"The world we live in is a land of sweat and toil. Indeed, right from the start of the Scriptures, right after the Fall, God says that our life here will be a bit of a grind (By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread!).
"This is often seen as an indication that mankind’s life before the Fall would have been one of just loafing around (like in a shady glen, a sleeping tiger for a pillow, nibbling on pomegranates…).
"But this isn’t the case. Genesis describes man’s life before the Fall as pretty active too. God’s instructions in 1:28 are basically, Have babies! Take charge of the world! Care for all the crazy creatures I just made! There’s a sense of joyful industry here, the kind of excitement that Home Depot tries to instill in proud homeowners with its slogan, Let’s do this!
"So, with or without the Fall, God had always invited man to participate in the great work which he began in Creation, and which will be complete in the last day. Work is not a punishment. The job got a little harder after the Fall. But either way, our time here on earth was always going to be one of labor, where we join God in bringing his creation to perfection."
In a recent commentary, Brother Luke Hoyt, O.P., reflected on how, through the work we are entrusted with, God has "raised us up, giving us the opportunity to share in his life as caretaker of the Universe."
To access Brother Luke's complete post, please visit:
Dominicana: At Work With the Father (1 SEP 14)
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