OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS

The themes of sin and death that were central to Ash Wednesday are carried over into the First Sunday in Lent. These themes, however, are explored somewhat differently. Rather than a prophetic announcement of divine judgment against the people of God in the form of the Day of the Lord, as was the case in  Joel 2,   Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 explores the consequences of sin for all humans and for the creation itself through the stark imagery of exposed nakedness in a garden that is quickly vanishing. Psalm 32 provides liturgical language of hope by showing us how to petition for God's grace, even when we are all too aware of our weakness and shame.

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 - "Shame as Death"
Setting.  Our interpretation of the Old Testament lesson will expand the boundaries…