This year, 2024, marks the 800th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Aquinas. I mention this because Thomas’s great work, “Summa Theologica” was the basis of my four years studying Thomistic Theology and Philosophy. This course of study taught me to think, to be curious, to doubt, to question. I was young and my Dominican professors were very forbearing!
Thomism is the faint, distant hue coloring how I now articulate my spiritual journey, of where I am now, of the never-ending constructing of what I believe, about where will my future be, the final end of my life here.
A clue from Heidegger’s concept of Time and Being, could categorize me as an “Existential-Thomist.” I perceive existence beginning before time, being in time and being out of time, eternally being.
So, begins my reflection on being created in the image of God.
“So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them.” “Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” Gen 1:27, 2:7
I think the ancient authors of Genesis’ first chapters describing us created in God’s image comes from great, wonderful, God inspired insight. I recently discovered the phrase, “Radical Inclusion”. It led me to believe the ancients are saying being created in the image of God, each of us is radically included, fundamentally integrated into, our being embedded in, living into, the primary source of being. I should say the only source of being, from eternity into time and back to eternity.
“From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason and skill.” BCP Eucharistic prayer C, page 370
The words from this Eucharistic prayer always strike me as evident truth. It evokes the belief God’s image is in all creation, is in the Church and is in each of us, even given the scientific validity of evolution as how it happens.
But, made in the image of God, me?
That question redounds and echoes in my mind. How am I created in the image of God. What does that look like? What meaning does that have in my life? Because this must have significance. I just don’t see God’s image in me. I recently read of Bonhoeffer’s conviction that “we are incapable of recognizing any hint of the image of God in ourselves.” We experience, we see, God’s image only in others, within our relationships with others. I think I am beginning to see that. I only see and experience others. In a sense I really don’t see me the way I see others. (I’m getting my mind around this idea bit by bit. I need Wisdom to come and help me. I hope she’s around.) I have the beginning of an epiphany!
My fellow traveler on my journey in the Kingdom here on earth sees everyone as living souls, in God’s image. If he is seeing God’s image in everyone, BEHOLD! HE SEES GOD’S IMAGE IN ME!
“While I was still young, before I went on my travels, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.
Before the temple I asked for her, and I will search for her until the end.” Sirach 51:13-22
Thomism is the faint, distant hue coloring how I now articulate my spiritual journey, of where I am now, of the never-ending constructing of what I believe, about where will my future be, the final end of my life here.
A clue from Heidegger’s concept of Time and Being, could categorize me as an “Existential-Thomist.” I perceive existence beginning before time, being in time and being out of time, eternally being.
So, begins my reflection on being created in the image of God.
“So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them.” “Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” Gen 1:27, 2:7
I think the ancient authors of Genesis’ first chapters describing us created in God’s image comes from great, wonderful, God inspired insight. I recently discovered the phrase, “Radical Inclusion”. It led me to believe the ancients are saying being created in the image of God, each of us is radically included, fundamentally integrated into, our being embedded in, living into, the primary source of being. I should say the only source of being, from eternity into time and back to eternity.
“From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason and skill.” BCP Eucharistic prayer C, page 370
The words from this Eucharistic prayer always strike me as evident truth. It evokes the belief God’s image is in all creation, is in the Church and is in each of us, even given the scientific validity of evolution as how it happens.
But, made in the image of God, me?
That question redounds and echoes in my mind. How am I created in the image of God. What does that look like? What meaning does that have in my life? Because this must have significance. I just don’t see God’s image in me. I recently read of Bonhoeffer’s conviction that “we are incapable of recognizing any hint of the image of God in ourselves.” We experience, we see, God’s image only in others, within our relationships with others. I think I am beginning to see that. I only see and experience others. In a sense I really don’t see me the way I see others. (I’m getting my mind around this idea bit by bit. I need Wisdom to come and help me. I hope she’s around.) I have the beginning of an epiphany!
My fellow traveler on my journey in the Kingdom here on earth sees everyone as living souls, in God’s image. If he is seeing God’s image in everyone, BEHOLD! HE SEES GOD’S IMAGE IN ME!
“While I was still young, before I went on my travels, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.
Before the temple I asked for her, and I will search for her until the end.” Sirach 51:13-22
RSS Feed