My
reflection today is on the first few chapters of Genesis and the Gospel of Mark—where
we’re deeply immersed in the human senses, especially the senses of sight,
speech, and hearing, which are highlighted with movements rich in symbolism
telling the story of salvation.
We have a
talking serpent that the Lord God had made who is labeled as “cunning.”
It’s clear that he has mischief on his mind as he addresses the
unsuspecting woman, who had been living in harmony, feeling no shame. She observed the tree was good, pleasing, and
desirable and she acted upon those thoughts certain that she was right. And she had her eyes
opened, as did the man who was with her (Genesis 3:1-8).
This isn’t
just a story about Adam and Eve acting on their desire for more than God had
given them; more than they needed; more that could hurt them-for life! Even in Eden they wanted more!
We act this
out every time we deliberately choose to sin. Certainty can be turned upside down when our
eyes are opened to the emptiness of what looked good, pleasing and desirable. We too, are tempted to cover our shame and
disobedience by hiding from God.
In the Gospel
(Mark 7:31-37), Jesus lays His hand on a deaf man whose ears and eyes are
immediately opened. Recognizing the
prophet, Isaiah, who spoke of Israel’s deliverance when God would open the eyes
of the blind and the ears of the deaf (Isaiah 35:5-6), the people were exceedingly astonished at the significance of
Jesus actions. Salvation had come to
them-and us!
What gifts
all of our senses are! When all of our
senses are working well, we’re able to "make sense" of our world (at least
the small world of our immediate family, community and friends). The deception of Adam and Eve by the serpent
was a case of trying to go beyond their human senses, to a place reserved only
for God. After they ate of the fruit of
the tree of knowledge of good and evil, we read, "then
the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were
naked." In going beyond the only limit God had
imposed on them, they knew shame, and even worse, fear of God’s presence.
“Lord, probe me and know my heart…then
lead me in the ancient paths.” Psalm 139 (23-24) invites us to be healed of our shame so
that we may once again walk with the Lord God at the breezy
time of the day.
Perhaps these
Scriptures are asking us a couple of simple questions: "What in us—as
individuals, as church, and as a society is stopped-up, or deaf? Are we deaf (even partially so) to the
sufferings/needs of others? How can we
help others to open up more fully to God’s healing love in and around them?
Only by
taking on Jesus’ heart as our very own, will we be able to see, hear and then
do God’s loving will fully.
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