Delight in Creation: Embracing Our Divine Worth
Summary
In this message, we explore the profound truth of God's intentional and delightful creation of each one of us. Drawing from a 30-day retreat inspired by St. Ignatius of Loyola, we delve into the meditations on existence, life, sensation, and rationale. These meditations invite us to recognize God's presence in all creation, from the elements to the pinnacle of His creation—humanity. Through these reflections, we are reminded that God not only intended for us to exist but delighted in creating us. This realization challenges the lies we often believe about ourselves, such as not being good enough or being unwanted. Instead, we are called to embrace the truth that God sees us as wonderful and delightful.
This understanding transforms how we view ourselves and others. Recognizing that every person is intentionally and delightfully created by God, we are encouraged to see the inherent value and beauty in each individual. This perspective aligns with the Church's call to respect life, not as a means of shaming, but as a celebration of the divine intention and delight in every human being. The Respect Life ministry at St. Peter's aims to foster a community where healing, forgiveness, and peace are accessible to all, especially those who have experienced pain and sorrow.
As we navigate a world filled with division and hardship, we are reminded that God created us with purpose and love. Embracing this truth allows us to live with childlike awe and wonder, seeing each day as an opportunity to reflect God's light and love. By doing so, we become a beacon of hope and healing, inviting others to experience the delight of being wonderfully made by God.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Presence in Creation: Meditating on the elements and life forms reveals God's presence in all creation. This awareness invites us to be in awe of how God holds everything in existence, reminding us of His omnipresence and sustaining power. [22:11]
2. The Breath of Life: Observing animals and their ability to react to situations highlights the life breath within them, a reflection of God's breath in all living beings. This meditation encourages us to recognize the divine spark in all creatures, fostering a deeper appreciation for life. [23:29]
3. Humanity as God's Pinnacle Creation: Reflecting on our own creation, we realize that God intended and delighted in bringing us into existence. This truth challenges the lies we believe about ourselves and affirms our inherent worth and purpose. [25:53]
4. Respecting Life with Compassion: The Respect Life ministry seeks to create a welcoming space for healing and forgiveness, emphasizing compassion over condemnation. This approach aligns with Jesus' call to be a source of love and healing for those in pain. [31:37]
5. Childlike Awe and Wonder: Embracing a childlike perspective allows us to see the world with awe and joy, recognizing each day as a gift from God. This mindset helps us overcome cynicism and embrace the delight God has in us and in His creation. [36:01]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[22:11] - Meditating on Existence
[23:29] - The Breath of Life
[24:32] - Humanity and Intellect
[25:53] - God's Delight in Creation
[26:58] - Intentional and Unique Creation
[27:57] - Embracing Our Creator's Gifts
[28:47] - Realizing Our Delightful Nature
[29:54] - Seeing Others as Delightful
[31:37] - Compassion in Respect Life Ministry
[33:19] - Opportunities for Healing and Prayer
[34:42] - Embracing the Fullness of Life
[36:01] - Childlike Awe and Wonder
[37:24] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 139:13-14 - "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
2. Genesis 1:27 - "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."
3. Matthew 18:3 - "And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. How does the sermon describe God's presence in creation, and what elements are mentioned as part of this meditation? [22:11]
2. What is the significance of the "breath of life" in animals as discussed in the sermon? [23:29]
3. According to the sermon, what lies do we often believe about ourselves, and how does the realization of being intentionally created by God challenge these lies? [25:53]
4. How does the Respect Life ministry at St. Peter's aim to foster healing and forgiveness, according to the sermon? [31:37]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to recognize God's presence in all creation, and how might this awareness change one's perspective on life? [22:11]
2. How does the sermon suggest that understanding our creation as intentional and delightful by God can transform our self-perception and interactions with others? [25:53]
3. In what ways does the sermon propose that embracing a childlike awe and wonder can impact our daily lives and spiritual journey? [36:01]
4. How does the Respect Life ministry's approach of compassion over condemnation align with Jesus' teachings, as discussed in the sermon? [31:37]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt "not good enough." How can the truth of being intentionally and delightfully created by God help you overcome these feelings? [25:53]
2. How can you cultivate a sense of awe and wonder in your daily life, similar to the childlike perspective encouraged in the sermon? [36:01]
3. In what ways can you contribute to a community that fosters healing and forgiveness, as described in the Respect Life ministry? [31:37]
4. Identify one person in your life who may not feel "wonderfully made." How can you affirm their inherent value and beauty this week? [29:54]
5. How can you incorporate the practice of meditating on God's presence in creation into your spiritual routine? What changes do you anticipate this might bring? [22:11]
6. Consider the lies you have believed about yourself. What steps can you take to replace these with the truth of God's delight in your creation? [25:53]
7. How can you actively participate in creating a welcoming space for those who have experienced pain and sorrow, as encouraged by the Respect Life ministry? [31:37]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Omnipresence in Creation
In the vast tapestry of creation, God's presence is woven into every element and life form. This awareness invites us to marvel at how God sustains everything, from the smallest atom to the grandest galaxy. Recognizing His omnipresence helps us understand that we are never alone, as God is always with us, holding all of creation in His loving hands. This realization can transform our perspective, encouraging us to see the divine in the ordinary and to live with a sense of wonder and gratitude. [22:11]
"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:16-17, ESV)
Reflection: As you go about your day, take a moment to pause and observe the world around you. How can you see God's presence in the details of creation today?
Day 2: The Divine Spark in All Living Beings
Every living creature carries within it the breath of life, a reflection of God's own breath. Observing animals and their instinctual reactions can remind us of the divine spark present in all living beings. This understanding fosters a deeper appreciation for life and encourages us to treat all creatures with respect and care, recognizing their inherent value as part of God's creation. [23:29]
"The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life." (Job 33:4, ESV)
Reflection: Consider the animals you encounter today, whether pets, wildlife, or even insects. How can you honor the divine spark within them through your actions and attitudes?
Day 3: Embracing Our Inherent Worth
Reflecting on our own creation, we come to realize that God intended and delighted in bringing us into existence. This profound truth challenges the lies we often believe about ourselves, such as not being good enough or being unwanted. Instead, we are called to embrace the truth that we are wonderfully made, with inherent worth and purpose. This understanding can transform how we view ourselves and others, encouraging us to see the beauty and value in every individual. [25:53]
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:13-14, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a negative belief you hold about yourself. How can you replace this lie with the truth of your inherent worth as God's delightful creation?
Day 4: Compassionate Respect for Life
The Respect Life ministry emphasizes compassion over condemnation, creating a welcoming space for healing and forgiveness. This approach aligns with Jesus' call to be a source of love and healing for those in pain. By respecting life with compassion, we celebrate the divine intention and delight in every human being, fostering a community where peace and reconciliation are accessible to all. [31:37]
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone who is experiencing pain or sorrow. How can you extend compassion and support to them today, reflecting God's love and healing?
Day 5: Living with Childlike Awe and Wonder
Embracing a childlike perspective allows us to see the world with awe and joy, recognizing each day as a gift from God. This mindset helps us overcome cynicism and embrace the delight God has in us and in His creation. By living with childlike wonder, we become a beacon of hope and healing, inviting others to experience the joy of being wonderfully made by God. [36:01]
"And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'" (Matthew 18:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can cultivate a sense of childlike wonder in your life today? How might this perspective change the way you approach your daily activities?
Quotes
1) "And so you start to meditate on where is God in the existence of the world and the air, the water, the fire, the ground, the rock. So in the elements, where does God exist? And St. Ignatius invites us to meditate on God's existence and all of that and to be in awe that God holds it in existence as and is in his existence. And then the next meditation, you meditate on life. Things that grow and you look at trees and plants and flowers and you meditate on, God has the ability. Like the first four things, they don't have life, they just exist. The second set is life. So those things exist. They like, they grow and they green. And then now they're going to become orange and red and beautiful colors and there's death to them and there's a natural progression of life and you meditate." [22:11] (63 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "And then the fourth thing that we meditated on was rationale, intellect, humanity, right? The pinnacle of God's creation. And when I started doing that, it took me about three. Three sessions of meditation as I went through, because what God showed me was the moment, the moment of my conception in my mother's womb. God brought me into existence, and he became in awe of what he had created. He looked at me and was like, you are wonderful. So, first off, whether you think I'm wonderful or not, God does. All right? So there you go. He thinks I'm pretty delightful. But that was actually the meditation, because what it started to do was it started to butt up against all these old lies that say, you know, you're not smart enough, you're stupid." [24:32] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "It was like the walls around my heart just broke down because I realized God intended me to be here. Oh, thank you. So if that's the case for me, then it's the case for you. Isn't that so fun? Can you say, God intended me to be here? Woo. Doesn't that feel good? Oh, just let all those old things just fall away. Right when people are like, ah, I don't like you. You know, whenever they say really, really mean things to you in high school or grade school or middle school, and God says, I intend for you to be here, but he goes a step further, because sometimes we can be like, oh, that's great." [25:53] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "God intended me to be here in a world that's terrible and torn down and in division, hardship, he. This is it. This is the kicker. He delighted to create you. Can you say, God delighted to create me? Yeah, he did. He loved creating you, man. When he created you, he's like, I'm going to make the most unique, beautiful thing that I can. I can make. And here's the other thing that the Lord starts to tear down. Though other people may not have intended for you to be here, meaning maybe people have said to you, you were an accident. You know, we were done, and then all of a sudden you came along and okay, you were a happy surprise. It was like the Lord intended, even though your parents may not have. The Lord said, I want you to exist." [26:58] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "If God is wonderful, it makes you. Only 30% believed that. Okay, let's try that again. If God is wonderful and he made you, it makes you. Yeah, it does. If he's beautiful, it makes you. If he's good, it makes you. Yeah. We get what our creator give to us. We get him. He put himself into us. Now we live in a fallen world, and there is chaos and there is darkness and all these things. But when I start to sit with my goddess, my creator, my savior, what happens? I realize that he is the one who holds me. And at every moment he says, you are delightful." [27:57] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Because you have something that no one else in this world has. And I'm going to let your light begin to shine because it's my light inside of you. And it may not be when you intend, but it will be, because that is why I made you. So I had this revelation, and I was sitting for several times in prayer, like, meditating on this delight of God in my life, and that I can delight. And then it hit me that every other person that I encounter in life is created intentionally and delightfully by God. Psalm 139 says, we are wonderfully made. And you say, I am wonderfully made." [28:47] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "And so it's part of Father Browning's desire that we begin to revision what that looks like for St. Peter's. And so one of the things that you'll notice is we don't have the crosses outside in front of the church. And part of the reason is, although the original idea of the crosses is beautiful and good, that we honor the lives that were taken of the innocent children, the world doesn't see it that way. They see it as a shame. They say, well, they're condemning us for what we've done or what I've known other people to have done for good reason, and they need to do it. And so father Browning, in our respect life ministry, discerned we want to do something and put out something that says, well, we don't know what's going to be out there yet, but a way of encouraging those who are suffering with fear and anxiety and suffering in all of those ways to find a place of healing. Because that's what we want, because that's who Jesus is. And if we're anything other than who Jesus is, then we're not really christian. We're not little Christs." [33:19] (73 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "And sometimes we can hone in on the one, because Mother Teresa, we know what she says like, we can't have the rest if we don't have children. That's her words. But it's important that we, as a christian community, as a catholic community, come to see that Christ has given us life, and that is pure delight. And all we want other people to do is to see the delight that they are. But if I'm living in pain and sorrow and shame, then I'm unable to see the delight of life, of me and of other people. My pain and my sorrow, my brokenness will prevent me from seeing the delight that I am if I lived in the continued perpetuated lie that I'm not good enough." [34:42] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9) "And when God says to me, I created you with delight, what's it going to do? I'm going to put up a fight because I don't really believe that I'm a delight, because I believed this other thing for so long. But, you know, when Jesus says we have to be like children to enter the kingdom of heaven, what does it mean? It means, how do children see the world? Every day they're like, I'm ready to conquer the day. I was in one of my last parishes. The kindergartners were coming in for school one day, and I said to one of them, I said, have a great day. And he goes, I will. And I'm like, that is a great response. I shall forever say that now because it is. It's a confidence that I will. I am ready to conquer this day and that I will have a good day." [36:01] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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