PROVOCATIVE MEMORIES CAN GIVE US

A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIBLE

 

The title of my homily is,  “Provocative Memories Can Give Us A Greater Understanding of the Bible.”

 

Provacative moments can give us provocative memories.

 

Provacative memories can give us a greater understanding of the Bible.

 

Today I just want to look at today’s first reading: Genesis 1:20 to 2:4a.

 

Using just the first chapter of today’s first reading from Genesis can point this out.

 

Just 100 plus yards from here – out there in the Atlantic Ocean – we get the first sentence in today’s first reading,  “Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky.”

 

We have birds – just pause at our boardwalk  or parking lot – and look – but today let’s just stick with the creatures of the sea.

 

Out there we have today’s first reading.  Be amazed at all the swimming creatures out there in the ocean – and be amazed at God the Creator.

 

Today’s first reading is from the priestly author – which goes back to about 550 BC.

 

Be amazed at what’s right here before us.

 

Say what the author says - that John Collins quoted yesterday, “It is good!”

 

Sometimes we forget. We stop being amazed at what is right in front of us.

 

Live here near the ocean long enough and we can stop being amazed. So I try to catch visitors and retreatant’s amazement when they come here to San Alfonso.

 

As I was reading today’s first reading last night I got the title of my homily, “Provocative Memories Can Give Us A Greater Understanding of the Bible.”

 

I’ve been to the aquarium in Boston, Baltimore, Virginia Beach and Coney Island. 

 

I have a major provocative moment and memory that hit me at the Coney Island Aquarium.

 

I’m standing there silent looking into this gigantic fish tank filled with fish of all kinds.

 

The door behind us barges open in this big room with this major fish tank.  In come 200 grade school black kids – and they rush to the tank – yelling, screaming, pointing out just what the author of today’s first reading is pointing out and they telling each other, “Look at that one!  Wow. Look at that one. Look. Look. Look!”

 

So that’s my homily thought for today.

 

“Provocative Memories Can Give Us a Greater Understanding of the Bible.”