"Did God Really Say..."

"Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?"  That was how Satan, the devil, the enemy introduced himself to Eve.  What an introduction, imagine that.  If someone came up to you and said "Did he really say..." instead of "Good morning, how are you?" or "What a beautiful day" or something similar, how would you feel?  I would feel awkward and not sure if I really want to engage this person in conversation. However, I'd still be cordial.  (With the enemy, we should never engage in dialogue) But this isn't about manners.  It's about something deeper.  It's about our life, our salvation.

The serpent used what he knew was a lie to engage Eve in conversation.  He knew that God allowed Adam and Eve to eat of any of the trees in the garden but to not eat of the Tree of Knowledge.  So, the enemy was playing mind games with Eve, trying to make her question God's goodness and intentions. That is how he tries to engage us.

Just as in the desert when the enemy tempted Our Lord.  He attacked Him by putting Jesus' identity at question, "If you are the Son of God..."  The enemy knew who he was dealing with, otherwise he wouldn't have wasted his time.  Jesus also knew who He was in the presence of - the prince of darkness and lies.  He knew that every word that should come forth from his mouth would lead to death and misery.  Only God' words have the power to save and give life.  That is why the enemy quoted Scripture. He knows of the power of the Word of God and he dared try to use it as part of his scheme to bring down Our Lord and all of humanity.  The enemy tried to tempt Jesus with the most basic of necessities - food.  He knew the Lord must have been hungry, having fasted for 40 days, and so he figured he ought to try to tempt the Lord to use His power for His own good, to turn the stones into bread, and by doing so show that He is the Son of God.  However, Our Lord knew that His power was not to save Himself but to save others, to give life to others, and to bring others to His Father. More so than bread, Our Lord knew that it is the Word of God that will sustain Him and nurture Him.  So too for us.  It is the Word of God and the Bread of Life that came down from heaven that will truly satiate us and fill us.  Let us not allow the enemy to tell us otherwise.  It is not the earthly food or pleasures that will truly make us happy.  Only what is from above can satisfy us because we were made for heaven.  The devil knows this and we must too. 

God did not really say in order to live we must become slaves to Him and live a life of bondage under Him, but rather He says to us everyday, "You are my beloved one and with you I am well pleased."

Father, give me the courage to reject the lies and the lures of the enemy, and to always turn to You and Your Word for strength, knowing that only Your Word and the Bread of Life can sustain me.

The Fall of Man by Titian
  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Prodigal Son and Our Belovedness in the Father, Part I

Selections from Part I of a talk I gave on the Parable of the Prodigal Son Younger son (YS) – “give me” mentality, I deserve my inheritance, it belongs to me – I take; “The son is as impatient as the father was kind” (Peter Chrysologus).   (Grasping and grabbing)   Really saying to the Father:  “I wish you were dead.”  It is usually only when someone dies that we receive inheritance. Imagine what takes place during those few days before the son leaves.   When the son leaves and sets off to a distant country, he is not only leaving home, but he is leaving himself.   He wishes to leave his identity behind.   He wants to be his own person.   How often are we tempted by this?   “Be somebody” the world tells us.   Somebody powerful, rich, and famous.   Be somebody.   We are already somebody.   We are God’s beloved.   Each one of us.   We are loved by the Father from all eternity.   “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”   Apart from his father, he has no identity.   By leavin
Read more

The Prodigal Son and Our Belovedness in the Father, Part II

Selections from Part II of a talk I gave on the Parable of the Prodigal Son Part II: The Encounter – Reconciliation and Communion “His father caught sight of him.”   What was the father doing all this time?   When the son petitioned to leave, the Father did not plead and cling on to the son.   He lets him go, not because he did not love him.   But because the Father loved him.   In loving him, the Father allowed the son to act in freedom and exercise his free will.   The father said, “Okay, here is your share.   If you want to, you can go.   I will not stop you. The world is not pretty.   It can only offer you temporary comfort and happiness.   You can go, but know that when you go, you will experience pain and suffering.   You will experience a profound sense of loss and lacking.   You will be hurt.   You will be rejected.   But you can go.   Go, but know that this will always be your home.   You may already have your share of the inheritance that should come to you when I die
Read more

People of One Heart and Mind

The portrait painted about the early Church by St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles was one that expressed unity and communion.  We are told that "the community of believers was of one heart and mind" (Acts 4:32).  Then we are given a description of how they had put that "one heart and mind" into action - by sharing their time, talent, and treasure.  They were able to do so because they had one mission and were One in the Father. Are we a people of one heart and one mind?  This means do we have God in our hearts?  Do we root our identity and all that we do in the Father and His love?  Then we must ask do we see our mission as one.  The mission Jesus gave to His disciples was to proclaim the Good News to all nations and creatures.  This Good News is the Resurrection.  This Good News is the hope of eternal life.  This Good News is the ransom paid for our freedom from slavery to sin.  This Good News is the love of the Father.  To carry out this mission in proclaimi
Read more

When Jesus Descended into Hell

Image
"Cercate il Suo Volto" is Italian for "Seek His Face" (see Ps. 27:8). I first heard of the Italian phrase from the "Abba Pater" album by Pope John Paul II.  It was the first track of the album.  My high school Junior Theology teacher had introduced me to it and gave me a copy of it.  I am very grateful to him because it opened up for me a more in-depth interest, studying of, and reading of the Scriptures.  And, of course listening to the Pope recite it with inspiring and motivational music in the background made it all the better (not that the Word itself isn't good enough, but you know what I mean!).  Anyways, so why am I bringing this verse from Psalm 27 up?  "Seek His Face." On Holy Thursday we read in the Gospel that Jesus gave the Apostles an example of humble service and true leadership.  To serve is to lead, with love at its core.  On Good Friday we read the Passion Narrative where we hear Our Lord cry in fulfillment of the prophec
Read more

"It is I" - The Three Words that Casts Out All Fear

Image
After a long day, the disciples went ahead of Jesus, sailing to Capernaum.  The winds were blowing, and the skies were dark.  After sailing out a good distance, they saw Jesus walking on water and they began to fear and grow afraid.  At this Jesus said to them, " It is I.  Do not be afraid ." When I read and listen to this Gospel passage I am always reminded of incidences where parents or nurses trying to distract the child as pediatricians are trying to administer vaccinations.  The child is scared and anxious, afraid of the pain that the needle will induce and confused as to who these people are.  But the parent or a kind stranger offers comfort, a smile, or a funny story or joke.  Sometimes even a tasty treat.  All while the pediatrician pinches the child with the needle, injecting a solution that can potentially prevent the child from danger.  When all is done sometimes the child doesn't even remember a shot was administered and sometimes he realized and felt the pa
Read more