We are now in the season of Lent a time of preparation for Jesus' death and his Glorious Resurrection.
The book of Genesis is appropriate on the first Sunday of Lent. It reminds us of Adam's fall where we all became victims of sin, as a result became sinful creatures. Lent is a time of soul-searching and reminding ourselves that we are sinners, the creatures for whom Christ died. We are the people that Jesus loved. It is only fitting that we reciprocate by preparing ourselves for his death and resurrection.
It is always struck me as strange that the story of the fall of Adam and Eve metaphorically is the story of the evolution of man.
Sometime in the distant past human beings led idyllic life is much is this much as we see in the higher apes indeed, these apes neither sow nor reap yet they live quite well. At some point in antiquity man became self aware, and acquired the ability to choose a life that is self-destructive. In other words, we humans were now able to choose to between being sinful or virtuous. Just as Adam and Eve became self aware after eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil a proper reading of evolution leads us to the same conclusion.
Another startling fact concerning human evolution was discovered a few years ago by scientists studying the makeup of mitochondrial RNA. Mitochondrial RNA is passed from generation to generation only by women. Scientists have been able to trace this RNA back to when it first appeared in the human race. The upshot of this discovery was all of modern humanity sprang from a single female. Yes, this means that really was an Eve.
A belief in the literal Garden of Eden or being a confirmed evolutionist makes no difference, in the eyes of God. Both stories of the evolution of man are really the same. It is inconceivable that a wandering tribe of nomads 8,000 years ago could understand the real meaning of evolution. God had put the creation story in a format that they could understand and relate to; the story of Adam and Eve and their fall from grace is understandable to all, even today. The simple fact is that humans were given the opportunity to act against God's will. We did, and we still do.
Lent allows us to examine our unworthiness and try to express a real sorrow for our sins through meditation and acts of self denial. Contrition is in order, we must remember the enormity of gift of life that Jesus Christ gave to us, 2000 years ago.
Giving up drinking, smoking, candy, or any other self indulgent pleasurable activity in Lent is well and good as far as it goes. The problem with giving up these small vices is that these vices are things that are self-destructive and giving them up is that actually akin to the self-aggrandizement we heard in today's gospel. Giving up something for Lent only has real meaning if it is accompanied by meditation on God's gift to us, his son. An example might be giving up one meal a day and spending the time it takes to eat in meditation. Meditation will allow us to partially understand the enormity of Christ's suffering and death and glorious resurrection.
Christ has been referred to as the new Adam, the implication of this is that Jesus Christ is a harbinger of a new time his death and resurrection is a new beginning for all of humanity. We all must experience this Lent as a time of preparation for a new beginning. This personal world to which we are striving is one in which we all live in more Christ like life.
In addition I would like to remind all the followers of this blog of the St. Bernard medals we are selling to help us offset the deficit that we incur in bringing a protestant presence to the mountain. We have set up a e-mail address where you may order these beautiful medals.
The address is stbernardmedals@gmail.com.
