Making Sense of the Five Senses

By: Markelle M.ED., M.A.

At this very moment, as you engage with these words, you are partaking in an insightful experience made possible by the miraculous gift of your senses. Whether through sight, sound, touch, taste, or smell, the beauty of this world becomes tangible and accessible. Our senses serve as the gateway to our soul, the entrance through which we interact with the physical world, enabling us to comprehend, appreciate, and cherish the divine masterpiece surrounding us.

Looking beyond the immediate context, the significance of our senses finds its roots in ancient scriptural accounts. The Book of Genesis takes us to the profound reality of their role in shaping human nature and understanding the fall of humanity. Genesis reveals the pivotal role of our senses in Adam and Eve’s interaction with sin. In sacred scripture, God warned Adam and Eve that consuming from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil would lead to a form of death, this death did not pertain to their physical bodies, as their souls could remain with God. Instead, it marked a gradual spiritual death that severed their souls from union with God. The fall of humanity into sin was not a sudden occurrence but rather unfolded through the subtle manipulation of their senses by the evil one.

Sight: A Gift to Perceive God’s Beauty and Goodness

The gift of sight is a gateway to perceiving the goodness and beauty of God in ourselves and the world. Through sight, we can marvel at the intricate details, colors, and forms of creation, recognizing them as representations of God’s creative power and divine artistry. However, in the creation story, the gift of sight was the first to fall when Eve “saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom” (Gen. 3:6) She looked at the forbidden fruit and failed to see it as God sees.

Touch: The Art of Self-Giving

The sense of touch is a remarkable gift that allows us to give of ourselves entirely. However, the evil one tempts us to take rather than give. The sense of touch was the second to fall when Eve “took some of its fruit” (Gen. 3:6). This fruit was not a gift from God; Eve considered it her own.

Taste: A Blessing for Nourishment and Joy

The gift of taste is a blessing from God as it makes eating necessary and enjoyable. The sense of taste was the third to fall when Eve “ate it” (Gen 3:6). God had provided Adam and Eve with everything they needed for food, but Eve went outside God, selfishly seeking pleasure.

Smell: Awakened to God’s Presence

Our sense of smell awakens us to God’s presence. During mass, the fragrance of incense gently reminds us that God is with us, and our heartfelt prayers ascend before Him. The sense of smell was the fourth to fall as Adam and Eve were no longer in union with God’s presence.

Sound: Listening to God’s Voice

Our sense of sound allows us to hear God and His Word. Tragically, this sense fell last when they heard God’s command not to eat from the tree, yet they disobeyed His Word. When they “heard the sound of the Lord God moving about in the garden at the breezy time of day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees” (Gen. 3:8). Sin caused them to experience nervousness and shame hearing God’s voice. Before the Fall, they would have been filled with joy and eagerness to encounter God, but now, listening to Him caused anxiety and guilt.

After the Fall of Adam and Eve, human nature was wounded by original sin, affecting our inclinations and leading us toward evil. Each sense became an avenue through which temptation and corruption entered human hearts. While our senses are not inherently attracted to sin, they can be influenced by the fallen state of human nature and the world around us, making them susceptible to temptation and the devil’s lure.

In His infinite love and mercy, God had a plan for our redemption. The fall occurred in the Garden of Eden by a tree, but the rise and victory occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane, leading to the death of Jesus Christ on a tree. Through His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus atoned for the sins of humanity and opened the way to salvation and eternal life. He is the new Adam, who perfectly obeyed the Father’s will, overcoming the temptations that the first Adam failed to resist—unlike humanity, whose senses were tainted by sin and gave in to temptation, Jesus demonstrated the perfect alignment of His senses with God’s will, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the redemption of all humankind.

Sight

Jesus saw divine love and mercy. On the cross, He saw beyond the immediate suffering and focused on the salvific plan of His Father. His vision was always aligned with God’s redemptive purpose, as He willingly accepted the cross for the salvation of humanity.

Touch

Jesus’ sense of touch was giving of Himself in compassion and healing. Throughout His ministry, we see Him reaching out to touch and heal the sick, the blind, and the suffering. On the cross, His touch embraced the entirety of humanity, bearing the weight of our sins to reconcile us with God.

Taste

During the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Eucharist, transforming bread and wine into His body and blood. His sense of taste was the taste of self-sacrifice and self-giving love.

Smell

Christ was in union with God’s presence. Also, the sense of smell can be associated with spiritual discernment and offering. In the Old Testament, fragrant offerings were presented to God. Jesus’ offering on the cross was a pleasing aroma to the Father, as He offered Himself out of perfect obedience and love.

Sound

Jesus obeyed the Father’s voice throughout His life and followed His will entirely. On the cross, His sense of hearing was tuned to the Father’s redemption plan and humanity’s cries for salvation.

Our senses are not mere tools for experiencing the world; they hold a profound role in our spiritual journey. We must exercise caution and mindfulness regarding what we watch, listen to, touch, and the words we speak, as they have the power to impact our souls. Each of our five senses is a beautiful gift from God, intended to aid us in growing in holiness. However, the path to holiness becomes possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Savior. When we align our senses with God’s will and utilize them to glorify Him, we draw closer to our loving Creator. Just as Jesus perfectly oriented His senses towards God, we too can treasure and cherish these precious gifts from God, offering them back to Him with love and obedience.