Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs

In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw how good the light was.

All of God’s creations are good. It is the free will of man that introduced the possibility for evil into it. Our Heavenly Father gave us that gift because as good as His creation was, it couldn’t be truly loving of Him without the ability to choose to accept or reject His call to love Him and His creations. We were given free will to reflect the Divine Image and choose to do good, but it is also what allows us to tarnish His Image within us and choose sin. We should not blame God for the evils of the world. He gave us free will out of love for us, knowing it would open the door for us to follow our own selfish and harmful paths. But it also opens the window of opportunity to truly know, love, and serve God and His children like no other creation. Yes, God’s creations are good, but if we choose to become lights for the whole world, then He shall see us as very good indeed.

Do we recognize the goodness in God’s creations? Do we use our free will to know, love, and serve God better or to disfigure His Image within us? How can we inform our consciences so that we make better use of our free will?

O Lord, give us the graces we need to respect your creations and to be very good.

Amen.