Sermon On The Palindromes Of Life

Yayoi Kusama, a female Japanese artist once remarked: “With just one polka dot, nothing can be achieved. In the universe, there is the sun, the moon, the earth, and hundreds of millions of stars. All of us live in the unfathomable mystery and infinitude of the universe. Pursuing 'philosophy of the universe' through art under such circumstances has led me to what I call 'stereotypical repetition.'” Romans 12:2 reminds us: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

A palindrome is defined as a word, name, sentence, verse, or even number that reads the same backwards or forward. It derives from Greek roots that literally mean “running back” (palin is “again, back,” and dromos, “running.”) Palindromes are frequently used everyday without one thinking about it. Common words include: noon, civic, racecar, level, even mum and dad. The Finnish word for “soapstone vendor” is supposedly the longest palindrome in everyday use: saippuakivikauppias. Palindrome dates, which also read the same backward and forward, are often associated with spiritual symbolism, representing harmony, balance, and cosmic order. Some believe these dates offer a unique opportunity for new beginnings, spiritual awakening, or increased awareness of one's path.

For some, palindrome words or numbers are considered to be both rich and lucky in content. Dates are deemed so rare that they are believed to contain importance and luck. Palindromes are considered inherently repetitive. A common symmetry about life's repetitive nature is reflected in the lessons of life. Lessons are often said to be repeated until learned. This suggests that one encounters similar challenges or situations multiple times until it is grasped. The underlying principle being realized or overcome. Another perspective shows that "Life is a repeated cycle of getting lost and then finding yourself again," highlighting the cyclical nature of experiences and growth.

While palindromes themselves don't "create" life, they play a significant role in the processes that are essential for life, particularly in DNA replication and gene expression. Palindromic sequences in DNA can form structures like hairpins and cruciforms, which can affect how DNA is read and copied. These structures can be both beneficial and detrimental, influencing the stability of the genome and the creation of new genes.

Eve is an important palindromic name of life. In the context of human lineage, "Eve" refers to the Mitochondrial Eve, the matrilineal most recent common ancestor of all living humans. She is not a repeated figure in the sense of individual people, but rather a specific point in the lineage of all humans alive today. Her counterpart in the male line is the Y-chromosomal Adam. In a different context, the biblical Eve, the first woman in Abrahamic religions, is a foundational figure in their creation myths. In the biblical story of Genesis, Eve is created by God as the first woman and Adam's companion, after God determined it wasn't good for Adam to be alone. In the Bible, Eve is named Eve by Adam because she is understood to be the "mother of all living". This name, derived from the Hebrew word "Chavah," signifies "life" or "to give life". She lives with Adam in the sinless Garden of Eden, where they are instructed not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. A serpent tempts Eve, convincing her to eat the forbidden fruit, and she shares it with Adam.

This act of disobedience, known as the Fall of Man, leads to their expulsion from the Garden of Eden and introduces sin and suffering into the world. Genesis 3:1-21 reminds us: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.