Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect on what is most important, to search for meaning in our lives and our world. Sometimes this reflection leads us to seek an idea or a rule that explains or summarizes life.
Important people in the scientific community have invested much time and effort seeking a “theory that explains all/theory of everything.” Physicist Brian Greene wrote a book called Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory. He believes his theory helps us find that “idea that unites/sums up all.” This Mr. Green joins Newton, Einstein, Hawking and others who have sought a unifying theory…without success.
In the church, I do not believe that we have an “all-encompassing theory that explains everything.” But a prophet of old shared an idea that summarizes much of what is essential in life. His name is Micah and he said: “I said what I have is good! I already told you what God expects of you: Practicing justice, love mercy and live humbly before the Lord” (Micah 6:8). Short, but maybe this is enough!
Amen
