Author: ks. Mieczysław Piotrowski TChr,
"Love One Another!" 18/2011 → Science and Faith
Among the most compelling of God’s signs calling us to conversion are the three images painted not by the hand of man but by that of God Himself.
Saint Paul tells us that, “[e]ver since the creation of the world, [God’s] invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what He has made. As a result, they have no excuse” (Rom 1: 20). Who are “they”?
Those “who by their wickedness suppress the truth” (Rom 1:18). Sooner or later, those who seek the truth sincerely and do not suppress it will find it and come to know the sole source of love and happiness, which is God.
Sir Fred Hoyle (d. 2001), the outstanding English astronomer and mathematician, pointed to the absurdity of disbelief in God and the notion of life’s accidental origins. To believe so was, in his words, like believing that a tornado passing over a scrap heap could result in the spontaneous assembly of a new Boeing.
In 2004, Antony Flew, the famous British philosopher and erstwhile figurehead and guru of scientific atheism, publicly avowed his belief in God the Creator. The discovery of the genetic code convinced him of the existence of a supreme Divine intelligence, which had created the universe.
But accepting God’s existence is only the first step in the journey of coming to know Him. God Himself revealed the truth about Himself most fully by becoming true man in Jesus Christ. By accepting Divine Revelation and clinging in faith to the person of Jesus Christ, we embark on a compelling interior journey and come, by way of faith and love, to know the truth about the Triune God, since only this God is love and reveals such a truth about Himself.
Jesus Christ constantly appeals to our conscience, that we may with a lively faith enter into a personal relationship with Him in daily prayer. In the sacrament of reconciliation, He is able to free us from our slavery to sin and, in the Eucharist, heal our wounds and guide us in the life and love of God in the One and Holy Trinity. To help us along the difficult journey of faith, Jesus gives us clear signs calling us to conversion and repentance. He tells us that, “[u]nless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe” (Jn 4: 48).
Among the most compelling of God’s signs calling us to conversion are the three images painted not by the hand of man but by that of God Himself. They are: 1. The Shroud of Turin, the three-dimensional negative imprint of Christ’s body upon His burial shroud; 2. The impress of the Risen Jesus’ face on the Veil of Manoppello; 3. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Comprehensive scientific research affirms all these images to be acheiropoietoi — that is, handiworks transcending the capabilities of human genius. These are facts corroborated by scientific research. If we accept them and humbly open our hearts to God’s love and infinite mercy, we will begin to experience a spiritual transformation. We will embark on a path that leads to indestructible happiness and union with God. If, on the other hand, by our wickedness we suppress this truth and reject God’s signs that summon us to conversion, then we will go on walking the path of eternal futility and eternal destruction.
Fr. M. Piotrowski SChr
The article was published with the permission from "Love One Another!" in August 2016.
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