Since school is starting again, I thought it would be nice to clear up some very important questions that may have come from some of our younger parishioners.
What is your favorite color?
Green. I find the color green to be very soothing and peaceful. It reminds me of my days growing up on the farm (at least spring). Plus, I just like it.
Are there any readings you don’t read because of language or behavior?
No, I read them all. The readings we have at Mass are already picked by the Church and put into something called the “Lectionary”. Sunday readings are on a three-year cycle (meaning they repeat every three years). Weekday readings are on a two-year cycle. The Lectionary covers the best and most important stuff of the whole Bible, but it can’t cover everything or else we would have really, really long readings and some really boring ones too. There are some very interesting stories in the Bible that get left out. I recommend reading the whole thing. There are few stories with questionable language and/or behavior. See 2 Kings 2:23-24 for a humorous example.
Why in the Bible are the people 500 years old or more?
The probably had a better diet—less fast food, artificial flavors, and preservatives—and they exercised a lot by walking everywhere—there were no cars! The record goes to Methuselah who live 969 years (Gen 5:27). However, long lives led to big sin, so the Lord said: “My spirit shall not remain in man forever, since he is but flesh. His days shall comprise one hundred and twenty years.” (Gen 6:3)
In all seriousness, these stories in Genesis are not written as we today write our history with exact facts and figures. The point is not that these people lived over 500 years, but the ages are symbolic that these were really important figures of the past. The ages could also be symbolic that humankind had a golden age in the past, something we still tend to believe today. Yet another reason is simply the theme of the first part of Genesis with the Fall of Adam of Eve, the flood of Noah, and the tower of Babel. Humans kept trying to grasp at being like God, and they kept sinning. Living a really long time is another way humans were trying to grasp at being divine. So, God put an end to it and shortened our lives. He also kicked us out of the Garden of Eden, flooded the earth, and confused our languages at Babel. We don’t always learn our lessons the first time. Genesis makes a point with all these stories which are probably more symbolic than literal. The point is to stop putting ourselves in the place of God and to start listening to and obeying God.
How was God created?
God was not created. God is not a creature like we are. God has always existed and always will. There is no time with God. God created time. It is really hard to understand this. We only know things in terms of time and matter because that is how we are made. God is totally different than us. However, it is important to remember God did enter time, and the Creator became a creature–Jesus Christ. Jesus is fully God. Jesus is fully human. Jesus makes it possible for us to know God, to be friends with God, and to share in God’s divine life.
-Fr. Greg
