 | ||||||
| ||||||
The Hubble space telescope has discovered a planet in our galaxy in the process of being devoured by the star that it orbits, according to a paper published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.The doomed planet, dubbed WASP-12b, has the highest known surface temperature of any planet in the Milky Way -- around 1,500 degrees Celsius (2,800 degrees Fahrenheit).But it could be enveloped by its own parent star over the next ten million years, the paper's authors have concluded.On the whole, we'd like to think we're special, but we also hope we aren't alone in the Universe. Astronomers have been trying to figure out just how common solar systems like ours are across the cosmos…."Now we know our place in the universe," said Ohio State University astronomer Scott Gaudi. "Solar systems like ourown are not rare, but we're not in the majority, either." The implication of these brief news stories intensifies the meaning of the Scriptures proclaimed today. The remarkable advancements in science, especially in astrophysics, makes the biblical story of creation and the interpretation of that story in today’s reading from the Book of Proverbs all the more powerful. Throughout human history we have marveled at what God has wrought in the act of creation. All we could do was speak symbolically of the majesty and power of God’s creative act. But in a little more than a half a century, the human imagination has burst forth from symbols to hard scientific data that does not deny our previous symbolic interpretations, but rather confers on them an explosion of meaning. When I was seventh grader nearly sixty years ago, the Catholic schools in Cleveland introduced a unit on the Milky Way into our geography class. I was awestruck by the immensity of the universe, which was simply our solar system! Children today know that our solar system is only one of billions in an ever-expanding universe that is at least 13.7 BILLION years old!We are just now coming to understand that the power and majesty of the divine plan of creation far exceeds the human imagination. Rather than diminishing our faith, science is more than ever before challenging us to embrace the full meaning of that faith and giving new meaning to the hymn our young people sing: “Our God is an awesome God”!Understanding our place in the scheme of God's creation is one of those challenges. Our human history has placed us in the center of that creation. If we believe this is still true, what does that say of God’s plan for us? What then is the meaning of the Eucharistic Preface that gives testimony to that belief?All things are of your making,all times and seasons obey your laws,but you chose to create us in your own image,setting us over the whole world and all its wonders.You made us the stewards of your creationto praise you day by day for the marvels of your wisdom and power,through Jesus Christ our Lord.We are called to embrace the challenge presented by this prayer in the context of today’s scientific discoveries. On this Trinity Sunday we can acknowledge the majesty and awesome power of our Creator in ways never before open to believers. But as we come to appreciate that power and majesty, we must also be willing to accept the responsibility of respecting the part of that universe entrusted to us at this time. The recent ecological crisis in the Gulf is just another cautionary tale in our role as stewards of creation.Robert Hamilton, assistant professor of biology, Kent State Stark Campus, called the spill a catastrophe, noting fragile wetlands and prime fishing areas are endangered.The environmental impact of the spill could be felt for the next 30 years.... Once the oil settles in the sand and muck, it will destroy the entire food chain, Hamilton said.When we honor creation we honor our Creator. We acknowledge that this awesome universe is pure gift. We proclaim our gratitude in our Eucharistic celebrations. We recognize that we do not have all the answers, that we are not in charge. We concede that the story of creation is not really new. We humbly accept the wisdom of today’s Gospel as the foundation of our response to the unfolding of the universe story, which is, after all, God’s story before it is our story."I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,he will guide you to all truth…..and will declare to you the things that are coming.”