Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7

Lent 1 – Year A

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7

Don't you love it that the serpent was more clever than any other wild animal (including Adam? – probably, since Adam got out clevered). We spend so much of our time trying to be clever on our own, when we could simply try a little parseltongue (though those who have a parselmouth seem to be relatively rare) to get ahead.

One of the questions that might be asked whenever things are starting to go astray (building Babel, choosing a king, etc.) is where brother snake or sister serpent might be found camouflaged in the background.

It takes cleverness to find the question that will redirect one's attention from the joy of revealing heaven on earth. What does it take to get us on a par with G*D – Babel? What does it take to reach parity with other nations and build secure borders – a king? What will reveal a Messiah – moving something from an pre-animate to a post-animate condition (stone to bread) or interfering with a natural law such as gravity or focusing on the glitz of 15 minutes of fame?

It takes reaping-the-consequence-of-cleverness to open eyes that steadfast-love might be steadfastly affirmed.

So where be ye – pre-clever, clever, or post-clever?