1st Sunday of Lent A, March 13, 2011

My sisters and brothers, let us strive to make wise decisions by always seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Today’s first lesson is a collection of excerpts from an epic tale about the creation of humanity. God formed the human “from the dust of the ground” and gave him his spirit of life. I have always found it ironic that this poetic description from millennia ago, turns out to be so scientifically accurate. The basic elements of human body chemistry (Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen) are all the stuff of the earth.

But, one very important detail of the stories symbolism is difficult to translate into English. The name Adam is really the Hebrew word for “Human.” Human’s equal partner, whom God creates and a natural and necessary partner is “Woman” (Hebrew: isha). Then the vocabulary changes and Human is now called Man (Hebrew: ish) and the two, Man (Ish) and Woman (Isha) shall be as one; reflecting God’s own image.

God tells the humans (Adam and Eve) that they may eat the fruit of the trees with just two exceptions:
1, “the knowledge of good and evil”
2, that of “life.”

If they do this, they will be separated from God. It is important here for us to realize that the sin of Eve and Adam is not disobeying God; it is just the outer level of the symbol. The deeper message in the story is that of people trying to be gods. It is a sin of pride and arrogance. And as we know from our own lived experience, the arrogant tend to create their own punishments.

In the second lesson Paul contrasts Adam and Christ, both began whole eras in salvation history. Adam foreshadowed Christ as head of humanity. Adam disobeyed God’s direct command. Jesus, is unlike Adam:
1, Adam was condemned to separation from God but Christ brings union with God;
2, Adam’s sin allowed “death” to rule through the Devil but we let good rule our hearts through Christ;
3, Adam’s action led to the sin of many but Christ’s will lead many to godliness and “eternal life.”

In our gospel story of Jesus’ temptations we have the symbolic countering of Eve & Adam. In Mark’s version (the original version of the story) only the essential historical facts are recorded: The disciples probably knew none of the details of Jesus’ trials. Let’s face it, temptation is essentially a personal inner battle with one’s conscience.

Matthew castes the temptations of Christ as ways of sinning against the great commandment in Deuteronomy: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. We can look into each of them and see part of the not-so-attractive side of human nature. To change “stones” into bread would be to for Christ to use his power for his personal greedy benefit. Jesus says no to that and counters symbolically by asserting the importance of the word of God. Throwing himself from a pinnacle was about trying to manipulate God to Jesus’ own advantage, make himself look good. Jesus answers: testing God’s protection by unnecessarily risking life is a mockery of real sacrifices of martyrdom. Next Jesus is invited to prefer personal wealth and power over the love of God by worshiping the devil who symbolized all evil of such obsessive desires. Jesus answers: God is the only god to be worshiped and served. The details make the point that Jesus is the perfect lover of God, the ideal Israelite, the founder of a new way of being human.

As I mentioned, we have a dynamic contrast between the old era and he new one. This is symbolized in Adam & Eve’s bad choice verses Jesus’ much wiser choices. We have to be careful that we don’t read too much into this story of original sin. It is a mythic tale meant to get us thinking about human nature, especially our own ability to make choices that are self destructive. We humans can easily fool ourselves into thinking that certain possessions or pleasures, will make us all the things we are not. And it never works out that way. The point of the story is not a history of disobedience to God vs. Jesus’ obedience. It is asserting the truth that it is human choice (human agency) that brings the most genuine evil into our lives. Not God’s will or demonic forces but human action.

Jesus in contrast makes the wise choices that bring a long term happiness to life. Starting with recognizing one’s true place in the world. Turning way from greed, manipulation and unbridled power He sets his life and ministry on a wholesome and life-giving path rather than one that will inevitably lead to conflict and destruction. The final vindication of Jesus’ choices is dramatized in the stories of his resurrection.

My brothers & sisters, let us strive to choose wisely by allowing the Holy Spirit to be our guide in this life.