Daily Reflection: 27 March 2023

“I saw my naked form

In a moment shame was born, I hid my face.” —The Arcadian Wild

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked. Genesis 3:7

My husband and I were discussing this very verse a few weeks back. Once Adam and Eve sin, they want to cover their nakedness, but why is that?

Shame makes us want to cover ourselves; hide our deeds.

Criminals love cover of darkness.

In vulnerable moments of shame we try to wrap our arms around ourselves and hang our head so as to not look into people’s eyes.

We’ve all tried to “hide” when we’ve done something wrong.

For some reason, shame makes us want to cover ourselves. Maybe in an attempt to not have God see us? Though He can, it’s maybe all we can think to do.

Shame doesn’t feel good. It’s an emotion we’d rather not have to deal with, but, it’s not necessarily bad to feel shame. Our current culture would tell you that to feel shame over anything is oppressive and you shouldn’t worry about it.

But, shame is a piercing emotion that strikes our soul and warns us that what we’ve done is not good. It should be an alarm bell to heed change. It should wake us to the wrong we’ve done, foster a desire for repentance, move us to confession, and be a reminder not to commit that sin again.

God doesn’t want us to stay stuck in our shame. He desires to heal it and guide us to betterment.

What is interesting, though, is as our culture has moved away from God, there seems to be little shame or at least an acknowledgement of it. And as more and more people ignore the shameful acts they commit, they more undressed they become. People parade around in outfits that leave little to the imagination and we are encouraged to applaud this supposed liberation.

But, it seems more of a conscience or unconscious, for some, middle finger to God.

We mustn’t ignore any shame that we feel, Catholic Pilgrims, but instead take it to God and let Him help us be healed from the sins that caused us to feel shame. He wants to help us because He loves us.

Live the Faith boldly and travel this Monday.