ALWAYS BE VIGILANT AND TRUST IN GOD (Genesis 3:1-8/Psalm 32:1-2,5-7/Mark 7:31-37)

ALWAYS BE VIGILANT AND TRUST IN GOD (Genesis 3:1-8/Psalm 32:1-2,5-7/Mark 7:31-37)


ALWAYS BE VIGILANT AND TRUST IN GOD
(Homily for Friday 15 February, 2019)

Today we are being presented with the full account of the fall of man. It all started with the dialogue Eve had with the serpent. When we look at the entire scenario, we will discover that this is exactly how the devil lures us to sin through a subtle means and deception.

Most often the devil uses those means that will be so simple to us, something that is not beyond our reach in order to achieve his target of deceiving us, destroying our cordial relationship with God. Though the bible did not give us the exact account of how long Adam and Eve lived peacefully in the garden of Eden before their fall but one thing is so obvious that the devil was not happy that they were at peace with God, in state of knowing nothing about evil, in a complete state of happiness, no pain, no sorrow, no death, no wickedness, no lying, no gossip, no character assassination, no jealousy, no envy, no hatred and so on.

In order to destroy this state of peace and tranquility, the devil came in a subtle manner to deceive them with a subtle question: “Did God really say you were not to eat from any of the trees in the garden? The devil knew that God gave them such instruction and also knows that Eve has no other possible answer or option than to say yes. That is why I said before that the devil tempts us in a subtle manner with things so simple, things that entice and please the eye, things at times if not by the special grace of God, we may find it very difficult to resist or to say no.

This is exactly the dilemma Eve found herself in and she responded to the devil, YES and that is the answer that the devil wants from her in order to launch his full attack to destroy both Eve and Adam and their state of happiness. Just imagine what he told Eve “NOOO you will not die! God knows in fact that any day you eat it, your eyes will open and you will be like gods, knowing good and evil. This subtle response immediately attracted Eve and she began to see that the tree was good to eat and pleasing to the eyes and that it was desirable for the knowledge it could give. So she took some of it and ate it, and gave some also to her husband who was with her and he ate it too.

In the first place, when we look at the devil’s response to Eve, we will discover that the devil was trying to tell Eve that God deceived them by not telling them the truth. Imagine that! And what baffles me here is that Eve immediately believed him without going back to the memory lane, to reflect how God cared for them, the excess love He gave them, how He provided them with all the necessary things they needed in the garden, the enviable position He gave them above all other creature, so many privileges and comforts He gave them right from the time He created them male and female. Upon all these unquantifiable and unfathomable love of God, Eve just believed the devil instantly that God was deceiving them by not telling them the truth.

So the sin of our first parents is not just about disobedience alone because this very act of disobedience brought about some many other sins and vices. This sin of disobedience made God look like a deceiver, somebody who is not straightforward because that is exactly what the devil presented to Eve and she believed.

This sin indeed disrupted the order of creation, brought about revolution right inside there in the garden, all other creatures immediately started revolting against man even to the extent that man now became food for the wild animals, the friendship that existed between man and these low animals automatically disappeared and man needs extra help in order to be restored.

We must strive always to listen to God's word so as not to give the devil the opportunity to feed us with lies and make us offend God.

Let Us Pray: Lord Jesus Christ, give me grace to hear your word and act on it so that I will not sin against you. Amen