The Book of Genesis 3:9-15, 20
After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree, the LORD God called to the man and asked
him, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!” The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me— she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.” The LORD God then asked the woman, “Why did you do such a thing?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.” Then the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; on your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.” The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living.
You probably recognize this passage immediately because it deals with the fall from grace humankind told to convey truth, not historical facts) by which we can appreciate the relationship we have with God. Following dealt for us. We struggle to accept that God loves us unconditionally and desires good and prosperity for us. Instead, we often try to go it alone and exercise constant control; in other words, we eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We try to be gods. The will crush the head of the serpent, which symbolizes all those forces within us and in the world that distract us from doing God's will. When we are following the serpent, we are led to greed, selfishness, isolation, and/or to put our trust in earthly powers. When we overcome the serpent, we are led to generosity, kindness, worship of God, community, and humility in service.
Written by Rodney Bluml, Pastoral Associate/Faith Formation Director, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Marion, IA
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