Saturday in Ordinary Time, Fifth Week, Feb.10,2007

Genesis 3:9-24. Psalm 90:2-6,12-13. Mark 8:1-10:

This third chapter of Genesis brings me back to our Easter Vigil where the
beautiful Exultet is sung. One of the expressions within it fits the scene
from today's reading--"Happy Fault." In Latin it sounds better and
recently my rabbi friend asked me about it. That phrase is Felix Culpa.
This is sung with joy and hope because of Adam and Eve's sin there was the
need of redemption for all of their offspring and for themselves. For
Christians that person is Jesus the Savior of the world. His role goes
beyond the messiahship promised to David and his successors and takes on a
transcendent and universal dimension for the history of all of us who have
ever been given the gift of human life. Salvation history is what has been
brought to the world because of the felix culpa of Adam and Eve. In the
text God chides them and realizes they were trying to "be like gods" and
hoped to know right from wrong and have life forever on this earth." The
fiery swords East of Eden wielded by the cherubim prevented them from
remaining in the garden where they would never have died, at least,
according to the story in Genesis. God would send his only Son to bring
salvation to all of us whether we realize it, or accept it, or whether we
do not believe in it. The works of God are without repentance! Ex opere
operato...it is a done deed once and for all. Of course, the gracious gift
of faith in believing this makes it more enjoyable to know," God so loved
the world that He gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes
in Him may not perish but may have eternal life." (John 3:16). In turning
to the Gospel passage I reflected on the compassionate love of Jesus who
says, "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd." Then he feeds them with
the loaves and the fish while Mark uses words that are similar to the
institution words of the Eucharist. We are nourished for eternal life
through this bread of life who is Jesus Himself, the Bread of Life.
Finally, in looking at the Psalm for today, I cherished the thought of this
verse: "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of
heart." In the Hebrew commentary I found the following note very practical
and helpful: "With a full understanding of the consequences which follow
the spending of life's opportunities in unworthy ways. (then about
numbering our days)...Realizing how few they are and then they will be so
employed that 'each tomorrow finds us farther than today.'" (Soncino
Commentary for Psalm 90 verse 12. See also Deuteronomy 32:29 for the
expression "wisdom of heart").Amen.