One saint I want to meet someday is St. Irenaeus, the 3rd century bishop of Lyons, because I like the way he thinks. Let me change slightly some of his words from today’s reading.

“God keeps calling us to what is primary by what is secondary, that is, through things of time to things of eternity, through things of the flesh to things of the spirit, through earthly things to heavenly things.”

The saint offers the example of Moses striking the rock and water comes out. People drank and were refreshed, but something more happened–they knew through the water, though dimly, a generous God who slaked their thirst.

No demeaning of creation in Irenaeus. Don’t neglect it, he says.

I’ve just come from a good meal and good company–things of time, things of flesh, earthly things. And it was more than eating and talking.