nakedness and nakedness, what's the difference

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return…” (Job 1:21)

In his book The Holy Longing, Fr Ron Rolheiser points out this verse in relation to the idea of a person finding his/her rightful place in society. But, as he points out, this is something that cannot be done without a sense of humility. Pointing to this verse, he points out how Job gives us two ideas of nakedness. I would like to elaborate on that point a bit if I may.
The first idea is “Naked I came from my mother’s womb”. This is a physical nakedness and a designation of the shame that is brought forth from the fall of mankind through Adam and Eve. Pope John Paul II speaks of this thoroughly in his audiences that comprise Theology of the Body. As soon as they eat the apple, they are filled with wisdom and shame of their naked presentation. So they immediately hide parts of their bodies from the other person. Then they attempt to hide from God when he comes down to the garden to check on them. This shame, then, is the shame of original sin.
The second idea of nakedness (“and naked shall I return”) deals more with where we need to get too. In dealing with that shame of Adam and Eve which was consequently passed down to us, John Paul II speaks of our need to overcome it in building the kingdom of heaven on earth. The goal of humanity, as Christ showed us, is to be able to empty oneself so much that he/she may be able to die naked upon a cross, enduring a truly humiliating act in the name for someone else. We are to lose ourselves if we choose to gain life. We are to present ourselves “naked” before the Father and humanity as a servant, just as Christ did.
And so, even though we come into the world physically naked and full of shame, we are to return to God spiritually naked and full of hope. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Hallways of fun!!

It is so easy to look at the Church and see all of its faults. It’s easy to do that with any organization. But because of what the Church stands for—God—it is easy to have higher expectations for it. Yet, it seems as if it keeps failing for so many people. But why is that?

In his book, The Holy Longing, Fr. Ron Rolheiser gives his take on this. And I must say, I agree.

I was told once by a priest that the things we criticize of others are usually problems we ourselves have. I think that this is what Fr. Rolheiser is trying to get across. He says, “What is too painful to deal with is not the Church’s imperfection but my own fantasies about my own goodness.” We focus on the negative aspects of others so often that we forget about the negative aspects of ourselves.

This is something I have struggled with because I know I am not perfect. But is that supposed to make me stand by and watch another sin?

At any rate, what matters is we pay more attention to the good aspects of ourselves and the bad aspects of others. I do this, too. The struggle is to focus also on the bad aspects of ourselves and the good aspects of others. And from that comes a sense of humility and need of a community. And it is then that we find we need the Church the most.

Solemnity of the Annunciation!!

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
(Luke 1:38)

These words of Mary’s, her fiat, are what we recall today. These are the words that she gave in response to the angel Gabriel’s message, God’s message, to her that she would be the mother of the Christ. In her “Yes” to God, she agreed to take an ever active, yet at the same time subordinate, role in our salvation.

Her role is ever active because through her “Yes”, she agreed to become Theotókos (Mother of God). She became the new Eve, ushering in the redemption of the fall brought forth by the first woman. She became the mother of the New Adam, Jesus Christ, the only Son of the Father, renewing the act of disobedience of the original man who acted out of disobedience. And, as the mother to the First Born of many, she would become the mother of us all, as we are that “many”. Mary is our spiritual Mother. Mary is the model of all mothers as she said “yes” to a sudden, unexpected child who she knew would change her life forever.

Her role is also subordinate to Christ, her son. Although she works along side him as co-redemptrix and mediatrix, she is nonetheless under the sole Mediator, Christ. But as our mediatrix and co-redemptrix, she deserves our honor. She is in heaven, purest of all, crowned Queen of Heaven, interceding for us to the Son, just as she did at the wedding in Cana. But Cana was not her first time to intercede for us. Rather, she was already interceding for us when Gabriel came to her and she said “Be it done” for all of humanity.

So today, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annuciation, let us recall, honor, and meditate on Mary’s ever active role in the Incarnation and our salvation.