; 14:14; 1 Corinthians 2:10).

While as human beings we are creatures in creation, God has confided to us the care and governance of the universe (Genesis 1:28). For this weighty responsibility we will have to render an account, whether or not we were good stewards (Luke 16:1-13; Romans 14:12). Even if none of us are astronauts flying around the Solar System, the Earth does have it’s orbit so we do all move around in the universe. Our care for what we can care for will go a long way. Our clothes, our room or homes, our yards, our cars… the places where we work… these are fields of our stewardship whereby we are able to serve God the giver of all good gifts (cf. Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13).

The way we care for ourselves, our families, those with whom we work, our neighbors, fellow citizens, people we meet, the other living creatures we may encounter, the Earth and entire universe… is all in play here, part of the equation. When we do well by these then God is served. When we fail here it is called sin and we seek and receive God’s grace, mercy and healing in the Sacrament of Penance where God’s image is again restored in us.

God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr