A wonder, a responsibility, an honour

Laura Digan December 27, 2020 0 1

Playlists

Add to Favourites

Save for later

Listen to this daily worship

Genesis 1: 26-31 (NRSVA)

26 Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’

27 So God created humankind in his image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’ 29 God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so. 31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness.”

‘Our image’

‘Our likeness’

This use of the plural pronoun by God has always fascinated me. Who is the collective God is referring to? Who is the collective we humans are made in the likeness of? 

I know that Old Testament theologians have differing opinions on this, but I personally take great comfort in the thought that the plural pronoun refers to the Holy Trinity. In the beginning, before time began, there was God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, existing together forever in community. 

And we are made in that image, 

‘Our image’

‘Our likeness’

And because we are made in that image, we long for community, for connection, for communion. 

To be human is to long for, to seek and to hold in community. Not just the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, but each other too. 

PRAYER:

Holy God,
You are the creator of all
We are your children
The bearers of your image
Community is in our body
Our bones
Our blood
Our very DNA longs for community in you

Help us to fulfil that longing
To feel your presence in our lives
To walk in your light,
To follow your Son 
And live by your Spirit