In one of his sermons, Bishop Rober Barron explains the reason why Adam and Eve became afraid of God after they disobeyed His Word: They felt shame.  They became so self-conscious that they became ashamed of themselves.  But what came next was even worse: They blamed each other.  First Adam blamed Eve, then Eve blamed the serpent.  Bishop Barron explains that’s what sin does: throws us into a shame-blame game. And that’s what we still do today, don’t we?

Children who grow up in difficult homes often feel ashamed of who they are and end up doing anything to cover up their shameful past or to distort it to suit their needs.  They become experts in placing blame on others for everything that doesn’t go their way.  They find it difficult to look at themselves squarely in the mirror and admit to their shortcomings.  Like Adam, they blame Eve, and like Eve, they blame the serpent; by so doing we keep the shame-blame alive.

The main message of the Gospel is the love of God to us, sinners. It is love that brings forgiveness and redemption down from heavens to earth.  And it is also love that calls us to make peace with who we are, which includes our past and present that we are ashamed of. It is love that we the church of Jesus preach and show to everyone so we all can find a haven in this community. So safe that we dare look at who we are; so safe that we dare look at each other; so safe that we dare accept each other though the grace of Christ Our Lord. And so safe that we dare make known what we can do.  No more shame.

In his book, A Time for Being Human, Eugene Kennedy shares some practical ways to help those who feel ashamed and afraid.  Time is one of them.  He explains, “They learn something when others have time for them and do not pressure them to prove themselves . . . .”  People learn when we give time to them, so let us begin with that.

Pastor Paul