Start of Lent – Thursday 3 March 

“Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness … ’
So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Reading

Genesis 1.24-31

And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.’ And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’

So God created humankind in his image,
in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’ God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Reflection

Everyone knows when something unfair happens to them. It is as if human beings have an in-built sensor that tracks injustice, which is strange because injustice is far more widespread than perfectly fair environments!

What do we mean by ‘it’s not fair’? Maybe it is a cry of suffering – or maybe sometimes a cry of entitlement? Or maybe it is something deep within us that reaches back to a vision of the world as it should be, where all human beings are created equal, made in the image of God, and difference does not lead to hierarchy and value judgements. A creation where human beings’ relationship with one another, with God, and with the whole of creation is balanced, right and fair, with no exploitation, no barriers and no hierarchies.

Listening to our cries of unfairness helps us discover the world we long for – and ask whether our hopes and longings are shaped by God’s principles in creation.

Prayer

Generous God, teach us to treasure your image in one another and share your gifts of generosity and abundance in love for the world and its people. Amen.

Today’s family challenge

Try to see the good in everyone you meet

This week’s Bible reading tells us that God made everyone in his image.
Remember this as you encounter different people today.