FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 ST. ELIZABETH
OF HUNGARY
[Wisdom 13:1-9 and Luke 17:26-37]
For
from the greatness and beauty of created things
their original author, by analogy, is seen. But
yet, for these the blame is less; for they indeed
have gone astray perhaps, though they seek God and
wish to find him. For they search busily among his
works, but are distracted by what they see, because
the things sen are fair. But again, not even these
are pardonable. For if they so far succeeded in
knowledge that they could speculate about the world,
how did they not more quickly find its Lord?
[Wisdom]
It
has always been a puzzle to me how anyone engaged in
scientific pursuits could be an atheist or even an
agnostic. The Book of Wisdom, in today's first
scripture, ponders this. The first part of the
passage deals with the tendency to turn natural
objects and forces into idols, as we know, for
example, from Greek mythology. It is the second
part of the passage that I am referring to in my
statement.
Each day seems to bring some new
discovery about the universe outside our planet, or
the universe inside our bodies. Some researchers
succumb to the temptation to materialism which says
that only what we can measure is real. The step (or
what some would call 'leap') to faith is beyond
them. The Book of Wisdom puts it well: For if
they so far succeeded in knowledge that they could
speculate about the world, how did they not more
quickly find its Lord? From the beauty of a
child to the beauty of the stars, God is
proclaimed. Psalm 19 sings,
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the firmament proclaims the works of his hands.
Lest
I come down too hard on scientists, I also wonder
how anyone in the great arts can embrace atheism or
agnosticism. The sheer human capacity to appreciate
the depth and beauty of language, music, dance,
sculpture, paint should make us wonder why and how
we developed such appreciation. It has been with us
since our early human ancestors drew on cave walls!
I hope the Book of Wisdom will give us all something
to think about today and then look around to see,
hear, and feel God speaking. AMEN
