TODAY’S FIRST READING (Gn 3:9-15, 20)

From Genesis 3:15:

I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel.”

From The Navarre Bible: Pentateuch, page 54:

“The punishment God imposes on the serpent includes confrontation between woman and the serpent, between mankind and evil, with the promise that man will come out on top. That is why this passage is called the ‘Proto-gospel’: it is the first announcement to mankind of the good news of the Redeemer-Messiah. Clearly, a bruise to the head is deadly, whereas a bruise to the heel is curable.
…
“Victory over the devil will be brought about by a descendant of the woman, the Messiah. The Church has always read these verses as being messianic, referring to Jesus Christ; and it has seen in the woman the mother of the promised Saviour: the Virgin Mary is the new Eve.”

My take

Is it any wonder that the angels’ resounding song rent the heavens when Jesus was born (Luke 2:13-14)? The world had been groaning for tens of thousands of years as it waited in great expectation for God’s promise in Genesis 3:15 — that God would fix what man could not — to be fulfilled.

I so love the image at bottom, so much so that I purchased a print now hanging on my classroom wall. I find it a great catechetical tool in teaching about the first Eve and the new Eve. Look at it carefully — it is truly inspired.

Eve looking downcast, still holding the gnawed apple, still in the grip of her tempter.

Mary looking with pity and love on Eve, caressing her cheek gently with compassion, bringing Eve’s had on to her pregnant belly as if to say, “This child is the promised Messiah — your Savior and mine — who will take care of your mistake once and for all.”

Note the last fine detail: Mary and Jesus are crushing the head of the serpent with Mary’s heel (in Hebrew, “he will” in verse 15 above can be rendered “they will”).

O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!

Mary and Eve (2005) by Sr. Grace Remington

God bless!