Daily reflection _ a hunger for truth and responsibility

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.
Deacon John Ruscheinsky
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.