From the beginning will be the answer to the question about Satan and the power that shapes the world. Here Girard begins a point. The phrase concerning "the blood shed since the foundation of the world," shows the enormous scope of the idea I am trying to explore. It would be foolish to suppose that the coupling in the Gospels of the first collective murder and the first human culture suggests only a fortuitous conjunction of the two. The message is clear. From the beginning, human culture was rooted in the murders triggered and manipulated by Satan. The story of Cane perfectly illustrates this vision. Cane has two titles to fame. The first is Abel's murder and the second is the foundation of the first civilization, or culture. A look at Genesis shows that the two events are one. The first law is promulgated as a result of the murder, and it is the first human law against murder, The word 'Cain' stands not for a single murder but the entire community unified by the first culture. So 'blood shed from the beginning' is meant to be about truth-telling. From the beginning - from the moment there were people who were not enemies but kin - there was blood. Murder and all of the emotions and actions that go with it. That story marks us. Civilization is shaped around such violence. Culture finds a friend in the threat of murder or death or the pointing of fingers that calls one less than others or even calls one simply worthless or disposable. Culture will move on at the expense of some people. Make an 'example' of 'them' and we will not have to deal with 'them' anymore. And if we can find a way to put an end to 'them' won't we be safer and won't this be a better place to live. Duh - no. It always makes for the same old world. That is, blood shed from the beginning. The cycle is one that we enter too easily - unconscientiously - as though it is a good path. And yet, it never is. No peace comes from the death of another. No justice comes from ridding ourselves of him or her or them. Connection: We have all heard that little lesson for life: count to ten before reacting/responding to what you just saw or heard. The ten count may be a prayerful time that helps us breath in the power of the Holy Spirit so that we do not blame, shoot, kill, belittle, tear down. That breath may be the time we need to listen again - to the other person and also to our God that bids us to live within the domain of God's peace and reconciliation. Even in a time of emergency - great fear - the ten count may be just what is needed to stop an act of a 'justified murder' called self-defense. We are all told that self-defense is okay - but is it any different from that first murder? What was Cain defending - his self image - his status - his pride? We could speculate all day. Our question might be: what are we saying we are defending against when we tear down others - because you know we don't kill like Cain - do we? As you walk with us, O God, help us to breathe in the deep peace that comes into our lives by way of the Spirit of truthfulness. Breathe - deeply - and again. Amen. |
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