Understanding Genesis: Creation

Friends, in today's episode of “The Word on Fire Show,” we begin a five-part series of discussions on the book of Genesis. Our first episode focuses on the Creation story.

Genesis is of course the first book in the Bible and perhaps the most foundational, but it’s also the source of so much confusion. We clarify what the author is intending to convey and the theological and spiritual truths we can pull from the narrative.

A listener asks, how do I start mental prayer, especially if I’m always distracted?

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[ecstaticallyeverafterwithc]

I could listen to these podcasts on repeat, all day, every day. You are a national treasure, Bishop.

[STRENGTHFROMABOVE]

I prayed a special prayer for someone passing through hard times, a hard time which seem to be mental, financially and emotionally damaging. I pray for this person reading this, that God will come to your rescue, wipe your tears and restore you whole in Jesus name. Amen

[caryhowitson]

I hope Fr. Barron is our Pope someday. He is the most eloquent scholar and exudes the grace of the Holy Spirit. I really hope he is able to "rest" by taking some time off doing some sight seeing or whatever he likes to do. We ask too much of our priests and Bishops and they don't get enough time off. Thank you for making me a holier woman.

[stellau]

Bishop Barron is the most sophisticated and yet easily understood bishop I have come across. I really appreciate his teachings.

[matthiaswagner]

Dear Bishop Barron, thank you very much for these deep insights! As a Catholic Christian, theoretical physicist and computer scientist the fundamental wisdom in Genesis (and the complete Bible) has fascinated me for all my life.

[Fred-viwn]

I just love the Bishop's communication skills. His knowledge of life shines thru the clouds of misunderstanding, which produces sunlight .

Bless you and your spiritual work.

[WarriorKnitter]

I re-watched this today shortly before today's (Saturday's) Vigil Mass. What you said about God resting / savoring really sunk in. I always try to be present with Jesus after Holy Communion. Today I savored being united with Him. I savored each aspect to the Mass as we progressed through it. Made it much more fulfilling. Thank you, Bishop Barron.

[ronnestman]

Bishop Barron really shines through with these conversations. This is totally his wheelhouse!

[ashwith]

The book that really helped me understand the creation account was Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's book, In the Beginning.

[johannessudibyo]

I thank you tot have been listening, Jesus bless you 🙏🙏

[brindageorge]

Fr. Barron's comments about getting muddled in the story genre of the Bible have already helped me since I begin my year's reading of the Bible with Genesis. Genesis is so much more understanding, meaningful and lovely when read as a saga. I have been studying Jewish traditions but never thought of it exactly that way.. Thanks so very much, Fr. Barron.

[KingdomIsNow]

I am so glad to hear that this priest interprets Genesis allegorically. I have a whole amazing allegorical study on Genesis. Apostolic Church Father, Origen Adamantius, is by far the best interpreter of Genesis. I have learned so much biblical truth from his homilies. Unfortunately, there are many Christians, who do not understand Genesis. They do not understand the meaning of allegories, symbolisms and metaphors.

[dianefitzwilliam]

Rest, as used in the beginning of Genesis, is more like the function of a REST in sheet of music. One section complete, take a beat, that pause creates shape, form, meaning. Take a beat. Then comes the next part.

[kayeangela]

I agree with the rosary as a best way of mental prayer. It lead me out of the darkness in my life and lead me to the best journey of my life. Everything that I could ever imagined that was impossible to happen, finding the rosary lead me to my beautiful life today. Mama Mary guided me without me noticing it. ♥️

[johnvega]

That analogy of not being able to find an author within a novel is genius.

[josefperry]

Bishop Barron's suggestion to read the first part of the Book of Genesis as a figure of speech is perfect because how else can we explain the existence of a Tree of Knowledge or a Tree of Good and Evil. There are apple trees and pear trees etc. but no such thing as a Knowledge fruit or a Good and Evil fruit. And how else to explain Day One, Two and Three when the sun was created on Day Four. The first few chapters of Genesis reads much like the Book of Revelation -- a sort of fun nonfiction novel.

[geoffreygiering]

Fairly new listening for me….very insightful way to navigate christian questions. Bishop Barron is a highly qualified professor of Christianity.

[leylinegoddess]

thank you. i was lucky to have had a class in college called old testament as literature and it was and thoroughly broken down as you have described here. there are way more styles and motifs in the old testament than a cursory reading would lead one to believe. the instructor was careful to admonish solo scriptura folk that we were examining the growth and history of the old testament not arguing the religious content. but the historical context is so essential to understanding the texts that we have she stressed. this was just after the dead sea scrolls had visited berkeley campus in oakland. the class brought everything into reality.

[TheRealBZman]

Articulate, insightful, and beautiful. Looking forward to this series

[Jwarrior]

Thank you Bishop Barron.
When reading the Bible, we need to know the genre, the sense, the language, the time it was written, the culture, etc

And when reading Genesis, the LITERAL sense makes the most sense.
Have tried other senses --- metaphorical, allegorical, etc but it's the literal sense that really gets all the tick marks.