The global village is exactly what God had in mind when he created us human beings in his image and likeness, and with all our differences.  We were meant to love and accept each other because we are all one people.  Each of us is entitled to successes, gifts, opportunities and camaraderie. 

“The biblical accounts of creation bring out the unity of the human family and teach that the God of Israel is the Lord of history and of the cosmos.  His action embraces the whole world and the entire human family, for whom his work of creation is destined. 

God's decision to make man in his image and likeness (cfGen 1:26-27) gives the human being a unique dignity that extends to all generations (cf Gen5) and throughout the entire earth (cf Gen10).

The Book of Genesis indicates moreover that the human being was not created in isolation but within a context, an integral part of which are those living spaces that ensure his freedom (the garden), various possibilities for food (the trees of the garden), work (the command to cultivate) and above all community (the gift of someone who is like himself) (cfGen2:8-24). 

Throughout the Old Testament, the conditions that ensure the fullness of human life are the object of a divine blessing. God wants to guarantee that man has what is necessary for his growth, his freedom of self-expression, success in his work, and a wealth of human relationships.”

What is clear however, is that despite our obvious differences for example culture, ethnicity, age, sex and location, we are all called to follow God’s law and his principles for living if we are to be happy, fruitful and exemplify the beauty of the human person.  If we do not follow his guidelines we will be punished.  The following account from the book of Genesis highlights this for us.  

“Following the destruction wrought by the flood, God's covenant with Noah (cf Gen 9:1-17), and in him with all of humanity, shows that God wants to maintain for the human community the blessing of fertility, the task of subduing creation and the absolute dignity and inviolability of human life that had characterized the first creation.

This is God's desire despite the fact that, with sin, the decadence of violence and injustice, which was punished by the flood, had entered creation. The Book of Genesis presents with admiration the diversity of peoples, the result of God's creative activity (cf Gen 10:1-32).

At the same time, it denounces man's refusal to accept his condition as creature with the episode of the Tower of Babel (cf Gen 11:1-9). In the divine plan, all peoples had ‘one language and the same words’ (cf Gen 11:1), but humanity became divided, turning its back on the Creator (cf. Gen 11:4).”

“The covenant that God established with Abraham, chosen to be ‘the father of a multitude of nations’ (Gen 17:4), opens the way for the human family to make a return to its Creator.

The history of salvation leads the people of Israel to believe that God's action was restricted to their land. Little by little, however, the conviction grows that God is at work also among other nations (cf Is 19:18-25).

The Prophets would announce, for the eschatological times, a pilgrimage of the nations to the Lord's temple and an era of peace among the peoples (cf Is2:2-5, 66:18-23). Israel, scattered in exile, would become definitively aware of its role as a witness to the one God (cfIs 44:6-8), the Lord of the world and of the history of the nations (cfIs 44:24-28).”

If we stray and begin fighting each other, God provides opportunities for us to return to him and his principles and teachings, no matter where we are located. We must always remember that there is only one God who created us, and we are ALL called to his purpose. 

Next week’s topic: “Jesus Christ, prototype and foundation of the new humanity.”

Persons interested in purchasing the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, can contact the Justice Desk, Archbishop’s House – 622-6680. Also on sale at the Justice Desk are the Take a Bite Social Justice Programme on DVD and Responses to 101 Questions on Catholic Social Teaching.