GOD'S FAVORED, TREASURED CREATION

WHO ARE YOU? The basic answer to this question would be stating your name. If, after giving your name you were asked the same question , What would your answer be?

I believe the answer to that will be a good indication of what you value most in life. A person proud of his heritage would likely answer he is the child of so and so, stating his parents' name and where they were originally from. A content housewife would say she is Mrs. _________. A proud dad would say he is his son's father. A career-oriented one would probably answer with "I am a lawyer, doctor, judge, teacher, mayor, singer, pianist, etc. Majority if not all responses would be geared towards achievement.

The answer to that question differs as we progress through life. While some are proud of who they are, there are still many who are not.  I am just a carpenter, a taxi driver, a garbage collector, a maid. Those who have had the stigma of jail or sin have the lowest self-esteem.

But you know what? No matter how other people see or perceive who you are, they really do not matter. The truth of who we are has been written in the scriptures. God created us in His own image and likeness (Gen. 1:27). When He created everything else, He saw them as good. But after He has created man, He saw His creation as very good (Gen. 1:31)

In fact, He blessed man and put him in charge of all His creation. From His earlier creations He gave us food to eat. Only after man's creation was He satisfied and deemed heavens and earth and all their array have been completed.

This fallen world has become so cruel that people look down on people. The world defines man through his achievements. Wealth, fame and fortune are being glorified, notwithstanding the means of how they were achieved. Liars are elected and reelected into office. Criminals are given much publicity by the media than victims. The more violent the crime, the more publicity they get. Very seldom if at all  do good-doers get the same exposure.

My friends in Christ, my point is, do not let others define who we are. We are all created in the same image and likeness, not one better than the other. Today's reading is the proof of who we are in God's eyes -- His FAVORED, TREASURED CREATION. He loves us. Even if we all fall and sin, His love does not change. In fact, He provided a way out for us from a sure death by sending His Son Jesus to become the payment for our sins; so we can be redeemed by His blood.

Next time someone looks down on you or say something that is contrary to your true worth, just remember Jesus on the cross. He gave His life up for you, willingly, because you are worthy in Hie eyes.

Father in heaven, I acknowledge that am a sinner but since Jesus died on the cross for me, now I am forgiven. No words can express how much I appreciate all the things you have done for me. Grant me the grace, loving Father to see others through your eyes and to love them as you would. Amen.

Meditation: Genesis 1:24-2:4a

Then God said,
“Let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures:
cattle, creeping things, and wild animals of all kinds.”
And so it happened:
God made all kinds of wild animals, all kinds of cattle,
and all kinds of creeping things of the earth.
God saw how good it was.
Then God said:
“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,
the birds of the air, and the cattle,
and over all the wild animals
and all the creatures that crawl on the ground.”

God created man in his image;
in the divine image he created him;
male and female he created them.

God blessed them, saying:
“Be fertile and multiply;
fill the earth and subdue it.
Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air,
and all the living things that move on the earth.”
God also said:
“See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth
and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food;
and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air,
and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground,
I give all the green plants for food.”
And so it happened.
God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good.
Evening came, and morning followed–the sixth day.

Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed.
Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing,
he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken.
So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy,
because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.

Such is the story of the heavens and the earth at their creation.

--that in all things God may be glorified