Made in God’s image

By Tom Quiner

Sacred scripture tells us that you, me, and every man and woman that has ever been born was made in God’s image.

What does that mean?

For starters, it means that we’re special. The Book of Genesis doesn’t say that bugs, or animals, or creatures in the sea are made in God’s image.

Only man.

Genesis reveals some of God’s qualities, qualities that we also possess since we were made in His image. God is creative; so is man.

God is Spirit; which makes man spiritual.

God communicates; so can man.

God is intelligent; so is man.

God is rational; so is man. (Exceptions allowed for liberals.)

God is a moral being, which means that man must be morally responsible.

Sacred scripture also tells us that God “knew us before we were born.” Our unique identity is know to God at the spark of conception.

The reading for the day in the Catholic lectionary is Luke 9:46-50. Here is an excerpt relevant to this topic:

An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest.”

Who is the least amongst us? Why the “infant” in the womb, which makes her the greatest among men. As moral beings made in God’s image, we are called to receive this child, which is the exact same as receiving Christ.

To kill the child is the exact same as nailing Christ back on the cross and denying our beautiful heritage.

It is a denial of love and a devastating denial of God, our Father.