In our first reading, St. Paul is elaborating on the core message of the Psalm: “The heavens proclaim the glory of God” (Psalm 19:2a). Even to the Romans, who have been far from Christ, “what can be known about God is evident to them, because. . . . ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made” (Romans 1:19–20). Many of us have experienced the wonder provoked by looking at the night sky or a magnificent sunset. In a quiet moment, it is not hard to see how such complexity and beauty points loudly toward its Creator, who must have been intelligent and loving enough to create such wonderful things.
But while God can be known through meditation on creation, we can choose to ignore it. St. Paul says that “the wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness,” because even though they are expected to believe in God via reflection on creation, they “knew God [yet] did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks” (Romans 1:18, 21). Notice that he says they “knew God”; no one has an excuse, since creation is present to all people.
Instead of paying God respect, the Romans “became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. While claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes” (Romans 1:21–23). They stopped at creation, preferring to worship it instead of the God who made it.
As a result, “God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies.” (Romans 1:24). They ignored God’s voice and became deafened to His call. They resisted His grace, and so were numb to His help.
We need to be vigilant in order to avoid this same fate. As children, we had plenty of space to wonder at the beauty of creation. Now, we focus on unimportant pursuits, consuming interesting but unfruitful information. Social media and our smartphones especially distract from what is true, good, and beautiful, substituting the transcendentals for what is interesting and exciting. Blind to the beauty of the world around us and the action of God in our lives and others, we settle for shiny mediocrity and find ourselves falling down rabbit holes, wondering how we ended up so lethargic and unhappy.
It is a constant struggle to reclaim our attention and slow down to listen to God’s voice and see His beauty. If we awaken to God’s work in creation, we will enjoy a life less chained to frivolity and temptation and more free to receive truth, goodness, beauty, and grace, ready to love and serve God with joy.
En la primera lectura, San Pablo elabora el mensaje central del Salmo: “Los cielos proclaman la gloria de Dios” (Salmo 19,2). Incluso para los romanos, que han estado lejos de Cristo, “las cosas de Dios que se pueden conocer, las tienen a la vista. [ ] Pues las perfecciones invisibles de Dios, como su poder eterno y su divinidad, resultan visibles desde la creación del mundo para quien reflexiona sobre sus obras” (Romanos 1,19-20). Muchos de nosotros hemos experimentado la maravilla que provoca mirar al cielo nocturno o una magnífica puesta de sol. En un momento de tranquilidad, no es difícil ver cómo tal complejidad y belleza señala claramente a su Creador, quien es tan inteligente y amoroso que quiso crear cosas tan maravillosas.
Pero si bien se puede conocer a Dios reflexionando en la creación, también podemos optar por ignorarlo. San Pablo dice que “Dios manifiesta desde el cielo su reprobación contra los hombres impíos e injustos, que por la injusticia mantienen cautiva a la verdad.” Porque aunque se espera que crean en Dios reflexionando en la creación, “[h]an conocido a Dios, pero no lo han glorificado como a Dios ni le han dado gracias” (Romanos 1,18 y 21). Si te das cuenta, dice que ellos “han conocido a Dios”, así que nadie tiene excusa, ya que la creación está presente para todas las personas.
En lugar de mostrar respeto a Dios, los romanos “se han ofuscado con razonamientos inútiles, y su insensata inteligencia se ha llenado de oscuridad. Pretendían ser sabios, pero se volvieron insensatos, pues cambiaron la gloria de Dios inmortal por imágenes de hombres mortales, de aves, cuadrúpedos y reptiles.” (Romanos 1,21–23). Se detuvieron en la creación, prefiriendo adorarla en lugar del Dios que la hizo.
Como resultado, “Dios los entregó a los deseos impuros de su corazón, y llegaron a tal inmoralidad, que deshonraron sus cuerpos unos con otros”. (Romanos 1,24). Ignoraron la voz de Dios y se volvieron sordos a su voz. Resistieron Su gracia, y por eso estaban insensibles a Su ayuda.
Tenemos que estar atentos para evitar este mismo destino. Cuando éramos niños, teníamos mucho espacio para admirar la belleza de la creación. Ahora, nos enfocamos en actividades sin importancia, consumiendo información interesante pero infructuosa. Las redes sociales y los “smart phones” nos distraen especialmente de lo que es verdadero, bueno y hermoso, sustituyendo lo trascendental por lo que es interesante y emocionante. Ciegos ante la belleza del mundo que nos rodea y la acción de Dios en nuestras vidas y las de los demás, nos conformamos con la brillante mediocridad y nos encontramos cayendo por las madrigueras de los conejos, preguntándonos cómo terminamos tan letárgicos e infelices.
Es una pelea constante recuperar la atención y reducir la velocidad para escuchar la voz de Dios y ver Su belleza. Si despertamos a la obra de Dios en la creación, disfrutaremos de una vida menos encadenada a la frivolidad y la tentación y más libres para recibir la verdad, la bondad, la belleza y la gracia, dispuestos a amar y servir a Dios con alegría.
David Dashiell is a freelance author and editor in Nashville, Tennessee. He has a master’s degree in theology from Franciscan University, and is the editor of the anthology Ever Ancient, Ever New: Why Younger Generations Are Embracing Traditional Catholicism.
Feature Image Credit: microobserver, cathopic.com/photo/25148-glenalough-lake-ireland
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and seven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is 
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Susan Ciancio has a BA in psychology and a BA in sociology from the University of Notre Dame, with an MA in liberal studies from Indiana University. For the past 19 years, she has worked as a professional editor and writer, editing both fiction and nonfiction books, magazine articles, blogs, educational lessons, professional materials and website content. Thirteen of those years have been in the pro-life sector. Currently Susan freelances and writes weekly for HLI, edits for American Life League, and is the executive editor of Celebrate Life Magazine. She also serves as executive editor for the Culture of Life Studies Program—an educational nonprofit program for K-12 students. You can reach her at 
J.M. Pallas has had a lifelong love of Scriptures. When she is not busy with her vocation as a wife and mother to her “1 Samuel 1” son, or her vocation as a public health educator, you may find her at her parish women’s bible study, affectionately known as “The Bible Chicks.”
Merridith Frediani loves words and is delighted by good sentences. She also loves Lake Michigan, dahlias, the first sip of hot coffee in the morning, millennials, and playing Sheepshead with her husband and three kids. She writes for Catholic Mom, Diocesan.com, and her local Catholic Herald. Her first book Draw Close to Jesus: A Woman’s Guide to Adoration is available at Our Sunday Visitor and Amazon. You can learn more at 
Sr. Mary Martha Moss, FSP has had the grace of serving the Lord for over 40 years as a Daughter of St. Paul. Joyfully engaged in the community’s media ministry, she has authored 3 children’s books, presented on various topics for adult faith formation, enjoyed running Online Book Studies, served as a Pauline Book & Media Center manager and continues singing the alto part with the Daughters of St. Paul Concert Choir.
Kate Taliaferro is an Air Force wife and mother. She is blessed to be able to homeschool, bake bread and fold endless piles of laundry. When not planning a school day, writing a blog post or cooking pasta, Kate can be found curled up with a book or working with some kind of fiber craft. Kate blogs at 
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