“Paradise”, this is a word that is central to the Syriac tradition. The Fathers long saw the movement of grace in redemption as a healing, restoration and clothing in the “robe of glory” that were in the end all details of mankind’s return to paradise. Redemption is thus a pilgrimage and a return.
The word “paradeisos” itself originated in the pre-Christian Greek attempt to encapsulate the beauty and order of the stunningly rich sixth-century walled-gardens that surrounded the tomb of the ancient Persian Emperor, Cyrus. The place, Pasargardae, was transformed into the Greek word that has since come down to us in English as “paradise”.
The Fathers of the Church easily used this term to indicate the original state of justice in which the human race had been created. “Paradise” indicates the harmony, order, grace, justice and beauty of Creation as it was first established. “Eden”, the proper name in Genesis of this state, comes from the Hebrew word for “delight, pleasure, finery”. It is also the origin of the female name, “Edna”.
In this Paradise of Eden, was created “Adam”. This word can also be misleading in English. The word “adam” means, “someone” or “man” in the generic sense. As used in Genesis its purpose is threefold; it indicates the creation of humanity, “adam”; it signifies the males of the human race; and, it is the personal name of the first man. From “man” (“ish” in Hebrew) was created “woman” (“isha” in Hebrew).
“And God created man to his own image: to the image of God He created him: male and female He created them.” Gen 1; 27
From this reality comes the type of the New Adam, the Messiah, who recreated humanity within Himself in His Death and Resurrection into the life of glory.
Thus the divinely intended place for mankind was harmony and beauty, elevated supernaturally to the friendship with God in grace. This image was effectively distorted, maimed and wounded by the personal choices made by the first human beings, Adam and Eve, and our likeness to God was lost. Nevertheless, it is ultimately the decision of Adam, and not of his wife Eve, that resulted in the disorder and wounds in all his descendants. The absence of harmony and grace has been bequeathed to us all.
In the New Creation of grace, our lives are transformed into pilgrimages in our return to Paradise. Wounds must be healed, natures elevated and minds and spirits transformed in grace. None of this happens magically, it all requires conscious choice and effort in determination to collaborate with the Work of God. Without this effort (ascesis) and collaboration we are doomed to continue in a wounded state, absent grace and thus set on a path (damnation) to permanent separation from the Hidden Creator Who has invited us to return to Paradise by His help, but to Whom a deaf ear has been turned. Where grace is received the path turns back to Paradise.
As Adam once was, so all fathers in each generation continue to be to this day: the source of life or the source of death. When fathers are faithful, generations are transformed for the better, but where they fail in fidelity the generations are maimed. Insofar as grace and redemption are concerned, these effects are forever.
Therefore, on this Day of Fathers, let us take the time to remember, pray for, and express our gratitude to those men who have brought us both our life in nature and the supernatural life of grace in the light of Providence. By nature they gave us the possibility to live and work, but additionally, faithful to grace, they have given us the ability to enter eternally the glory of Paradise. Genuine fathers are the first to show us the path as pilgrims.
Happy Father’s Day
