Introducing the ExamenA Prayer of St. Ignatius Lord, teach me to be generous.Teach me to serve you as you deserve;To give and not to count the cost;To fight and not to heed the wounds;To toil and not to seek for rest;To labor and not to ask for reward;Save that of knowing that I do your will.Amen.

The Examen

Life

• What am I most grateful for today?

Death

• What am I least grateful for today?

Genesis

• Where to find it.

• Who wrote it?

Genesis

Genesis 1-11

o Creation

o Sin

o The Flood & Aftermath

Genesis 12-50

o God’s Promises to Israel’s Ancestors

In the Beginning…

In the Beginning

• About 15 billion years ago a tremendous explosion started the expansion of the universe. This explosion is known as the Big Bang. At the point of this event all of the matter and energy of space was contained at one point. What existed prior to this event is completely unknown and is a matter of pure speculation. This occurrence was not a conventional explosion but rather an event filling all of space with all of the particles of the embryonic universe rushing away from each other. The Big Bang actually consisted of an explosion of space within itself unlike an explosion of a bomb where fragments are thrown outward. The galaxies were not all clumped together, but rather the Big Bang lay the foundations for the universe.

Hermeneutics

• Scientific/Literal: Genesis 1 is a scientifically accurate account of the creation of the world. It is to be taken literally.

• Literary: Genesis 1 is a poetic explanation of the creation of the world by a pre modern people. It has no relevance for our lives today.

• Narrative: Genesis 1 is inspired poetry but not necessarily Science. It is relevant for our lives because it allows us to make sense of the world.

Discussion

• What are some of the different ways to read the creation story?

• How have you read the story in the past? How do you read it now?

• How is God continuing to create today?

Reflections of God’s Creation

Great Carina Nebula

Examen

God’s Creation: Star Cluster R136

God’s Creation: Rosette Nebula

I. Become aware of God’s presence. Look back on the events of the day in the company of the Holy Spirit. The day may seem confusing to you—a blur, a jumble, a muddle. Ask God to bring clarity and understanding.

God’s Creation: Veil Nebula

God’s Creation: Dust Sculptures

in Rosette Nebula

I. Become aware of God’s presence. Look back on the events of the day in the company of the Holy Spirit. The day may seem confusing to you—a blur, a jumble, a muddle. Ask God to bring clarity and understanding.

God`s Creation: Andromeda Galaxy

God`s Creation: Flame Vista

II. Review the day with gratitude. Gratitude is the foundation of our relationship with God. Walk through your day in the presence of God and note its joys and delights. Focus on the day’s gifts. Look at the work you did, the people you interacted with. What did you receive from these people? What did you give them? Pay attention to small things—the food you ate, the sights you saw, and other seemingly small pleasures. God is in the details.

God`s Creation: Helix Nebula

God`s Creation: Spider & Fly

II. Review the day with gratitude. Gratitude is the foundation of our relationship with God. Walk through your day in the presence of God and note its joys and delights. Focus on the day’s gifts. Look at the work you did, the people you interacted with. What did you receive from these people? What did you give them? Pay attention to small things—the food you ate, the sights you saw, and other seemingly small pleasures. God is in the details.

God`s Creation: Catseye3 Nebula

God`s Creation: Jupiter

III. Pay attention to your emotions. One of St. Ignatius’s great insights was that we detect the presence of the Spirit of God in the movements of our emotions. Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. Boredom? Elation? Resentment? Compassion? Anger? Confidence? What is God saying through these feelings?

God`s Creation: Pinwheel Galaxy

God’s Creation: Peggy’s Cove, Nova ScotiaGod’s Creation: Earth & Space Station

God`s Creation: Earthrise & Moon, Apollo 11

III. Pay attention to your emotions. One of St. Ignatius’s great insights was that we detect the presence of the Spirit of God in the movements of our emotions. Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. Boredom? Elation? Resentment? Compassion? Anger? Confidence? What is God saying through these feelings?

God`s Creation: Christ’s Home

Our Home

Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that God thinks is particularly important. It may involve a feeling—positive or negative. It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of pleasure or peace. Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. Look at it. Pray about it. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart—whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude.

God`s Creation: Aurora Borealis & Meteor

God’s Creation: Longbeach, Tofino, B.C.

Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that God thinks is particularly important. It may involve a feeling—positive or negative. It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of pleasure or peace. Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. Look at it. Pray about it. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart—whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude.

God`s Creation: Earth Sunset

God’s Creation: Butchart Gardens

God’s Creation: Lake Louise

Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that God thinks is particularly important. It may involve a feeling—positive or negative. It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of pleasure or peace. Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. Look at it. Pray about it. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart—whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude.

God`s Creation: Mount Robson

God`s Creation: Sunrise

God’s Creation: Muskoka, Ontario

Look toward tomorrow. Ask God to give you light for tomorrow’s challenges. Pay attention to the feelings that surface as you survey what’s coming up. Are you doubtful? Cheerful? Apprehensive? Full of delighted anticipation? Allow these feelings to turn into prayer. Seek God’s guidance. Ask him for help and understanding. Pray for hope.

God’s Creation: Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia

God’s Creation: Laurentians, Quebec

Look toward tomorrow. Ask God to give you light for tomorrow’s challenges. Pay attention to the feelings that surface as you survey what’s coming up. Are you doubtful? Cheerful? Apprehensive? Full of delighted anticipation? Allow these feelings to turn into prayer. Seek God’s guidance. Ask God for help and understanding. Pray for hope.

The Creation Story: Genesis 1:2:4

In the Beginning Genesis 1:26

Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind* in our image, according to our likeness; and let them

have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and

over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth,* and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the

earth.’

Genesis 1:27-2827 So God created humankind* in his image, in the

image of God he created them;* male and female he created them.

In the BeginningGenesis 1:27

28 God blessed them, and God said to them,

‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the

sea and over the birds of the air and over

every living thing that moves upon the

earth.’

Genesis 1:29-30• 29 God said, “See, I have given

you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.

• 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

Genesis 1:3131 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

In The BeginningGenesis 2:1-4

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their

multitude. 2 And on the seventh day God finished the

work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done.

3 So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.

4These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.

Life Application

• What do you think motivated God to create the world?

• What’s your motivation? What hopes and dreams do you have for this year?