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| Franz Marc, The Tiger, 1912 |
A homily given at St Stephen's Rochester Row at Evensong on Sunday 21st February 2022 based on the readings from Genesis 1.1 - 2.3 and Matthew 6.25-34
When the stars threw down their spears
And water’d heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger
Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
The final
verses of William Blake’s poem Tyger Tyger, which I had to learn to recite at
school.
I once
had a close encounter with a ferocious beast in the forests of the night. We
were eating outside when we heard a rather disturbing growl, hair-raisingly
close by. My late father-in-law told us not to worry because it was a
“satisfied” roar not “hungry” roar (yes, there is, apparently, a difference to
those in the know!) In the daylight we saw a carcass hanging in the tree a
few meters from where we had been sitting, next to which was a very full
leopard dozing on a branch, it’s tail dangling down and flicking to and fro,
contentedly.
A lucky
escape - and perhaps something of that “fearful symmetry” Blake describes - the
axis of which in this case was about half way down our garden path! But in his
poem this fear runs much deeper. Blake questions the motivation of a God who is
responsible for a world not only of Lambs, but also ferocious beasts; whether
they prowl around the African bush or the “dark satanic mills” of
industrialised Britain.
We can
all respect and appreciate the poet’s concern for those who suffer - and
perhaps we can also empathise with his anxiety over the challenging question as
to why? “Why does God allow such evil and suffering to exist?” But our readings
this evening suggest that this really is the wrong question to ask.
We know
that the first creation account in Genesis is unique in several ways. Not least
for its portrayal of one God who is wholly good and who created a world that is
good. This is far removed from stories known to be popular within other
cultures of the Ancient Near East, which described humans as being made from
the blood of defeated deities and put to eternal work as slaves to the victors.
In the Israelite explanation for the creation of the world we hear repeatedly
that God created a world that is good - and that he sees it to be good.
Scholars
have also revealed a unique symmetry in the text; something of which is still
evident in the English translation. The description of Day 1, when God created
the day and night, corresponds to Day 4 - when God created the sun, moon and
stars. Day 2 similarly corresponds to Day 5. Day 3 to Day 6. Detailed
examination of the original Hebrew reveals even more symmetry in the structure
of each clause of this passage.
Those who
were first inspired to write down this short but beautiful text saw the
symmetry in the world around them not as fearful - but a reflection of God’s
love. A divine harmony amidst the glorious diversity of creation.
And we’ve
heard it - literally - this evening, in the beautiful music sung by our
choir. Different voices working to accord with one another in song. Fascinatingly,
research has shown that when musicians listen to music, brain activity across
both hemispheres seems to occur more symmetrically. Harmony breeds
harmony.
Instead
of questioning why God allows evil and suffering to exist, we ought to be
training our brains to question our stance towards God. Why do we so often fail to see
(or hear) His goodness all around us?
In our
second reading - just a snippet from the much longer Sermon on the Mount -
Jesus offers an explanation. It’s because all too often we are distracted by our
own concerns; about what we eat or drink or wear. Whether we've had enough likes on Facebook. How so and so is going to react tomorrow. Whether we did the right thing yesterday. Worry distracts us from our
central purpose; which is to seek the Kingdom of God in this and every moment.
A kingdom
which has a symmetry of its own - where the humble are exalted and the mighty
are put down from their seat. A symmetry that can only be fearful to those who
have created a rival order, which does not reflect God’s image. Systems and
structures that have trained our brains to be in a permanent state of anxiety about our
status, possessions and purpose in life, that blurs the true vision of
ourselves and of God.
In this
season of Shrovetide - the period before Lent - we are encouraged to think
about how we can best turn away from this false image and towards the true
image of God. We will not see His goodness completely until we arrive in the
heavenly Kingdom - but Lent offers us a chance to reorient our lives towards it
- and to do so together.
I think
William Blake understood this need to seek balance. He answered his worries -
his challenges to God expressed in ‘Tyger Tyger’, through the text of another
poem - The Lamb, which confidently asserts the perfect symmetry of our true
nature. Learning to recognise the reflection of which is not just
our task this Lent, but in every moment of our lives.
Little
Lamb who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb:
We are called by his name.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
Amen.
Links
Image : Franz
Marc, The Tiger, 1912
Structural
Symmetry in the Six Days of Creation
New
Scientist – Musicians brains fire symmetrically when listening to music
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