Today’s readings invite us to examine what it means to reflect God—whether as image-bearers, as seekers of truth over praise, or as those formed for partnership and dignity.

Irenaeus explores Paul’s language about the “god of this world,” insisting that all power and authority ultimately belong to the one true God, the Creator, and that any other so-called “gods” are either distortions or idols, never to be confused with the Lord revealed in Christ. Augustine continues his searching self-examination in The Confessions, wrestling with the pull of praise and the desire for truth, and confessing his uncertainty about how deeply praise affects his joy and motivation. Aquinas opens Question 92 with a discussion of whether woman was fittingly made from the side of man, finding in this a profound symbol of equality and partnership, and po ...