You made us all in your image

Today is the Sixth Sunday after Trinity. In our Collect we’re reminded that we are all created in the image of God, we all reflect something of God in who we are, and what we are.

It’s clear when you look around at people that, at least in outward appearance, we are all quite different. We differ a bit in eye colour, skin colour, the way we walk, how tall or short we are, the way we talk, etc etc. And there is, of course, the much more obvious differences between male and female. However, we’re not really so very different in the way we’re made up. Most of us have two eyes, two ears, a nose, a mouth, a couple of arms with hands on the end, and a couple of legs with feet on the end. Obviously there are some exceptions to this, but basically we’re all pretty much the same. But despite the outward differences in our appearances, we all reflect something of God.

It’s fair to say that there are probably many more differences between us that are less visible. Some people are happy all the time, some are depressed; some are healthy, some ill; some are addicted to drink or drugs, some never touch either; some are homosexual, some are heterosexual; etc etc. And there are, of course, many people, most of us, who fall between the extremes mentioned here. But despite the less visible differences in our appearances, we all reflect something of God.

If we take seriously the thought that we all reflect something of God, because we are all made in the image of God, then, surely, we must also take seriously Jesus’ command that we should not judge one another:

‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”, while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye.

Matthew 7:1-5

Whilst that passage gives us an indication of Jesus’ wonderful sense of humour, it also carries a very serious message, “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged”. We have to learn to accept people for who they are, whoever they are! It isn’t for us to decide that one person is worth less than another, or worth less than us. And neither is it for us to decide that one person is worth more than another, or worth more than us. Because we are all worth everything to God, and we all reflect something of God.

I know how easy it is to slip into making snap judgements of people for all sorts of reasons. But, it’s important that we strive to be non-judgemental — as hard as that can be at times. Sometimes it’s easier to talk, or even preach, the gospel than it is to really live it. But that is the goal we should be striving towards, to genuinely live the gospel, because we all reflect something of God.

Creator God,
you made us all in your image:
may we discern you in all that we see,
and serve you in all that we do;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Sixth Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council