The Dust I am
“Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being” (Gen. 2:7).
Introduction
The Genesis accounts of creation demonstrate how God created the universe ex-nihilo. But one interesting thing about the first creation account is that, special interest was shown by God in the creation of man. On the sixth day, God seems to pause and draw within himself. This was actually a break. God changed his mode of operation on the sixth day. He looks for a blueprint for man and turns within himself to find it. God no longer resorts to use of words only, rather he became the sculptor who molded man out of dust.
The above passage from the Book of Genesis is a reality that humanity has come to live with which he cannot run away from just as he cannot run from his shadow. Just as a potter does with clay, so did God fashion man out of dust and gave him life through his breath. The writer of the Book of Genesis says that when man fell, God said to him. This implies that being dust is a reality man cannot deny.
Man is not just a Material Being
The scripture teaches us that man even though made out of dust is created in God’s image. He has something of God in him and that is His spirit. He is not just something but someone (CCC, 357). Man is a being that is both spiritual and corporeal (CCC, 362). This calls to mind the admonition of the Apostle in Romans 8:5-8, urging us to devote attention to our spirit and the things of the spirit. In as much as we are called to pay attention to the things of the spirit, the Council Fathers write that the body and soul of man form a unity, so none should be neglected. “Nevertheless, man has been wounded by sin.” This resulted to the struggle he experiences in himself (his body is in revolt). Man’s very dignity therefore requires that he should glorify God in his body, and not allow it to serve the evil inclinations of his heart” (Gaudium et Spes, n. 14). We can attribute these evil inclinations of man’s heart to the distortion caused by original sin.
Man, a Product of Dust: The Reality of the Sin in us.
In as much we may not delve into the discussion on original innocence/original sin. It is appropriate to state that man was made in image and likeness of God. This implies that he was created good, innocent, and happy and lovely. However, these were shattered as a result of man’s sin/disobedience. It was after his disobedience that man was told by God, “for dust you are and to dust you will return” (3:19).
What are we to do?
There is need to acknowledge our nothingness and our need for God’s Grace.
Checkmate our quest for material possessions. This implies that we are to always go for the thing that is more important, i.e. things that will take us to our eternal destination. What the flesh can offer is temporal.
Have a preference for humble way of living. Humilitas, the Latin equivalence for ‘humble’ simply means “grounded”, or “from the earth”. It derives from ‘humus’ which means “earth”.
Accepting one’s limitations: There is none on earth who does not need the other. The overly quest for independence is the consequence of the concupiscentia originalis (the concupiscence of the original sin). This is the outcome of man’s desire to be like God. As psychosocial beings we need the other to complement what we do not possess. The acceptance of these limitations is realization of the reality of our dependence on God, in whom we live, move, and have our beings.
Conclusion
Reminding us that we are dust is not to devastate or put anyone into despair, but to call our attention to the choices we make every day. The body and the spirit need to work together for the good of man and not for his damnation. Nonetheless, the season of lent calls us to a warfare against the things that militate our spiritual growth.
Let us pray
O God, who desire not the death of sinners, but conversion, mercifully hear our prayers, and in your kindness be pleased to bless us. We acknowledge we are but ashes and shall return to dust, may, through a steadfast observance of Lent, gain pardon for sins and newness of life after the likeness of your Risen Son. Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
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