The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Paleontologists tell us we now live in the Anthropocene age. The world as we know it was created by human beings. In fact, we were created by human beings. Millions of years ago our ancestors, who had neither claws nor fangs, without a shell like a turtle nor hair like a bear, learned to scavenge and hunt, and then to cook. Although our naked ancestors were defenseless, slower, and more edible than most prey of the forest, we drove the largest carnivores into extinction. Cooking more nutritious, more digestible food, we grew our brains and skulls larger than all the great apes. With clothing we could live in climates far beyond Africa on land, water, or ice. Step by step, we fashioned ourselves into the only dominant creature on the planet with the power to create and destroy life itself.
The Book of Genesis recognized this amazing development in the words of God,
"Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that crawl on the earth."
The human creature's uncontested authority of Earth was not an accident nor the result of random evolution. The Spirit of God had directed and fostered its growth.
Genesis also recognized the Sovereignty of God over the rulers of Earth,
The LORD God gave the man this order: You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; when you eat from it you shall die.
The Solemnity of the Transfiguration celebrates this incarnational mystery. The lord of the Earth is also the Lord of the Universe in the person of Jesus Christ. He is both God and human, entirely and completely. There is no constraint of his divinity except that which he surrendered when he emptied himself and took the form of a slave. Nor is there any limit to his human dignity except that which he surrendered when he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.
In Jesus we encounter the paradox of the God who is both Master and Slave, and we recognize our place in the world.
In our lifetimes we have come to appreciate our mastery of the Earth for its possibility and its peril. We may have time yet to avoid its utter destruction under our mismanagement. If we would be saved we must listen to this one man who has been given all authority in heaven and earth.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.