Saint Scholastica
Gen 3:1-8
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’”
But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Walking With God
God’s presence was with the couple in the garden, and they chose to hide from it. God’s presence is with us also. We, too, are beloved children of God with whom God desires relationship. We, too, hide from God – why? Perhaps, like Adam and Eve, we are ashamed of something we did or failed to do. Perhaps we feel unworthy of the passionate and tender love of God. Pope Francis reminds us: “God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking mercy.”
On the other hand, we might hide because we suspect that allowing God’s love to fill us will challenge us to grow, to allow that love to direct our lives, to overflow into greater love and service of others.
In any case, when we feel like hiding, let’s trust our creator and take a step with the one who promises, “I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people.” (Leviticus 26:12)
—Mary da Silva Abinante is retired from the Adult Spirituality Team at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco.
Prayer
Lord, grant that I may see thee more clearly,
love thee more dearly,
follow thee more nearly.
—St. Ignatius Loyola, Spiritual Exercises #104