The headlights of oncoming cars were a bit too bright at night and the route signs along Interstate 95 were a bit too fuzzy during the day. Facing a license renewal in a matter of months, I knew that a cataract procedure was unavoidable. The ocular transformation was not only painless, but frankly, remarkable. Details of photographs, designs on chinaware and dusty corners around the house that had gone unobserved were suddenly vivid. Modern medicine as well as science and technology in general have vastly improved contemporary life. Mankind rightly and happily continues the creative hand of God by fostering the earth’s potential, outer space’s prospects, and even the human body’s possibilities. But there is a vast difference between doing God’s work and playing God.
It is reported that researchers from Harvard and Brown universities warn that in the future scientists may be able to create embryos from skin cells. This procedure would separate human reproduction from sexual intercourse. Some might be pleased that an infertile woman could produce a child merely from her own skin cells. But going a step farther, an individual man could also produce a child from his own skin cells, no doubt gladdening the hearts of homosexual couples. Science could permanently divorce man from woman, reproduction from sex, parenthood from marriage, family from gender. It should be difficult indeed for believers to see the plan of God in such a technological procedure.
Science, medicine and the average person face numerous challenges nowadays in recognizing and promoting the Scripturally centered and traditionally appreciated plan of God. Physician assisted suicide has been legalized in a number of states. The liberal use of morphine is applied in some facilities to hasten death. Gender is determined by a person’s private preference rather than biological evidence. Justifying abortion, a Rhode Island religious leader states that while an unborn fetus is precious and to be protected, her tradition places a higher value on existing life than on potential life. Even within the Church, the indissolubility of marriage is in danger of being compromised. Like the curious Eve in this Sunday’s first reading, modern society views these and other procedures as tempting benefits: “The woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom.” Yes, from a merely human perspective the forbidden fruit was indeed enticing (good…pleasing…desirable). But the forbidden fruit was disastrous from a spiritual point of view. “So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.”
Nakedness in the Biblical world was a symbol of feebleness, indigence, and deficiency. Job describes his dire plight thus: “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back there.” If the Jews did not respond to God’s Word they would live “in nakedness and utter want.” A sympathetic Isaiah sees a great act of charity in “clothing the naked when you see them.” Adam and Eve’s usurpation of God’s prerogatives does not result in a fulfillment of Satan’s promise: “Your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods…” Their boldness results rather in the humiliating recognition of their own nakedness, their own feebleness, indigence, and deficiency. Had they heeded God’s word, Adam and Eve would have accepted their own limitations regarding the tree of the knowledge: “You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.” Ignoring God’s command led plainly to our first parent’s demise – first nakedness and finally death.
Human history would be dramatically altered had Adam and Eve been more interested in the tree of life then they were fascinated with the tree of knowledge. Modern society would be wise to look more intently at the perennial tree of life, the Gospel message, and avoid the tempting fruit hanging from the tree of unchecked technological and sociological experimentation.
God does have a plan for mankind. The Father does have a Providence that will lead to authentic human fulfillment. Through Christ and through his Church, God constantly reveals to mankind the authentic path to eternal fulfillment. Only a lively faith, hanging generously from the tree of life, can discern this certain path and avoid the pitfalls of unchecked technology and untested theories.
