For 15 November 2013, Friday of the 32nd Week, based on Wisdom 13:1-9
1 For verily all men by nature * were but vain who had no perception of God,
And from the good things that are seen they gained not power to know him that is,
Neither by giving heed to the works did they recognize the artificer;
2 But either fire, or wind, or swift air,
Or †circling stars, or raging water, or ‡ luminaries of heaven,
They thought to be gods that rule the world.
3 And if it was through delight in their beauty that they took them to be gods,
Let them know how much better than these is their Sovereign Lord;
For the first author of beauty created them:
4 But if it was through astonishment at their power and § influence,
Let them understand from them how much more powerful is he that formed them;
5 For from the ** greatness of the beauty ††even of created things
‡‡ In like proportion §§ does man form the image of their first maker.
6 But yet for these *** men there is but small blame,
For they too perhaps do but go astray
While they are seeking God and desiring to find him.
7 For †††living among his works they make diligent search,
And they ‡‡‡ yield themselves up to sight, because the things that they look upon are beautiful.
8 But again even they are not to be excused.
9 For if they had power to know so much,
That they should be able to explore §§§ the course of things,
How is it that they did not sooner find the Sovereign Lord of these his works?
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
About Ann Garrido
Ann is Associate Professor of Homiletics at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, MO (sponsored by the Province of St. Albert the Great) and former director of the school’s doctorate of ministry in preaching program. She has been affiliated with the Dominican community since 1996.
15 Nov 2013
Nature as the sacrament of God
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1 For verily all men by nature * were but vain who had no perception of God,
And from the good things that are seen they gained not power to know him that is,
Neither by giving heed to the works did they recognize the artificer;
2 But either fire, or wind, or swift air,
Or †circling stars, or raging water, or ‡ luminaries of heaven,
They thought to be gods that rule the world.
3 And if it was through delight in their beauty that they took them to be gods,
Let them know how much better than these is their Sovereign Lord;
For the first author of beauty created them:
4 But if it was through astonishment at their power and § influence,
Let them understand from them how much more powerful is he that formed them;
5 For from the ** greatness of the beauty ††even of created things
‡‡ In like proportion §§ does man form the image of their first maker.
6 But yet for these *** men there is but small blame,
For they too perhaps do but go astray
While they are seeking God and desiring to find him.
7 For †††living among his works they make diligent search,
And they ‡‡‡ yield themselves up to sight, because the things that they look upon are beautiful.
8 But again even they are not to be excused.
9 For if they had power to know so much,
That they should be able to explore §§§ the course of things,
How is it that they did not sooner find the Sovereign Lord of these his works?
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
About Ann Garrido
Ann is Associate Professor of Homiletics at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, MO (sponsored by the Province of St. Albert the Great) and former director of the school’s doctorate of ministry in preaching program. She has been affiliated with the Dominican community since 1996.