A HUNGER FOR TRUTH AND RESPONSIBILITY
We need to remember that the devil doesn't make us do it. We do it
because we want to.
When we have done
something wrong to ourselves or to others, we often put ourselves in the same
situation we hear about today in Genesis with Adam and Eve. We hope to be
invisible to God our Father or to those we have offended. Just like Adam and
Eve in today's first reading, we may know all of the excuses we can come up
with to avoid accepting responsibility for our own actions. In response to
God's question, Adam points to Eve and she, in turn points to the serpent. We
have a long history of doing this, "passing the buck" or playing the
"blame game," as we call it. Accepting responsibility for our
actions, especially when we have been publicly foolish and clearly erroneous,
is often very difficult.
When things go
wrong or difficult for us we might find ourselves blaming God. If blaming God
doesn't work, we then might try this famous line, "The devil made me do
it." One reason the 12-Step programs help those with addictions is that
the programs leave no room for blaming one's problems on someone else. Why did
I drink or use drugs? Why did I gamble and use up this month's house payment?
And what about this question that we read in Genesis, "Why did you eat the
forbidden fruit?" Our first parents ate it because they wanted to.
Until we accept
full responsibility for our behavior, we will not recover our health throughout
life. We need to remember that the devil doesn't make us do it. We do it
because we want to. In the responsorial psalm today, we say God is our refuge
(Ps 90). We will bear suffering and challenges; we will also enjoy pleasures
with a light heart. This brings proper balance, detachment, and wisdom on our
journey.
We read in the
Gospel today how God multiplies our small offerings and nourishes us with food
and drink from heaven. God gives abundantly, more than we deserve and more than
we need, so that we may have something to share with others as well. Jesus
Christ nourishes and sustains us with His life-giving Word and with His
heavenly bread. Just as bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the
Eucharist strengthens us in love and charity and enables us to break with
disordered attachments to creatures and to be more firmly rooted in truth and
life with Christ Jesus.
We are challenged
today to take to heart this first reading and to pray for honesty, self
knowledge, and the courage to take on our responsibility.