Fr. Frank Majka, SJ – The Bridge

God’s Work

The Bible says that God created the world and all that’s in it. Then, when creation was almost done, God made Adam and Eve with his own hands, forming Adam from earth and Eve from Adam’s rib.

But God’s creation is not a once-and-done affair. God still continues to create the world and its creatures, constantly giving them existence, sensation, life and, in the case of human beings, minds and souls capable of thinking, choosing and loving. He also inspires them to do new things and imagine new possibilities as they tend to the creation he has asked them to care for and develop. In a real sense, human beings can become co-creators, working with God and and God working through them.

Beyond the work of creation, though, lies the second great work of God, namely, the work of redemption and reconciliation. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and failed to live in harmony with him, God determined that there would be a new creation, with a new Adam (Jesus) giving rise to a new humanity. Through Jesus’ preaching, teaching, forgiving sins and laying down his life for us, God has reconciled and continues each day to reconcile the world to himself.

And God invites human beings, his disciples and friends, to show by their words, actions and witness that redemption and reconciliation have come and are meant to take a greater and greater hold throughout the world and throughout history, to be completely finished when Jesus abolishes death and hands over his Kingdom to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24).

To create and to redeem are great works of God and, out of love for us, God invites us to join him in these two amazing labors of love. Who could refuse such an invitation?