🌍 Should We Take the Creation Story Literally? (Father Simon Says)

Should we take it literally? Is the Big Bang heresy? And what’s up with the number seven? Let’s explore with Fr. Richard Simon.   📖 Literal or Not? Yes… and No.   Some people say, “If the Bible says 7 days, then it’s 7 literal 24-hour days.” Others say, “It’s all just a myth!” Fr. Simon says both extremes are missing the point.   There's a fundamentalism on the right (every single word must be taken exactly as written).   There's also a fundamentalism on the left (science says otherwise, so the Bible must be wrong).   Both approaches fail to actually hear what God is saying in the text.   God IS saying that He loves us and that creation has meaning beyond just mechanics. 🙌   💥 Big Bang vs. Genesis?    Fr. Simon isn’t buying the idea that the Big Bang is some kind of heresy. In fact, he thinks it fits perfectly with Genesis! 🌀✨   Genesis 1: “Let there be light.”   Big Bang: A burst of energy and light starts everything.   Coincidence? 🤔 He doesn’t think so.   Science tells us how the world was made, but Scripture tells us why. They’re not enemies; they’re dance partners. 💃🕺   🔢 What’s the Deal with 7?   The creation story isn't just about days; it’s about meaning. The number seven is huge:   Seven symbolizes covenant, completion, and rest.   Six (the number of creation days) falls short of perfection. This makes sense, because our world isn’t perfect!   Humanity? A “mixed blessing.” God made us, but... well, we all know how that turned out. 🍏🐍   The point? Creation isn’t complete yet. The seventh day, God’s perfect rest, is still to come.   📝 Genesis is Poetry, and That’s a Good Thing!   People say, “The Bible is wrong!” But Fr. Simon says this:   The Bible isn’t a book; it’s a library. 📚   You don’t walk into a library and yell, “This library is false!” That makes no sense.   Different books serve different purposes: history, law, poetry, theology.   Genesis is poetry, and poetry lasts because it speaks to the heart, not just the head. 🖋️💙   🚀 What’s the Takeaway?   Instead of obsessing over literal vs. figurative, we should focus on what God is actually telling us:   He created us out of love. ❤️   The universe isn’t perfect yet. 🌍➡️✨   Science and faith aren’t enemies. God is the author of both! 🔬🙏   So, next time someone asks, “Do you take Genesis literally?” just smile and say, “I take it seriously.” 😉     The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.