I would
like to focus my reflection today on the second chapter of Genesis, which offers us a
more intimate and detailed account of creation compared to the first. Unlike
the grand cosmic vision of Genesis 1, Genesis 2 paints a picture of a loving
God who forms man from the dust and breathes life into him.
At this
stage, man exists alone in the garden of Eden, surrounded by creatures but lacks
a suitable companion. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, creation myths often
depicted the making of humans through acts of war or the struggles of deities.[1] But in
Genesis, creation is presented as an act of love, culminating in a unique
relationship, born out of divine wisdom and generosity.
The Divine
Initiative: It is not Good that man should be alone”.
For the
first time in creation, God declares that something is not good. Up
until now, every act of creation was followed by God’s joyful affirmation: “And
God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:10, etc.). But here, something is
incomplete. The Hebrew word lō˗tôb means more than just “not good”; it
implies something unfinished, lacking wholeness.
God, in His
infinite wisdom, does not leave man in solitude. Instead, He declares: “I will
make him a helper fit for him”. The Hebrew phrase ‘ēzer ke˗negdô is
often misunderstood. “Helper” (‘ēzer) does not imply “inferiority”. In
fact, the same word is used for God Himself as the helper of Israel (Psalm
33:20, Deuteronomy 33:26). It means a strong support, a complement. “Ke˗negdô”
literally means “corresponding to him”, someone equal yet distinct, a partner
who mirrors and completes him.
The Deep
Mystery of the Creation of Woman.
God does
not create the woman from the dust of the earth as He did with the man.
Instead, He causes Adam to fall into a deep sleep, and from his side (sela ̒),
He forms the woman. This word is often translated as “rib” in English. But in
Hebrew, sela ̒ also means “side” or “part of a structure”. This suggests not
merely a bone, but a profound oneness; the woman comes from within man,
emphasizing their unity and shared nature.
When Adam
beholds Eve, his response is one of wonder and recognition: “This at last is
bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’ (ishshah),
because she was taken out of man (ish). The Hebrew wordplay here between ish
and ishshah shows their intrinsic connection. Man and woman are two
halves of one whole, designed to journey together in communion with God.
The
Covenant of Marriage: A Return to Unity
Genesis
2:24 reveals the fundamental truth about marriage: “Therefore a man shall leave
his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one
flesh.” This verse establishes marriage as a divine institution. The phrase
“one flesh” signifies more than physical unity; it represents a total giving of
self, a covenantal bond that reflects God’s own love.
Naked and
Unashamed: The Original Harmony:
Genesis
2:25 states: “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”
This verse speaks of more than physical nudity; it symbolizes a state of
pure love, trust, and communion, a relationship without fear, guilt, or
selfishness. Before sin entered the world, Adam and Eve experienced love as God
intended: a love rooted in complete openness and mutual gift.
May we
receive this biblical passage as an invitation to rediscover the sacredness
of human relationships. We know how the word “Love” is often distorted by
selfishness, relationships reduced to transactions. God is calling us back to
the original vision of love, a love that is self-giving, mutual, and rooted in
Him. It reveals that God made us for communion, and not for isolation, whether
in marriage, friendship, or spiritual brotherhood and sisterhood.
May we,
like Adam, learn to behold each other with wonder, reverence, and gratitude,
recognizing in human relationship a reflection of the divine. Amen.
Prayer for Rediscovering
the Sacred Bond of Love
Heavenly Father,
You created us in love and for love,
forming us to reflect Your divine communion.
In Your wisdom, You saw that it was not good for us to be alone,
and so You gifted us with companionship,
a bond of mutual giving and deep unity.
Lord, help us to rediscover the sacredness of our
relationships.
May we see one another with reverence and gratitude,
cherishing the dignity You have placed within us.
Where selfishness has distorted love, bring healing.
Where division has entered, restore unity.
Teach us to love as You love—
with openness, trust, and a generous heart,
so that our relationships may be a reflection of Your divine goodness.
May we always seek communion, not isolation,
and live in the harmony for which You created us.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.🙏🙏🙏
[1] Dally Stephanie, Myths from
Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others, Oxford University,
2000, 368p.
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