Monday 11 February

Genesis 1:1-19 

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.  And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.  God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. And God said, "Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."  So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so.  God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.  And God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so.  God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.  Then God said, "Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it." And it was so.  The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good.  And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. And God said, "Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth." And it was so.  God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars.  God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.  And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.    

Music

Today is Monday the 11th of February, in the fifth week of ordinary time.  

Tenebrae, directed by Nigel Short, sing “Bless the Lord My Soul” from Rachmaninoff’s Vespers.  “Bless the Lord, my soul.  Lord God, how great you are!” As I begin to pray today, I acknowledge the greatness of God, who created me and everything around me, the earth the moon and the stars, who makes springs gush forth in the valleys and grass grow for the cattle. And I place myself in the hands of that great and wonderful God.  

Today’s reading is from the Book of Genesis.  

This week we hear a story of Creation, of God bringing life and light. Take a moment to try to picture the vastness of the cosmos … planets … stars … galaxies.   

And in this vastness God acts to create.   God brings light into a dark world.  Can you picture this?  In your imagination, as you witness this coming of light into a void, how do you respond, what feelings are stirred in you?  

As you listen to the second part of the reading let your imagination continue to see the immensity of creation.  Notice also the detail, as God pays attention to fruit-bearing trees, as well as the light-giving Sun.   

How do you want to respond to God who creates and sustains life?  Take some time to respond as you feel moved, perhaps in awe… or confusion… or praise… or desire.  Whatever you are feeling, talk to this creator God about it, or simply be still and quiet in God’s presence.