The Fall of Man, circa 1560, by Frans Floris
First Sunday in Lent
March 9, 2014
Genesis 2:15 – 17; 3:1 – 7, Romans 5:12 – 19,
Matthew 4:1 – 11
Many years ago, Dr. Stanley Walters told us theological students to read the first dozen chapters of Genesis as “pictorial theology.” Try to see our story today. See the Man, alone in the Garden except for a Voice that speaks over his shoulder. See the Tree at the centre of the Garden, beautiful to the eye. See the animals and birds, gathered peacefully, all around the man. See the Man asleep, and watch the violent creation of the Woman. See the Serpent.
This is a graphic novel, each episode told in a page or two of vivid images. Each detail, every word is chosen with intent, emphasized by detail or repeated for effect. See the Man and Woman in their full, naked glory. Don’t turn away. Gaze on them as you would a statue by Michelangelo or Rodin. Then see the glory fade as shame descends and unalloyed good is cloaked as if it is evil. Desire and delight become burdens.
This isn’t a documentary telling of the entry of sin into the world. That approach only leads us to conclude that God caused the Man and the Woman to sin through what God had made good. Or that there is a power at loose strong enough to subvert God’s purpose and seal the fate of humanity. Taking this story at its words has led Christians to blame the Woman for the Man’s sin, and therefore to blame women for the state we’re all in. Today’s epistle offers us Paul’s reading of this story. Be glad he moves on and names our hope!
This graphic novel offers us a way to name the human predicament. We can come to know at least enough of God to understand the world is not as God wills it. We have seen God at work in the world, and God’s intention for humanity, in Jesus. We put our faith in him because we know we can’t live as God wants on our own strength. We read today’s gospel and know why we can trust Jesus to do for us what we can’t often do.
The Woman and Man were made for good. All they knew and named was good. They knew no evil and found no shame in anything God had made. They never had to choose. What a dream!
Every day we must choose. God’s call is clear but the path toward its fulfillment is rarely obvious to us.
So we have to choose good over evil, as best we can. We know, in this life, we will rarely see pure good or unalloyed evil. We know how often we confuse the good and the bad. When we claim to know for sure, our certainty sustains us and kills others.
We choose without perfect knowledge, often in perfect ignorance. Sometimes we’re under the power of delusion. Sometimes we’re influenced by falsehood. Often we refuse to take full responsibility for our choices. Hear the words in our story today: God to Man, Serpent to Woman. Imagine the conversation between Woman and Man. Listen ahead, for final words between Man and God.
If we’re condemned at all, we’re condemned to choose. We cling to Jesus, who sets us free from any condemnation. Except the necessity of choice.
Martin Luther is said to have said to his students, “Sin boldly!” I don’t think he meant they should go and spread evil along the cobbled streets. I hear him say, “Live boldly!” Live unafraid to choose, for choose we must. When we see we’re wrong, or not quite as right as we thought we were, know we’re not condemned. We may have messes to clean up, but all is not lost. Thanks be to God!
