Makes You Say…
Earlier this week, while I was engaged in The Great Adventure Bible Study, a question was posed to the facilitator. The question, which was quite valid, was one of those that makes you shake and/or scratch your head. So intriguing was it that the classmates spent ten to fifteen minutes discussing the possible answers; and it inspired me to write this reflection.
What was this valid, intriguing, and debatable question? Why did God create a male and female of each animal species (obviously, the Creator knew the necessity of procreation) but only create Adam initially? Given the necessity of procreation, why would God not create man and woman at the same moment in time? It is a fascinating thing to ponder!
As soon as the question was posed, our class was on a quest for Truth. Surely God had something to reveal other than the chronological patterns of His creation. Surely He did not mean for people to believe that one sex is superior to the other because of the order of creation. What, then, does it mean for our salvation that God chose to do it this way?
The first reactions were grand exhibits of the first theological virtue, faith. Said one participant: "He's God. He can do whatever He wants!" Indeed, He can. However, such an answer, as true and faithful as it is, does not always satisfy the enquiring minds of some (like me!). People who are naturally skeptical need more proof.
After several more minutes of theological banter, and continued reflection on the fact that God does not make mistakes, another participant formed a rational conclusion. She posited that God's choice to create Eve after Adam was an avenue to show the latter that he was in need of relationship, something intimate he would never be able to find with any or all of the "lesser" creatures. Thus, God used His omnipotence to reveal to Adam, and to subsequent generations, the necessary benefits of human interaction.
At that point, my mind immediately shifted from inter-human relationships to our relationship with the Heavenly Father. It is true that we need other humans. But, how much more true is it that we need a friendship with the Lord? In the end, then, God's choice to create Eve after Adam was meant to reveal our need for Him, the Creator.
How does this all fit together? Quite nicely! God allowed Adam to look around at all the creatures of the earth and name them. When Adam had completed that copious task, he still had found no creature who was "fit for him." Only then was Eve created, the helper who would satiate Adam's needs.
Surely, though, there is another, deeper meaning to this story of creation. After all, the Bible is a book about our salvation, not about human sociology (although there could be many interesting case studies found in the Great Book). Because we know this is true, we can logically conclude that God intends for the story to point toward our relationship with Him.
God has granted us access to all of his creation: dirt and rocks, birds and fish, creatures that crawl and walk, material goods, and other human beings. Yet, there is nothing among the whole of creation that will satiate our deepest desires. Once we begin to recognize and humbly acknowlege to God that we cannot find happiness on our own, He will begin to change us and create for us something better than we could ever have imagined. Just as Adam was put to sleep and awoke to a new phenomenon (woman), we can be lulled out of the world and awakened to the most magnificent phenomenon in the universe, a personal relationship with the Supreme Architecht who makes no mistakes.
It truly is inspiring to watch, recognize, and understand when the Holy Spirit is doing what He does best. The story above is just one account (although it is the first one recognizable to me) of how He is fulfilling Jesus' promise to lead the Church into all Truth. The story above, and the work of the Holy Spirit within that context, is why I am inspired to remain an active participant in the Mystical Body of Christ, the Catholic Church.
God Bless.
What was this valid, intriguing, and debatable question? Why did God create a male and female of each animal species (obviously, the Creator knew the necessity of procreation) but only create Adam initially? Given the necessity of procreation, why would God not create man and woman at the same moment in time? It is a fascinating thing to ponder!
As soon as the question was posed, our class was on a quest for Truth. Surely God had something to reveal other than the chronological patterns of His creation. Surely He did not mean for people to believe that one sex is superior to the other because of the order of creation. What, then, does it mean for our salvation that God chose to do it this way?
The first reactions were grand exhibits of the first theological virtue, faith. Said one participant: "He's God. He can do whatever He wants!" Indeed, He can. However, such an answer, as true and faithful as it is, does not always satisfy the enquiring minds of some (like me!). People who are naturally skeptical need more proof.
After several more minutes of theological banter, and continued reflection on the fact that God does not make mistakes, another participant formed a rational conclusion. She posited that God's choice to create Eve after Adam was an avenue to show the latter that he was in need of relationship, something intimate he would never be able to find with any or all of the "lesser" creatures. Thus, God used His omnipotence to reveal to Adam, and to subsequent generations, the necessary benefits of human interaction.
At that point, my mind immediately shifted from inter-human relationships to our relationship with the Heavenly Father. It is true that we need other humans. But, how much more true is it that we need a friendship with the Lord? In the end, then, God's choice to create Eve after Adam was meant to reveal our need for Him, the Creator.
How does this all fit together? Quite nicely! God allowed Adam to look around at all the creatures of the earth and name them. When Adam had completed that copious task, he still had found no creature who was "fit for him." Only then was Eve created, the helper who would satiate Adam's needs.
Surely, though, there is another, deeper meaning to this story of creation. After all, the Bible is a book about our salvation, not about human sociology (although there could be many interesting case studies found in the Great Book). Because we know this is true, we can logically conclude that God intends for the story to point toward our relationship with Him.
God has granted us access to all of his creation: dirt and rocks, birds and fish, creatures that crawl and walk, material goods, and other human beings. Yet, there is nothing among the whole of creation that will satiate our deepest desires. Once we begin to recognize and humbly acknowlege to God that we cannot find happiness on our own, He will begin to change us and create for us something better than we could ever have imagined. Just as Adam was put to sleep and awoke to a new phenomenon (woman), we can be lulled out of the world and awakened to the most magnificent phenomenon in the universe, a personal relationship with the Supreme Architecht who makes no mistakes.
It truly is inspiring to watch, recognize, and understand when the Holy Spirit is doing what He does best. The story above is just one account (although it is the first one recognizable to me) of how He is fulfilling Jesus' promise to lead the Church into all Truth. The story above, and the work of the Holy Spirit within that context, is why I am inspired to remain an active participant in the Mystical Body of Christ, the Catholic Church.
God Bless.
