Our first reading from Sirach goes through the qualities of man as God intended him to be. He was created from the earth, made in God’s own image, and will return to the earth. His time on Earth is limited, but all other creatures serve him and he reigns over them in wisdom. God has even extended to man an everlasting covenant, giving him access to His thoughts and counsels. The Lord is always watching and guiding them.
This is a revealing description of God’s providence for man. At one and the same time, we are made in God’s deathless image and have a limited time on Earth. At one and the same time, we are given dominion over creation and are to return to its dust. We are made from the earth, yet are made for union with God, sharing in an everlasting covenant with Him. Our potential is limitless, but we begin from nothing.
Christ acknowledges this dichotomy in the Gospel. He tells His disciples to let the children come to Him because their acceptance of the Kingdom of God is a model for all people. In setting the faith of a child as the model, Jesus is emphasizing the divine image in man and his original innocence. This is in contrast to a mature but skeptical man, who leans into the dominion given him over creation while ignoring the offer of an eternal relationship with the Creator.
To experience the fullness of what God had intended for us in creation, we must pay heed to His intention and His commands and act accordingly. If we lean into the image of God and exercise our dominion over creation with a respect for God’s precepts and within the context of His covenant, we will follow Him to eternal life, transcending our dust. If we refuse to acknowledge this image and refuse to exercise our wisdom with reference to the Creator’s life and law, we will remain in dust.
The psalmist contrasts these two states of man. Some have days “like those of grass”; “The wind sweeps over him and he is gone” (Psalm 103:15, 16). For those who fear the Lord, “The kindness of the Lord is from eternity to eternity” (Psalm 103:17). Those who fear God experience eternal kindness from Him, lasting beyond earthly life. Those who do not are swept away, never to return.
Man is created uniquely among all other creatures. He can identify with the animals, the angels, and with God but is inherently different – only he is created in God’s image. In this unique space between heaven and earth, man stands ready to make his home in one or the other. If he follows the way of darkness, he goes back to the earth and to hell. If he follows the way of the Lord, he rises beyond the dust to his heavenly home.
La primera lectura del Sirácida analiza las cualidades del hombre tal como Dios quiso que fuera. Fue creado de la tierra, hecho a imagen de Dios, y volverá a la tierra. Su tiempo en la Tierra es limitado, pero todas las demás criaturas le sirven y él reina sobre ellas con sabiduría. Dios incluso ha extendido al hombre una alianza eterna, dándole acceso a sus pensamientos y consejos. El Señor siempre los está observando y guiando.
Es una descripción reveladora de la providencia de Dios para el hombre. Al mismo tiempo, estamos hechos a la imagen inmortal de Dios y tenemos un tiempo limitado en la Tierra. Al mismo tiempo, se nos da el dominio sobre la creación y debemos regresar a su polvo. Fuimos hechos de la tierra, pero fuimos hechos para la unión con Dios, compartiendo una alianza eterna con Él. Nuestro potencial es ilimitado, pero comenzamos desde la nada.
Cristo reconoce esta dicotomía en el Evangelio. Les dice a sus discípulos que dejen que los niños vengan a Él porque su aceptación del Reino de Dios es un modelo para todas las personas. Al poner como modelo la fe de un niño, Jesús está enfatizando la imagen divina en el hombre y su inocencia original. Esto contrasta con un hombre maduro pero escéptico, que se inclina hacia el dominio que se le ha dado sobre la creación mientras ignora la oferta de una relación eterna con el Creador.
Para experimentar la plenitud de lo que Dios tenía previsto para nosotros en la creación, debemos prestar atención a su intención y sus mandamientos y actuar en consecuencia. Si nos inclinamos hacia la imagen de Dios y ejercemos nuestro dominio sobre la creación con respeto por los preceptos de Dios y dentro del contexto de su alianza, lo seguiremos a la vida eterna, trascendiendo nuestro polvo. Si nos negamos a reconocer esta imagen y nos negamos a ejercer nuestra sabiduría con referencia a la vida y la ley del Creador, permaneceremos en el polvo.
El salmista contrasta estos dos estados del hombre. Para algunos sus días son “como la hierba”; “tan pronto la azota el viento, deja de existir” (Salmo 103,15-16). Para los que temen al Señor, “la misericordia del Señor dura por siempre” (Salmo 103,17). Aquellos que temen a Dios experimentan Su bondad eterna, que dura más allá de la vida terrenal. Aquellos que no lo hacen son azotados por el viento y nunca regresan.
El hombre es creado de manera única entre todas las demás criaturas. Puede identificarse con los animales, los ángeles y con Dios, pero es inherentemente diferente: solo él fue creado a imagen de Dios. En este espacio único entre el cielo y la tierra, el hombre está dispuesto a hacer su hogar en uno u otro. Si sigue el camino de la oscuridad, regresa a la tierra y al infierno. Si sigue el camino del Señor, se eleva más allá del polvo hacia su hogar celestial.
David Dashiell is a freelance author and editor in the Nashville, Tennessee area. He has three children, a degree in theology, and enjoys writing about philosophy, theology, culture, music, and comedy. You can find his personal blog, Serious Daydreams, on Substack. He is also the editor of the anthology Ever Ancient, Ever New: Why Younger Generations Are Embracing Traditional Catholicism, available through TAN Books.
Feature Image Credit: Tony Webster, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Concrete_Dust_(2619760296)
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
Tami Urcia is a midwestern gal from a large Catholic family. As a young adulthood she was a missionary in Mexico, where she studied theology and philosophy. After returning stateside bilingual, she gained a variety of work experience, traveled extensively and finished her Bachelor’s Degree at Brescia University. She loves organizing and simplifying things, watching her children play sports, deep conversations with close family and friends and finding unique ways to brighten others’ day with Christ’s love. She works full time at Diocesan in the Software Department and manages the Inspiration Daily reflections. She is also a guest blogger on 
[/tts]Deacon Dan Schneider is a retired general manager of industrial distributors. He and his wife Vicki have been married for over 55 years. They are the parents of eight children and thirty-one grandchildren. He has a degree in Family Life Education from Spring Arbor University. He was ordained a Permanent Deacon in 2002. He has a passion for working with engaged and married couples and his main ministry has been preparing couples for marriage.[tts ignore]
Elizabeth Tomlin is the author of Joyful Momentum: Building and Sustaining Vibrant Women’s Groups and contributing author to the Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers. She is General Counsel for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Elizabeth is an Army wife and mother of three and currently lives in Oklahoma. You can find her at @elizabethannetomlin on social media and she blogs at 
Dr. Alexis Dallara-Marsh is a board-certified neurologist who practices in Bergen County, NJ. She is a wife to her best friend, Akeem, and a mother of four little ones on Earth and two others in heaven above.
Pamela Kavanaugh is a grateful wife, mother, and grandmother who has dedicated her professional life to Catholic education. Though she has done her very best to teach her students well in the subjects of language and religion, she knows that she has learned more than she has taught. She lives, teaches, and writes in southwest suburban Chicago.
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and eleven 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 
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 
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 
Ben Hooper is originally from Maryland, having been adopted from Korea and growing up in the Catholic faith. He went to Franciscan University to dive deeper into his faith and eventually graduated with a degree in Business Management. He loves musical theater, sports, spending time with his fiancé Lily and their dog Kolbe.
Mike Karpus is a regular guy. He grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, graduated from Michigan State University and works as an editor. He is married to a Catholic school principal, raised two daughters who became Catholic school teachers at points in their careers, and now relishes his two grandchildren, including the older one who is fascinated with learning about his faith. He also has served on a Catholic school board, a pastoral council and a parish stewardship committee. He currently is a lector at Mass, a Knight of Columbus, Adult Faith Formation Committee member and a board member of the local Habitat for Humanity organization. But mostly he’s a regular guy.
1-800-994-9817