The Mystery of Original Sin
In Scripture, the concept of original sin practically does not exist. The Book of Genesis vividly describes the prohibition of eating the fruit from "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" and the consequences of Adam breaking this prohibition. The doctrine of original sin, in which every human being is born – with the exception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - was expressed by Saint Augustine. The doctrine of original sin was formulated at the Council of Carthage in A.D. 418 and decreed at the Council of Trent.
The supernatural gift of life
According to biblical exegesis, the allegorical description of the genesis of man contains only the essential religious truth that people were created in the image and likeness of God, not how they were created. This "how?" belongs to the field of natural sciences, mainly biological anthropology. Only man was endowed by God with the mysterious "breath of life", thanks to which he became a living creature.
Theology calls this immaterial element a soul capable of independent life and existence after bodily death. The first human beings were biologically no different from us. Nor were they inherently immortal. God warned them against the possibility of death: “You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; when you eat from it you shall die" (cf. Genesis 2:16). If Adam were essentially immortal, the warning would make no sense. If the first parents lived longer than biological possibility, it was because the Creator gave them the supernatural gift of life - symbolized by the "tree of life" - which they had lost.
From Adam and Eve?
Saint Paul (cf. Rom 5: 12-21) states: Therefore, just as through one person sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all, inasmuch as all sinned". This verse was found decisive by the Council of Trent on the basis of the biblical doctrine of original sin, whose essence of inheritance by all Adam's descendants remains open to his nature. And although the Council of Trent interpreted original sin, assuming the origin of mankind from one pair of people (monogenism), modern theology - taking into account scientific discoveries in the field of biological anthropogenesis - does not exclude the possibility of the origin of the human species from many women and men (polygenism). Bible scholars point out that in Genesis the word "ha adam" is used with the plural article, which literally means "people." If so, there could be more people than just one couple. An outstanding expert in dogmatics, Father Ignacy Różycki claimed that neither monogenism nor polygenism are dogmas of faith, but a theologically probable statement.
The essence of original sin
Man in Eden, apart from the promise of immortality, received from God the first code of morality symbolized by the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (cf. Genesis 2:17). Pope John Paul II writes: "The tree of the knowledge of good and evil recalls symbolically the absolute limit which man as a creature must recognize and respect. Man depends on the Creator and is subject to the laws by which the Creator has established the order of the world which he created, the essential order of existence (ordo rerum); therefore, man is also subject to the moral norms which regulate the use of freedom." Meanwhile, man consciously and voluntarily crossed these boundaries.
Fascinated by the world around him, he decided to go his own way, according to his norms and rules of life. He wanted to be a lord, judge and legislator for himself. He wanted at any cost, here and now, to know everything that is known to God; as if to be equal to Him.
The demonic being, symbolized by the serpent, gave man a great temptation: " You certainly will not die! God knows well that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, who know good and evil." (cf. Gen 3:4-5) So you will, in a sense, become equal to God. It was not only disobedience, but also pride, turning away from God, choosing one's own path and meaning in life, contrary to God's plan for man.
This is the essence of original sin: man has put himself before God. As a result, he lost all his supernatural gifts and became naked, and therefore subject to suffering, passing and death. He realized the fragility of his life and its nonsense apart from the Creator. From then on, all people inherit original sin. Its universal manifestation is a natural inclination towards evil and sin.
Critics of the Church charge that it introduces collective justice as Adam's descendants bear the consequences of his guilt. Well, nature knows no mercy. Only God is merciful and the laws of nature are absolute: whoever transgresses them bears the consequences. And the question of whether it is fair, loses any sense in the face of the necessity of the actions of natural laws.
Reflection on Today’s Gospel
With the words of today's Gospel, does the Lord Jesus discourage us from fasting? Of course not. The fast we undertake, however, is fundamentally different from that of the disciples of John and the Pharisees. Their fasting was a human effort to gain intimacy with God. Jesus' disciples no longer need to fight to be close to God. God is close to them. So why fasting? Our fasting is an expression of closeness to God who suffered for us. It is simply compassion, that is, something out of love. In a way, it is necessary to grow up to Christian fasting, because our fast is the privilege of Christ's disciples, that is, people close to God.
One more thought: our prayer should come from a converted heart, our fasting from food should be supported by much more important fast - fasting from sins, and our love of God should bear fruit in goodness for the poor. Prophet Isaiah wrote wonderfully: Here the fast that I choose: Releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking off every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn. (cf. Is 58: 6-8) Then, when you pray, God will immediately answer you: "Here I am!"
Until Tomorrow
fr. George