“Adam also knew his wife again: and she brought forth a son, and called his name Seth, saying: God hath given me another seed, for Abel whom Cain slew. But to Seth also was born a son, whom he called Enos; this man began to call upon the name of the Lord. This is the book of the generation of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him to the likeness of God. He created them male and female; and blessed them: and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begot a son to his own image and likeness, and called his name Seth. And the days of Adam, after he begot Seth, were eight hundred years: and he begot sons and daughters. And all the time that Adam lived came to nine hundred and thirty years, and he died.”
Adam knew Eve, and brought forth Seth, whose name means “resurrection,” and his son Enosh means “man.” Thus, the man of resurrection, or Jesus, is seen here. Consider here that for every moment of Cain, when you turn from the Lord to something that is contrary to Him, there is an opportunity to bear a spiritual Seth, a resurrection of your spirit. Every act of repentance, even from the most minute imperfections, is an act of love, and taking these to confession invokes a celebration. The story of the Prodigal Son is not reserved simply to the moment of your conversion to the Lord, but to your every conversion. When you turn to Jesus and run to Him in confession, each time you bring rejoicing to His heart, for here He shows you the unfathomable depths of His merciful love for you, then sends you out that you may be radiant with love. “The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful” (Psalm 125:3). Enos, then “began to call upon the name of the Lord,” not that Adam, Abel, and Seth didn’t, but Enos brought greater zeal and joy to it. Since worship of God was what divided Cain from his family and lead to the death of Abel, it is understandable that it would have a certain cloud that came with returning to it. However, zealous souls that long for the ways of the Lord ignore the moroseness of the world and bring the fire of His love to the earth: “I am come to cast fire on the earth: and what will I, but that it be kindled?” (Luke 12:49). This rekindling is always needed in the Church. She yearns for great saints, those who will love Jesus alone and all else for His sake and be willing to follow Him to the end: “In this is my Father glorified; that you bring forth very much fruit, and become my disciples” (John 15:8), “But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13). The author Moses then shifts the focus to a genealogy, like he did of Cain, but where Cain’s line, by the seventh generation, falls into evils such as bigamy and killing, the seventh in the line of Seth is the holy Henoch, who was caught up to heaven. This shows the two ways of love, divine and earthly: the latter is self-interested, reckless, and perverted, whereas the former leads the follower thereof directly to heaven, fearing neither death nor purgation, but dying of love. Therefore, a summary of the creation account is given of Adam, that He was made between earthly substance and the image of God, receiving the impress of spirit and matter, being a bodily being made for love, and therefore called to a life of love. The first two human beings did, begetting Seth, letting the result of their love come to life just as the Trinity brought forth Adam and Eve as a result of divine love. It is said of Adam’s extraordinarily long life that it was because the earth needed to be filled, which points to the sense of urgency that must be had in the quest for divine love: “Who knoweth whether thou art not therefore come to the kingdom, that thou mightest be ready in such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). Love does not wait for others to work, love does not recline that what is in motion may play out, it sets itself to bear much fruit: “Give me children, otherwise I shall die” (Genesis 30:1) and embrace the Beloved: “His left hand under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me” (Song 8:3). No matter the years that may be given you, use them to fill the earth with the fruits of love. Cover the earth in prayer and your community in affection, that love and grace may be in all, with you as a vessel of them both.