Searching for Wisdom
Last Friday I was priviledged to be invited to a lecture given by Norman Habel editor/writer of the Earth Bible series. By highlighting the Biblical creation story Habel helped us recognise that the voice of Earth is suppressed. My understanding is that by applying the concept of voice to earth the reader of the Bible views Earth as a human subject. Yet I suspect that this is not the intention of the term "voice" rather it is the sounds, images or signs that Earth communicates to other members of the earth community. Signs like climate changes, deforestation, disappearing rainforests etc...Images that remind us constantly of earth's fragility.
Often we speak of earth as "mother earth" and this is how the biblical creation story shows it. We are made out of the body of earth so we risk disaster when we forget the profound relationship between us and mother earth. We come from earth and return to it.
It seems to be then, that we are responsible for nurturing the earth, serving it so that it can be the beautiful place God intended it to be. Yes the earth is beautiful and we share the love of God and all that grows from it. Moreover we share the wisdom of God to care for God's precious earth. I believe the symbolic stories in the Genesis creation are not about something that happened long ago rather they are stories about now. Every season, and every day God is looking at creation and seeing how good it is. How can we look at the sunset, the sunrise, the waterfalls, the coastlines, the whole of creation, human and non-human and not feel God's profound presence.
We can pick up on this concept of God's presence in the world in the Gospel of John (1:1-14). Here it is clear that there is no theology of creation that is independent of a theology of incarnation. John's prologue presents Jesus as the divine Word that was with God in the beginning and was God. It moves to reveal the Word as creator amd sustainer of the universe, the source of life and knowledge of all creatures.
Insofar as I understand, Jesus is identified with Wisdom the "pre-existence" agency in creation; the revelation of the knowledge of God and the giving of life; incarnation and divinity itself. So who is wisdom? The Lord by wisdom founded the earth (Prov 3:19); she is the giver of life (Prov 4:13), the Lord created me, the first of his acts (Prov 8:22), whoever finds me finds life (Prov:8:35), come and eat my bread (Prov 9:5).
Wow! this insight illuminates some aspects of Wisdom that allows us to appreciate the inter-relationship between the interconnected universe, all its creatures and the saving work of Christ.
Te atapo (the dawn)
4 Comments:
I geuss when we talk about the voice of the earth, we talk about so mnay other voices. As the earth is exploited, many other people are exploited in the process. But I can not help but wonder what we mean by talking about the earth.
I have been reading an interesting article on the same, about the earth crisis and one thing struck me. When we say all creatures are interrelated- do we mean that none of the parts of the creatures ie human beings are much better than the others? And if this is not the case, then where does that leave human beings beings? If this is the case that human beings are better, what does that mean as far as other creatures are concerned?
I thought Dr. Norman was good in the lecture on Friday. Just wished he opened up more for questions and criticism.
Thanks wisdom.
Following from some things ija says, one question: Why are "Earth Readings" popular in the West while in much of the globe people do not have education, basic medical care, even food... Being concerned for the "earth" and animals is great, but shouldn't people care about people first!
Earth readings are safe, simply reading Jesus or the prophets with one eye on the TV screen is not so safe...
although Dr Habel presented a great hermeneutics on earth reading, i tend to think about what Tim said ... that people are important too and our reading of the bible should be geared up to helping people??? come to think of it the earth reading did label the human as the enemy ... and like the big brother in the series of Prison Break said to his little brother; "a person like me who awaits death has no hope but for you to come and give me the only thing that I could only imagine of is "hope" ... and I believe that our readings of the bible should at least geared up to giving hope to people who needs it the most.
Yes Tim - I agree - it's pretty hip to be earth aware -environmental and ecological and what about 2/3 world people -
I think most thinking people are overwhelmed by the overkill of the media in this regard - what can anyone do and where to start?
But it isn't that simple is it - if, as some scientists think,the ecological clock is gaining momentum faster than we can rectify anything we are all in 'deep deep trouble.'
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