There is a huge contrast between the experience of God in the First Reading, from the Book of Genesis, and that of the Second, from the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians. In the the former there is shame, dispossession and conflict while in the latter there is spiritual blessing, adoption as children and an inheritance into the life of grace. How can such a change be possible?
The answer of course is the Incarnation. We need, however, to see how all of the readings for the day speak of God's plan. From the moment of the downfall of human nature the initiative of God to restore humanity began: "...he will strike your head and you will strike his heel." (Gen 3: 15) This prophecy foretells that the human race would be freed from sin by one of its own. The protoevangelium, therefore, prophesies a new Eve. Mary, born like the first Eve without sin was unlike her predecessor as she was obedient to what God asked of her and therefore untied the know of disobedience that held us captive: "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." (Lk 1: 38)
No comments:
Post a Comment