By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Who among us has never done something they regretted almost immediately. “Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time” is frequently heard, but many times it’s an excuse to justify an action taken when we should have—or actually did—know better.

Now, one need not be a believer in the divine to be able to glean wisdom from religious texts—products of thousands of years of human experience, trial and mistrial. Such is the story of Creation in the first book of the Bible: Genesis.

The books of the Bible are written in different styles—poetry, history, prophecy, etc. Many—likely most—Judeo-Christians believe that the first eleven chapters of Genesis—the creation stories, Noah, the tower of Babel, and the like—were not written to be taken as an exact narrative history of exactly HOW God created, but rather were to convey that indeed He—one God—did create all. Even early Christian writers viewed Genesis not as a rote historical narration of events, but rather was written to present divine truths.

For the believer, the story of creation reminds us how Mankind is the special creation of God, imbued with intellection spiritual souls which make Man in God’s image. But even if one does not (yet) see God in that process, the account can still give much food for thought.

For one thing, as we often hear these days, that gift and privilege of intellect is accompanied with great responsibility—to care for “the Garden”. The monotheist further believes that, having given Man this gift, God expects adherence to the good, respectful reverence…and love. Yet Man, because of pride, refused—with disastrous results that would have been everlasting had not the mercy of God intervene.

Contrary to frequent erroneous portrayals, most Christians believe that a proper reading of Genesis does not conflict with science and reason; in fact, pope John Paul II in the encyclical “Fides et Ratio” (“Faith and Reason”) wrote that true faith and true science cannot conflict, because they both have God as their origin. Science we determine from God-given reason, faith we discern from God-given revelation; true discernment inevitably leads to reconciliation of the two. In fact, one can be surprised at how science and faith coincide.  For instance, the Big Bang theory aligns with the account of God creating: all was void, and God said: “Let there be light” …and creation followed.

But, to our title point, it’s interesting to note from the Creation story how Satan/temptation works. First, he challenges what God had said, lying himself by effectively calling God a liar: “‘Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?’…The woman answered: ‘…it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.’ But the serpent said to the woman: ‘You certainly will not die!’” When we’re tempted, we weigh—albeit often much too briefly, not to mention erroneously—gain vs. loss.

Some will blame Eve—Woman—for the original sin. But the text says: “…she gave some [of the fruit] to Adam, who was with her.” (Genesis 3:6) And it was to Adam that the security of the garden was entrusted: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it,” (Genesis 2:15) but he remained silently passive when his duty was to oppose the serpent’s lies, so he is at least as blameworthy.

This is how Satan works on us always…always deceiving, always with false promises, trying to lure us to act against God—to act against Good, just as he did. Jesus says that Satan lies because it’s his nature since he rebelled against God: “[Satan] … has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

So…when Adam and Eve sin, do they become like gods—powerful and independent? No; in fact, the opposite. They realize their own weakness and failure…their “nakedness”.

As we have all experienced, almost at once when we bite the apple of evil, like Adam and Eve we often immediately realize our own failure and weakness. We can’t turn back time, so we can only ask for forgiveness—readily given to those who repent sincerely.

We old enough to remember the Flip Wilson Show remember his trademark comic line: “The devil made me do it!”, and often people see Satan as almost a puppeteer behind the curtain when we fall. But we are heartened by St. Paul’s assurance: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13), and we also are assured: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

God gives us reason so that we may live by reason and not by passions alone.  Reason is evidence of what separates us from the mere earthly/material into the spiritual image of God. To cry: “I’m only human!” essentially dismisses that great gift of reason. Rather, we ought to proclaim proudly: “I am human!… with intellect and reason, and with the strength that accompanies them. With will and strength, I will rise toward the truly good—to that which is of God.”

After all, the saints were human just like us, but in grace flowing from reason and faith, they found strength, knowing that they were called to higher, not to lower. As God tells Cain: “…sin is [lurking] at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.”  (Genesis 4:7) Imagine!…each of us is able to defeat Satan/temptation itself…if only we choose to do so, for “Before a man is life and death; he is given whichever he chooses.” (Sirach 15:17)

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“I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore, choose life, that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, and cleaving to him; for that means life to you…” (Deuteronomy 30:19)

(Contributing source: Brian Pitre’s excellent “A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament”)

Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.