MARCH 1, 2020
7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, AND 10:30 AM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASSES
The Discovery Channel reality show titled Naked and Afraid follows two contestants – a man and a woman – who are tasked with surviving in a particular wilderness area for twenty-one days … completely naked.
Of course, there are certain concessions granted because of this being television. There is, of course, a camera crew and a site producer. Also, the contestants are allowed one helpful item – such as a machete or a fire-starter – and out of respect for some small modicum of modesty, the contestants are given a cross-body satchel … which is strategically positioned to keep certain things covered during filming.
Despite how bizarre this might sound, the show is in it’s eleventh season over seven years; and despite receiving mixed reviews – from skepticism to outright laughter – was rated the “#1 Ad-Supported program in cable among men” midway through it’s first season.
It has been praised for “celebrat[ing] human strength and fortitude rather than exploiting the frailty and narcissism of those that just want to be noticed,” and criticized for inauthenticity of the dangers presented, and that while being touted as living naked in the wilderness – the contestants are miraculously clean and well-groomed.
Nonetheless, it remains one of the highest-rated survival shows in the history of the Discovery Channel.
Today is the First Sunday of Lent.
The first reading is from chapters two and three of the Book of Genesis, and move from the creation of man and woman directly into the temptation and fall.
It is an almost too-familiar story, as our first-parents move from the bliss of paradise, traversing disobedience, knowledge, shame, and finally fear.
In the two verses that immediately follow the end of todays’ reading, the Lord God calls out to the man asking “Where are you?”
In the face of divine omniscience, this seems out of place. Yet perhaps the point is that with the sudden infusion of ill-gotten knowledge the man is indeed disoriented; and has no clue where he is or what has just happened.
In Hebrew, the word naked – עֵירֹם (ey-rome) – sounds an awful lot like the word עָרַם (aw-ram) – which means to have one’s evil or malice revealed.
And in this case, separated from God for the first time – God may not have recognized His highest creation in its lowest state.
In the Epistle, from Romans chapter 5, St. Paul reveals in one sense that God’s plan hinges on the actions of one man – the man who reigned over a world of sin and death, namely Adam; and the reign of righteousness and life through another man, namely Jesus Christ.
Recognizing the detail that God places into His creation should hopefully give us some insight into our own role as individuals. While Christ came to save sinners, when it comes down to brass tacks it is necessary for us to know that Christ came to save this sinner – me … you – and not some nebulous group of people “over there.”
In that case, the disobedience and transgression of “this one” – me … you – or the obedience and righteousness of “this one” – me … you – raises infinitely the value of our free will and our free choice – to choose Christ and to allow God’s will to be done in us.
In the Gospel, we see played out in Matthew chapter 4 what St. Paul lays out in Romans. In the face of three temptations – placing our own needs over God’s call; seeking to put God’s power at our own command; or taking a short-cut around God’s plan – all are played out in Genesis … badly. And all are played out victoriously in Our Lord’s triumph over temptation in the desert.
As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ – let us choose obedience over disobedience; wisdom over knowledge; righteousness over shame; and divine love – caritas … agape – over fear. And in those things, know that we are choosing Christ – who is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life … and as we wrestle with our Lenten practices to conform us into the image of Jesus and clothe ourselves in Christ … may we realize and know that “where we are” is united to Him in the Body of Christ … the Church of God … in fellowship with all the Saints.
