The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to recognize both the reality of rejection of fullness of life in our society and the perpetual care and call to renewal as followers of Christ.
The reading from Genesis concludes the Expulsion from Eden.
* [3:14] Each of the three punishments (the snake, the woman, the man) has a double aspect, one affecting the individual and the other affecting a basic relationship. The snake previously stood upright, enjoyed a reputation for being shrewder than other creatures, and could converse with human beings as in vv. 1–5. It must now move on its belly, is more cursed than any creature, and inspires revulsion in human beings (v. 15).
* [3:15] They will strike…at their heel: the antecedent for “they” and “their” is the collective noun “offspring,” i.e., all the descendants of the woman. Christian tradition has seen in this passage, however, more than unending hostility between snakes and human beings. The snake was identified with the devil (Wis 2:24; Jn 8:44; Rev 12:9; 20:2), whose eventual defeat seemed implied in the verse. Because “the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil” (1 Jn 3:8), the passage was understood as the first promise of a redeemer for fallen humankind, the protoevangelium. Irenaeus of Lyons (ca. A.D. 130–200), in his Against Heresies 5.21.1, followed by several other Fathers of the Church, interpreted the verse as referring to Christ, and cited Gal 3:19 and 4:4 to support the reference. Another interpretive translation is ipsa, “she,” and is reflected in Jerome’s Vulgate. “She” was thought to refer to Mary, the mother of the messiah. In Christian art Mary is sometimes depicted with her foot on the head of the serpent.
* [3:16] Toil…pain: the punishment affects the woman directly by increasing the toil and pain of having children. He shall rule over you: the punishment also affects the woman’s relationship with her husband. A tension is set up in which her urge (either sexual urge or, more generally, dependence for sustenance) is for her husband but he rules over her. But see Sg 7:11.
* [3:17–19] Cursed is the ground: the punishment affects the man’s relationship to the ground (’adam and ’adamah). You are dust: the punishment also affects the man directly insofar as he is now mortal.
* [3:20] The man gives his wife a more specific name than “woman” (2:23). The Hebrew name hawwa (“Eve”) is related to the Hebrew word hay (“living”); “mother of all the living” points forward to the next episode involving her sons Cain and Abel. (Genesis, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 90 praises God’s Eternity and Human Frailty.
* [Psalm 90] A communal lament that describes only in general terms the cause of the community’s distress. After confidently invoking God (Ps 90:1), the Psalm turns to a complaint contrasting God’s eternity with the brevity of human life (Ps 90:2–6) and sees in human suffering the punishment for sin (Ps 90:7–12). The Psalm concludes with a plea for God’s intervention (Ps 90:13–17). (Psalms, PSALM 90 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Mark presents Jesus feeding the Four Thousand.
* [8:1–10] The two accounts of the multiplication of loaves and fishes (Mk 8:1–10; 6:31–44) have eucharistic significance. Their similarity of structure and themes but dissimilarity of detail are considered by many to refer to a single event that, however, developed in two distinct traditions, one Jewish Christian and the other Gentile Christian, since Jesus in Mark’s presentation (Mk 7:24–37) has extended his saving mission to the Gentiles. (Mark, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)
Elvin Cardoso, S.J. invites us to reflect on the balance between giving and receiving.
Jesus shows us that ministry is not about doing everything, everywhere, for everyone. It is about knowing when to give, but also when to step back and receive. Only in receiving from God can we continue to give effectively, and only by being replenished in His presence can we truly serve others with a heart full of love and compassion. May we learn from Jesus the sacred rhythm of giving and receiving, allowing our ministry to be rooted in both action and prayer. (Cardoso, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “Breaking the bread of God's Word,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"In expounding to you the Holy Scriptures, I as it were break bread for you. If you hunger to receive it, your heart will sing out with the fullness of praise (Psalm 138:1). If you are thus made rich in your banquet, be not meager in good works and deeds. What I am distributing to you is not my own. What you eat, I eat; what you live upon, I live upon. We have in heaven a common store-house - from it comes the Word of God." (excerpt from SERMONS ON NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS 45.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
.
The Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis 3:9-24 comments how sad this scene is! God calls to Adam and Eve in love, but their guilt and shame convince them that he wants only to accuse them. He is giving them the chance to confess so that he can restore them, but they fear that he wants to punish them.
Where are you? Do you feel separated from the Lord? Maybe guilt or shame has convinced you to settle for something less than the life Jesus has won for you. Perhaps you’re unsure about opening your heart to the Lord for fear of what he might find there. If that’s your situation, remember God calling out to Adam and Eve. Remember that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is seeking you. Remember that the Holy Spirit is your comforter. Nothing can separate you from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39)!
You were never meant to be separated from the Lord. So don’t be afraid to respond when he calls to you.
“Here I am, Lord!” (Meditation on Genesis 3:9-24, 2025)
Friar Jude Winkler summarizes the separations enumerated in the first sin story in Genesis that involve humans and God, man and woman, and humans and nature. The Genesis passage is an etiology, a story to explain a mystery, of the reality of the snake, enmity between people, and pain in childbirth. Friar Jude notes the significance of “seven” in the feeding of the Gentiles as indication of enough to feed everyone.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Howard Thurman who prays for the Holy Spirit to be present with people gathered in community:
O love of God, without which life has no meaning, and no harbor, leave us not alone with our little lives, our broken dreams, our insistent problems, but invade our spirit with thy vitality, that we may be renewed in all the ways of our lives, that we may turn from this place, this day, with all that is within us, washed and purified and refreshed. We seek this with simplicity of heart, and with quiet faith and confidence that thou would not deny thy love to thy children. (Rohr, n.d.)
As we ponder the scenario of sin, punishment, and restoration in our life experience, we are grateful for the Good Shepherd who guides our contemplation and action to feed others.
References
Cardoso, E. (2025, February 15). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Retrieved February 15, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/021525.html
Genesis, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/3?9
Mark, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/8?1
Meditation on Genesis 3:9-24. (2025, February 15). The Word Among Us. Retrieved February 15, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/02/15/1204146/
Psalms, PSALM 90 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/90?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 15, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/what-is-mysticism-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 15, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=feb15
No comments:
Post a Comment