The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
A couple of years ago, I prayed with the scripture in today’s first reading using Lectio Divina. After reading the passage aloud a few times, I could hear God’s voice through mine asking, “Who told you that you were naked?” I used to imagine Him asking this question with an accusatory tone. On this day, I heard sadness. Disappointment. Worry. What had Adam and Eve rushed to do once they gained knowledge of their nakedness? They covered themselves and they hid.
Before we knew we were naked, as young children, we had likely spread every facet of our personality wide for our loved ones and for God to see. Many of us may not remember the first time the serpent used someone’s voice to tell us we were naked. At that moment, it was insinuated that to be seen in our natural state is undesirable. Every time we shrink and cringe at our own vulnerability now, we are experiencing the impacts of that day in the Garden. Praying Lectio Divina with this passage showed me how much that breaks God’s heart.
Our vulnerability, the core of who we are—our nakedness—is who God made us to be. He delights in our essence so much. We are of His image and likeness, after all. We were meant to find freedom in our vulnerability, not shame. We were never meant to see our nakedness as something to be covered. When we cover ourselves, we separate ourselves from God. This is the tragedy of the Garden.
But with the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption. Our relationship with the Lord changed in a garden with Adam and Eve, but His love for us brought a total transformation of that relationship in another garden at the Resurrection. God loves us too much to let fear and shame define our bond with Him. May we regard our vulnerability as something God treasures and longs to receive. Let no layer of leaf or cloth stand between you and Him today. May the truth of who you are bring you courage and bring you back to His embrace.
Perpetua Cannistraro works as a book publicist in Boston, Massachusetts. She loves the Lord, TV, Disney princesses, books, 90s-00s teen pop, and the color pink. Say hi on Instagram!