Lesson of the Week: The World of Awe

OUR LIVES need awe. Can you imagine a world without wonder? That is the world God never created. He wants us to experience his wondrous deeds and find meaningful life out of His creation. Look at the children who are mostly happy to be exposed to nature. The world is always exciting and meaningful for them.

Unfortunately, many parents leave their children obsessed with computer games. They are isolated from the wonderful and real world. One danger is that they get used to linear thinking and are less creative, which is contrary to what our ancestors did.

They deeply experience the wonder of the world and strongly revere its creator. They encounter the mystery that repels ("tremendum") and the mystery that attracts ("fascinosum"). Those who experience that mystery are trembling and, at the same time, are attracted to it. Some of them create what is called religion.

"Wonder or radical amazement is the chief characteristic of the religious man's attitude toward history and nature," Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote in his book, God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism. Religion has created various cultures and made the world more beautiful. Look at religious places whose purpose is to revere and worship God, such as temples, churches, etc. Moreover, literary works such as the Scriptures demonstrate how religion has contributed to human life.

Today's readings narrate such experiences. The prophet Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a throne and the angels calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Sabaoth" (Isaiah 6:1-2a). He trembled and said, "Poor me! I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips living among people of unclean lips, and yet I have seen the King, the Lord Sabaoth" (Isaiah 6:5). However, the angels touched his mouth and forgave his sin (Isaiah 6:7). Then, he said that he was ready to be sent (Isaiah 6:8).

The gospel of Luke tells how Simon encountered Jesus at the Lake of Gennesaret. Jesus said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch" (Luke 5:4). Simon reluctantly lowered his nets (Luke 5:5). After catching a large number of fish, he fell at Jesus' knees and acknowledged his sin (Luke 5:8). He experienced the holiness of Jesus. Although Simon Peter asked Jesus to leave him, Jesus did not abandon him. Instead, Jesus said, "Do not be afraid. You will catch people from now on" (Luke 5:10).

As Isaiah experienced God's holiness and found himself sinful, so did Simon Peter. God cleansed Isaiah and sent him; likewise, Jesus also sent Peter to be a fisher of men. Now, God's wonders are still there. He calls us to see and enjoy them with awe. If we find ourselves sinful and need forgiveness, remember what God did to the prophet Isaiah and what Jesus did to Simon Peter.

It is important to live in awe for several reasons. First, without awe, the world loses its meaning and purpose. Second, without awe, our lives will be disconnected from God, the source of inspiration and creativity. Finally, we will not have inspiration and creativity, which makes our lives meaningful but not purposeful. (*)