Friday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
“Now if out of joy in their beauty they thought them gods, let them know how far more excellent is the Lord than these; for the original source of beauty fashioned them.” (Wisdom 13:3) A couple of years ago, I wrote a reflection on this same reading from Wisdom in relation to our new puppy (with whom I was smitten!). As time would have it, that puppy is now a two-year-old adult (who I still refer to as “puppy” along with his actual name, “Bear”). And I will say that I’m still enamored with Bear and appreciate his beauty as a full-grown, black and white, part border collie, mixed breed dog.
Today on a walk with Bear, I was appreciating the beautiful fall sky with wispy white clouds when I was awestruck by two redtail hawks soaring overhead – perfect examples of “the greatness and beauty of created things” from which, “by analogy,” God, “their original author” is seen. (from Wisdom 13:5)
The author of Wisdom reminds us that the awesome “works” of the creator are not themselves gods, which some have “gone astray perhaps” to believe in seeking to find God. But these things point to our Creator and can make us “realize…how much more powerful is the one who made them.” (vs 4) And help us “know how far more excellent is the Lord than these.” (vs 3)
Bear and I also had the gift of watching the sun set this evening, as we often do on evening walks and sometimes see the moon rise too. As today’s Responsorial Psalm exclaims, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God” (19:2a). Tonight I will add that puppies and grown dogs, red-tail hawks and every sort of creature proclaim that glory as well. And for that we can thank our most excellent Author of Creation. May God be praised.
—Eileen Miller