St. Joseph of the Lakes

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (Jn3:16-18)

The story of creation in the book of Genesis tells us that God created the world and all that is in it, and He looked upon it and saw that it was very good. (Gn 1:31) His last act of creation was Adam and Eve who are made in God’s image and likeness.  This story has profound meanings that we usually pass over without much thought.  For most of us we get the “gist” of the story (God made us); but seldom do we tease out the magnificent implications.

God is creator and He gives substance and meaning to all that he creates. We share in that creative ability.  We not only make tools and shape the world in ways that suit our needs, but we also create images and works of art and imbue meaning upon those creations. Early within our human beginnings we took clumps of clay, as well as wood and stones and fashioned them into objects that we attributed value. We continue to do so in our present age. 

God exists in a community of persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Our fullest expression of humanity unfolds in a community of persons. Although we honor each individual for the gift that they are to the human community, humanity would not continue without the primary relationship of mother, father and child(ren).

God is eternal; without beginning or end. We are created with the potential to live in eternity and through the Incarnation of His Son God so transforms our physical nature that we can now reside with Him (body and soul) in eternity.

Every human being is created in God’s image and likeness.  The huge variety and abundance of gifts and talents that we share with each other speaks of the undefinable nature of God.  He cannot be pinned down to one color of skin, language, or race. The vast pool of human talent alone speaks to the enormity of God’s nature. 

Today we celebrate the Holy Trinity, the great mystery God shares with us throughout the story of our salvation!