27th Sunday Ordinary Time – A Last Question – “Not Good for the man to be alone?”

Creation of Eve by William Blake

Actually, the Hebrew can be better translated, “It is not good for humankind (adam) to be isolated, separate, apart.” I found this significant because the gospel was all about divorce. So, I asked the question:

What are the conditions for the possibility that two persons could unite in marriage when we account for that profound separateness in each? 

Of the many pieces that make up the human being, shame is one element that contributes to the wall of separation each from each, protecting that inner sanctum where each is profoundly vulnerable.

This was the second homily I preached last week to speak to what I perceive as THE challenge to marriage, and all relationships.

Below, you’ll find the Genesis 2 timeline of when God did new things in Eden. It could help.

Genesis Two – Timeline: In the second chapter of Genesis, there were at first heavens and the earth at first. No plants, no field, nor herbs since God had not made it rain. And there was no one to till the soil. That’s when God made adam, humankind, from the dust of the soil. Then came the garden. That’s where God set adam. Then trees grew in the garden. Then rivers.

Next the command to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or else. That’s when God saw it was not good for humankind to be alone and decided to make a helper. All the animals followed. The Human named them all, yet found none suitable to be a partner. Then the divine anesthesia and surgery. Then, differentiation. God brought the woman, ishah, to the Human who confirmed her name as “woman” and named himself – “for out of “man” (ish) this one was taken.

It’s only after God interrogates the man and the woman after eating from the tree of good and evil, that Eve is named. “Adam” is given his name in late chapter four.