Disordered - From the Beginning

The Bible is an amazing book.

As I delve into Scripture more intensely than ever before, the Holy Spirit is opening up the Word of God to me in ways I have never experienced before.

Some of us try and "read" the Bible like a novel. A VERY long novel. But the truth is, the Bible isn't "read." It speaks to us and we listen. It is an active relationship. It changes, revealing nuances each time through. Just like any re-telling of a story or experience.

Recently, I wanted to dig deeper into the Biblical role of men throughout scripture. What men did God set apart as role models, and what characteristics are called to mirror? So I decided to start at the start: Genesis. Most people (myself included) like to bypass Genesis, and a majority of the Old Testament, in favor of the possibly more reader-friendly New Testament. But it was early in Genesis that I wan given a revelation! No, not the last book in the Bible, but a new view of an eternal text.

Check this out... if you think that it has only been in recent history that the roles of men and women have been knocked their ears, think again. A disordered relationship between Man and Woman caused the fall of man. You got it! Men not standing up and taking the lead role in a relationship caused Original Sin as we know it.

Just read the text and you'll see. We all know the part about the serpent tempting Eve with the possibility of eating the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden. Eve took some fruit and ate it; "and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it."

You see, Eve didn't take the fruit to him elsewhere - he was right there with her while she was being tempted. He should have done something! He should have put himself between the serpent and the woman and protect her. He should have said to the serpent, "You want her, you'll have to go through me first." This err in judgement by Adam lead Eve to fall into temptation. It's our fault, guys.

And it's still our fault. We continue to turn our backs to the things threatening our spouses, family and society. We put our wives in harms way. We ask them to take the lead in the spiritual development of our children. We ask them to protect the family while we work late at the office, veg out in front of the television, or join the boys for a harmless night at the strip club. See, things haven't changed so much, have they?

Let's do something to finally turn the corner. Make the commitment to be a real Catholic man, in everything that entails. Be not afraid. It's our God-given duty. He'll give us the strength to prevail. Afterall, it's what he wants us to do, and be, anyway.