January 1, 2009

The New Creation

On New Year's Day we celebrate the new creation that Mary conceives and bears into the world. God once re-created the world violently, but in the covenant with Noah vowed to never do so again.

In fulfillment of the Noachide covenant, God now re-creates the world gently, sending his creative Word as one of us. In this admirabile commercium our humanity is given access to the beauty and delight of the divine life.

Our culture tells us that New Year's Day is the time for resolutions, and I think this is a holy and good thing. We should be encouraged to see ourselves as we might be: happier, healthier, flourishing more in love of neighbor. Indeed this is how God sees us, at least in the sense that God's vision for us is one of joy and delight and flourishment. The renovation of the world that begins with the birth of Christ can get us there through our communion with God through him.

1 comment:

A Bit of the Blarney said...

I am an extension of that covenant with Noah through the birth of the Savior. I am to be an instrument of change in the name of Christ Jesus. And now a New Year in which to attempt the life of change. Thank You! Cathy