First Week of Advent: Wednesday’s Riddle.

 Son of man, put forth a riddle… (Ezekiel 17:1-3)

Creation, Fall, Redemption—these are the great themes of the Bible. It starts with a riddle having to do with the woman and the serpent and that forbidden “tree that is in the middle of the garden”—the one thing that God said “No” to. “The serpent beguiled me,” the woman confesses, “and I did eat” (Gn 3:13).  The days of innocents are over. Life will be lived outside the garden; where the human calling remains: “To be fruitful and multiple” (Gn 1:28). Life goes on, it just won’t be innocent or easy—a life marked by death: “You are dust and to dust you shall return” (Gn 3:19).

Grim… but tucked away in there is a riddle of hope. It has to do with the offspring of the woman who will one day turn the tables and bring about the end of the serpent. The serpent does not speak that last word. In God’s “No” there is a “Yes”.  This “Yes” brings about a new name for the woman: “Adam named her Eve, because she was the mother of all living” (Gn 3:20). It’s an odd name—a riddlish name. We will scarcely see it repeated. “Woman” is the name that sticks. “Woman for she was taken out of man” (Gn 2:23). It’s the name for the two who become one flesh resulting, if all goes well, in fruitfulness. It’s the x/y chromosome.

But “Eve” is a standalone. Man is not mentioned. For those who read the Bible backwards, one cannot help but think of that young Eve who said, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 2:38). The one who said “yes” to God’s “Yes”. The one whose child will turn the tables on the serpent (Ro 16:20).

 Readings for the First Week of Advent: Hope.

Monday:       Genesis 1:1-5        &  John 1:1-5

Tuesday:       Genesis 1:26-27   &  Colossians 1:15-17

Wednesday: Genesis 3:15         &  Romans 16:20

Thursday:     Genesis 9:12-16   &  Romans 8:18-25

Friday:           Genesis 12:1-3     &  Matthew 1:1, Romans 4:18

Saturday:      Jeremiah 17:13-14 &Romans 15:12-13