Genesis 2:18-24 (New Revised Standard)
18 Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner." 19 So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken." 24 Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Reflection
"Grandma is behind the tombstone "Mallot." It was easy to find the upright stone from the roadway in the cemetery. Behind the large tombstone lay a flat stone with the names of Sue's grandmother and grandfather. We jumped from the car and went to the grave site. Memories flooded from Sue as I listened and recalled the brief memories I had of her grandma's life.
The woman... made for the man... his queen. Both man and woman made in the image of God. Made in the glory of God. All creatures were of the ground, but woman was from man. How precious woman becomes in creation.
God caused man to go into a deep sleep. A sleep as a covering or a veil for what God was about to do. Something wonderful and glorious was about to occur from the hand of God.
What a wonderful creation God has given to all of us. As I read this passage I picture God with a gleam and joy creating a love for all life. I see a God that has great joy in life. Then I also see a God that knows of the possibility of human failure and continues to create life out of man's failure to bring death from life. God knows and has an answer... Jesus Christ... God in human form. The Holy Spirit... God to human as a wonderful gift of guidance. God the Father, source of the plan of life. Yes God loves us and cares for us. God gives life and love and truth and grace.
As the woman is precious to the man... humankind is precious to God. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord, as I stop and take pause to hear your word of creation and life, may I also love and care for the life you surround me with this day and love the lives you have brought into my life as you have loved me. You are life, truth and grace... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment