Original Harmony and Original Justice

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "The first man was not only created good, but was also established in friendship with his Creator and in harmony with himself and with the creation around him, in a state that would be surpassed only by the glory of the new creation in Christ." Great, but what does this have to do with lent? Well... EVERYTHING. Before the fall, man was in perfect harmony with God, himself, others (Adam and Eve with each other), and God's creation. You can see this very clearly in the fact that God would walk with Adam in the garden and both Adam and Eve lived in perfect harmony with each other. However, when man falls all four of those relationships are broken. e.g. Man is separated from garden (creation) and Adam and Eve are even ashamed at their nakedness.

As stated in the quote from the Catechism, this brokenness is only surpassed by the glory of the new creation in Christ. The reason Christ came and conquered death was to restore that original harmony. This doesn't mean that after his passion and death we are now in perfect harmony again, it simply means that we can now reconcile with those harmonies. Christ showed us how to do so in that he taught us how to pray to God, he taught us how to be in right relationship with ourselves, he taught us how to love our neighbors as we want to be loved, and of course he taught us the importance of creation by retreating into the mountains to pray and incorporating elements of creation in his parables. In fact, he displayed all four of those relationships in the agony of the garden.

Lent is an annual opportunity to reconcile with all four original harmonies and we can use this time of fasting and prayer to grow in relationship with God, self, others, and His creation. A wonderful way to do this is to participate in the sacraments more than we usually do, and even committing to an hour of adoration a week. Use Christ's suffering and passion as motivation to be fully alive in our relationship with God and everything he created.

Jesse is 25 and is a missionary for the John Paul II Adventure Institute in Allenspark, Colorado. The JPII AI uses outdoor adventure and experiential learning to bring young Catholics to a fuller relationship with God (www.jp2adventures.com). He is currently discerning the religious life with the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.