03/08/2015

Good morning.
The centre piece of Michaelangelo’s fresco in the Sistine Chapel in Rome is, quite literally, iconic. In the section known as The Creation of Adam a patriarchal figure, clearly intended to represent God, reaches out towards the extended finger of a naked human being, Adam. The fingers are almost, but not quite, touching. The initiative is clearly from God’s side, and the impending touch is going to vivify the listless Adam. But there is a mutuality about it that isn’t present in, say, a human being petting an animal. In Michaelangelo’s fresco God is reaching out to Adam, but Adam is reaching out to God as well. We feel sure that at any moment one finger will touch the other, and something amazing will happen.
The picture is highly dramatic, but it’s strangely unlike the creation scenes recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures. There the first human is brought to life by the breath of God rather than the touch. Breath was understood in Judaism as God’s medium for imparting life. 
In fact Michaelangelo’s image would have been sacrilegious in a Jewish or Islamic context, where representations of God were forbidden, and the idea of a physical encounter between God and a human being would be a scandal. But Christianity takes a different view. It celebrates the touch of God as powerful, life-giving and creative.
Creator God we give you thanks that of your own choice you have touched us, and brought us to life; made us bearers of your image, and co-creators with you. May our touch in turn bring life and beauty to a needy world. Amen.