Tuesday 7 February

Saints Paul Miki and his Companions, Martyrs

Genesis 1:20-2:4; Psalm 8; Mark 7:1-13

In the image of God

God saw that all things he created were good and blessed them. Among the most blessed of God’s creation is man, male and female, made in God’s own image and likeness. The reading in Genesis challenges us to find in ourselves and in one another the qualities and characteristics that we readily ascribe to God. When we find wisdom, love, mercy, compassion or forgiveness in others or in ourselves we encounter a likeness to God and we are blessed. ‘You have made man a little less than a god, you have crowned him with glory and splendour.’ Psalm 8.