“And a river went out of the place of pleasure to water paradise, which from thence is divided into four heads. The name of the one is Phison: that is it which compasseth all the land of Hevilath, where gold growth. And the gold of that land is very good: there is found bdellium, and the onyx stone. And the name of the second river is Gehon: the same is it that compasseth al the land of Ethiopia. And the name of the third river is Tigris: the same passeth along by the Assyrians. And the fourth river is Euphrates.”
These verses are of seemingly little note amongst the more intimate account of the creation of man, but “not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Here is a description of the Garden of Eden as the original temple of God, from which the water of merciful love proceeds, here seen in the figure of the rivers, and adorned all in gems and beauty, which is described in detail in the building of the temple by Solomon, and finally in the presence of the angels guarding it. This temple imagery all points to your heart: “Know you not, that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 6:19). You are the place where God is pleased to dwell, and from this mountain of love run four rivers into the world, which are four ways of loving your neighbor in God: “Let the mountains receive peace for the people” (Psalm 71:3). The first is the river Phison, which means “to break loose,” and surrounds the desert of Hevilath, which means “sandy place.” So does love break loose hearts calcified by disappointment, sin, and negative self-talk by finding what is beautiful in all, including what is apparently desolate. In each person are gems that can adorn the temple that they are, even in the state of mortal sin. These qualities may not be on the surface, but “Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out” (Proverbs 20:5). The loving, wise heart looks for the gems of beauty in every soul, and draws attention to the gifts that all have, bringing these things forward rather than the negative qualities in one’s neighbor, covering imperfections with hope and compassion: “But Sem and Japheth put a cloak upon their shoulders, and going backward, covered the nakedness of their father: and their faces were turned away, and they saw not their father’s nakedness” (Genesis 9:23). Second is Gehon, which means “to burst forth,” for love cannot be contained, and at the opportunity to make God loved, it is natural to burst forth in praise, prophecy, or other gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is said of St. Catherine of Siena that she would talk for hours about God with her spiritual director, and similar stories are said of St. Francis and St. Clare, St. Benedict and St. Scholastica, and St. Augustine and St. Monica. Breaking forth from your daily rhythm to joyfully climb the mountain of God with someone else that loves Him that both you and they may fall more in love is a beautiful experience: “Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord” (Isaias 2:3). Tigris means “arrow-like,” and surrounded the land of Ethiopia, the southernmost known land in Biblical times. This shows a great haste to dash to those in the lowest place, to never hesitate to go to the broken, the lowly, the outcast, the poor, the sick, or the afflicted and bring the water of love and devotion to them, that they may know they are not forsaken. It also went by Assyria, as mentioned here, which were constant enemies of Israel, going so far as to bring the northern tribes into exile. This demonstrates that love runs even to your enemies, that there is none that should escape your tenderness and desire for salvation. Finally, the name “Euphrates” means “sweet water,” because even if you have seemingly nothing to offer, few talents, little in the way of resources, in sum, nothing to give, a loving look is still sweeter than any dryly done act of charity. A simple appreciation for someone else is more than enough, and expressing that with a smile, even when you’re down, or a joyful greeting is enough. Mary’s greeting bestowed the Holy Spirit, and the Wisdom Literature states: “There is an inactive man that wanteth help, is very weak in ability, and full of poverty: yet the eye of God hath looked upon him for good, and hath lifted him up from his low estate, and hath exalted his head: and many have wondered at him, and have glorified God” (Ecclesiasticus 11:12-13). Even if you have one little talent that is bent and used, giving that entirely to God is a beautiful offering, and if all you can do is smile and bring a pinch of joy, even when you’re bearing a heavy cross, this is enough to give love. These are four different ways that love proceeds from the mountain of the Lord, though these rivers can also be interpreted by the cardinal virtues, which are four ways of loving well. These are justice, temperance, prudence, and fortitude, all of which inevitably come when your mind is focused on loving God and others. From love naturally proceed the other virtues, and without love, these virtues are nothing but sails hanging flat. Love is necessary to be the wind that inflates these sails that the boat of your life may gain forward momentum, and when you focus only on loving God and your neighbor in God, they will come without your noticing: “And I will clothe him with thy robe, and will strengthen him with thy girdle, and will give thy power into his hand” (Isaias 22:1). Therefore, love radically at all times, and spiritual goods will rain upon you: “her labours have great virtues; for she teacheth temperance, and prudence, and justice, and fortitude, which are such things as men can haven nothing more profitable in life” (Wisdom 8:7), for the Lord will adorn those who water the earth with devotion and love.