Our First Reading this week is Genesis 3:8-15.
They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life; And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”
God made everything there is, including us, and gave us wonderful gifts that we might be satisfied…but we wanted what we didn’t have. Our disobedience changes things, and God tells the one who tempted us there will be consequences. Those consequences will extend to us as well, for while there was temptation, we made a choice to listen and act on that temptation, choosing our own desires over God’s commands.
When we break the rules that exist, as humans we have several different reactions – I didn’t do it, it wasn’t my fault or the rule shouldn’t be there. Adam and Eve are in a tough spot, there isn’t anyone else that could have done it so that defense won’t work. They opt for the “it wasn’t my fault approach”, Adam points at Eve, she points at the serpent and the serpent, having no arms, has no one to point to in response.
In human situations, we often push to change the rules when there is an issue. Sometimes human rules need to be changed if they don’t work fairly. However, God’s commands are righteous and there to protect us. His law, His will and His love for us are unchanging.
Loving Lord, we are willful creatures and prone to desire what we don’t have. Teach us the joy of being satisfied and obedient to the commandments You have given. Amen.