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Clay of the Ground

On By bayuopIn English, Lenten, LentLeave a comment

1st Sunday of Lent [A]

February 22, 2026

Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7

Traditionally, the Gospel reading for the first Sunday of Lent is the story of Jesus in the wilderness for forty days, where He fasted and was tempted by Satan. However, in this reflection, we will look deeper into the first reading from the Book of Genesis.

The Church combines two stories in this first reading: the creation of Adam (Gen 2:7-9) and the fall of our first parents (Gen 3:1-7). In order to do this, the lectionary skips around 16 verses (Gen 2:10-25), omitting Adam’s activities in the Garden of Eden and the creation of Eve. I believe the reason is not purely practical (simply avoiding overly long reading), but rather that the Church wishes to show us a hidden truth that connects the two stories.

First, we must recognize that the story of the creation of Adam is not merely a biological lesson, but a profound theological truth. Adam was created from the dust of the ground (עפר מן־האדמה – apar min ha-adama). We, as humans, are nothing but mere soil—fragile, dirty, and essentially worthless. In fact, there is a clear play on words in Hebrew to remind us of our lowly origin: the word Adam (the first man) is almost identical to the word for ground (Adama).

However, the Book of Genesis pushes further by pointing out that while we are nothing, God is everything; while we are powerless, God is omnipotent. Yet, despite the infinite gap between God and us, the author of Genesis reveals God’s immense love for humanity. Depicted as a divine artisan with His skillful hands and life-giving breath, God formed this worthless dust into one of His most refined creatures. Furthermore, God made us His co-workers in His Garden, entrusting us to care for the other creatures. We are who we are solely because of God’s love.

Moving to chapter 3, the serpent tempts Adam and Eve. His strategy is simple yet extremely effective. He claimed that God was not telling the truth and that God did not want Adam and Eve to be like Him, thus forbidding them to eat the fruit. The idea of being like God was extremely attractive, and pride began to corrupt their hearts. They desired to be like God without God, acting as His rivals rather than living as His servants. They forgot the most fundamental truth about themselves: they are nothing but dust, and everything good they have comes from God. Consequently, they fell.

By joining the stories of Adam’s creation and his fall, the Church teaches us that when pride poisons our hearts, we begin to ignore our humble origins and are doomed to fall. As St. John Chrysostom stated in a 4th-century homily: “[the story of Adam’s creation] is to teach us a lesson in humility, to suppress all pride, and to convince us of our own lowliness. For when we consider the origin of our nature, even if we should soar to the heavens in our achievements, we have a sufficient cause for humility in remembering that our first origin was from the earth.”

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Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Guide questions:

In what areas of my life do I forget my humble origins (“dust”) and fail to recognize that all my gifts, talents, and successes ultimately come from God? How does pride manifest in my daily choices? Do I sometimes try to be “like God without God” by seeking total control over my life, rather than trusting Him as His servant and co-worker? When I “soar to the heavens” in my earthly achievements, what practical practices can I adopt to stay grounded and remember my fundamental reliance on God’s love?

Adam and Us

On By bayuopIn English, Ordinary TimeLeave a comment

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]

June 9, 2024

Genesis 3:9-15

The story begins with a question from the Lord to Adam, “Where are you?” Yet, this is a strange question. Wasn’t God aware of where Adam was? But He is God, and He is supposed to know everything! Does it demonstrate ‘ignorance of God,’ or is there something deeper in the question?

Firstly, we must recognize that the language of the early chapters of Genesis is much different from the rest of the Bible. The Church recognizes that “the account of the fall in Genesis 3 uses figurative language but affirms a primeval event, a deed that took place at the beginning of the history of man (CCC 390).” Scholars agree that the sacred author used an ‘anthropomorphic language,’ that is, God is described to act and behave like a human person. Thus, God is painted as one who strolled around the garden and suddenly noticed the absence of Adam and Eve.

Moving beyond ‘anthropomorphic language,’ God’s question to Adam is not about geographical location. God certainly knew well where Adam was. Nothing can hide from Him. Yet, the question remains true because God was not asking for a geographical position but rather a personal relationship. “Where are you in relation to me? Are you with me or against me? Are you on my side or the serpent’s side?”

Adam answered, “I was afraid.”  The original relationship between God and men was based on love and true honor. Yet, after sin, fear dominates. Adam no longer saw God as a loving father but a vengeful judge. Thus, he ran away and hid himself because he was fully aware of the judgment that awaited him. He was naked before the Lord, and he realized without God, he was nothing.

God then asked, “Did you eat from the tree?” Surely, God knew Adam had trespassed His law, but He phrased the fact in a rhetorical question as God solicited Adam’s confession. Unfortunately, instead of confessing and asking for forgiveness, Adam blamed the woman. Yet, on closer look, Adam was not exactly blaming the woman, “The woman you gave me, she gave me the fruit.” Indirectly, Adam blamed God! Adam deserves nothing but a miserable death, but did He die there and then? No! God rather pointed out to Adam that his refusal of God’s love had led him to hardship and suffering.

What would have happened if Adam had owned his sin and asked God’s mercy? Perhaps Adam and his descendants would have lived in a better world. Yet, Adam was too arrogant to beg forgiveness, and he and his descendants must walk through the valley of tears till the arrival of Jesus Christ.

Surely, it is pointless to blame Adam for our conditions, but we can always learn from this primordial story. Sin is what separates us from God and distorts our loving relationship into a nightmare. Either we see ourselves as fearful slaves or rebellious renegades. Yet, often, like Adam, our father, we are too arrogant to confess and blame others, situations, or, finally, God. Yet, on the other side of the story, we learn who our God is. He was not a vengeful god who would instantly obliterate Adam, but rather a loving father who patiently educates his rebellious son. He was not a cruel lord who would punish but a merciful God who wanted his stray children to return to Him through the arrival of His Son.

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Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Isaac’s Faith

On By bayuopIn English, LentenLeave a comment

2nd Sunday of Lent [B}

February 25, 2024

Gen 22:1-18

Isaac’s binding is one of the Bible’s most dramatic and intense stories. From this story, the Church sees that Isaac is the type of Christ. Isaac and Jesus were both the sons of the fulfillment of God’s promise. Both were born in the miraculous conditions. Isaac and Jesus were the sacrifices of their fathers. Yet, Isaac’s sacrifice was halted because his sacrifice would be fulfilled in Jesus on the cross. However, though typological analysis is beautiful, some questions remain unanswered. How did Isaac feel when he knew that he was about to sacrifice? Was he forced or freely giving himself? What was his motive?

Whether or not Isaac was forced as a sacrifice revolves around this age during the event. Many imagine that Isaac was still a small child, and thus, Abraham forcibly tied him and made him ready for the sacrifice. Yet, the text suggests that he was no longer a small child because he carried on his shoulder the wood for the sacrifice. Since wood was not for simple fire but a ritual sacrifice, Isaac must have brought a significant amount. Indeed, it was a job for a strong young man. Thus, we can conclude that Isaac was not forced because, as a young man, he had the physical power to resist the aging Abraham. Isaac was freely giving himself as a sacrifice and, perhaps, asked Abraham to bind him.

Yet, the question remains: Why did Isaac feel? Why did he offer himself? Unfortunately, the text of the Bible does not give us a window into Isaac’s heart. Yet, putting ourselves in the place of Isaac, it is not difficult to feel the great distress, sorrow, and fear. He was a young man with many years to come, and yet he was about to lose his life at that moment. He was not only facing death but a violent death. In fact, unlike his father, he had little to ponder about God’s will since he knew about it just a few moments before the sacrifice. Why?

The story usually focuses on the faith of Abraham, who obeyed God’s will and gave up his only son. God Himself blessed Abraham for his steadfast faith (see Gen 22:16-17). Yet, the story is also about Isaac’s faith. In the Bible, Isaac is considered a minor character among Israel’s patriarchs compared to Abraham and Jacob. He has fewer stories and often takes a more passive role. Yet, the story has proved that Isaac is a man of great faith. In fact, without his faith, Abraham would not have received the blessing.

Isaac’s faith is mature and profound. Amid extreme anguish and debilitating fear, he remained steadfast and believed that God would eventually turn things well. His faith also helped him to recognize that his life was a sacrifice to God. As he offered himself as a sacrifice, God’s blessing came to Abraham. Isaac’s faith is not only about ‘believing in God’s existence, not only about passive reception of situations but actively participating in God’s will.

How do we react in the face of uncertain situations and suffering? Fear, anxiety, or anger? What is faith to us? A mere belief in God, a passive surrender to avoidable situations, or proactively seeking God’s will? Do we also offer our lives as sacrifices to God so that others may receive blessings?

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP