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June 3, 2024Where are you? Is a fundamental question asked to humans in the passage of the first reading. It is an important question that continues to reverberate and make sense even today. Additionally, another question closely tied to this one would be, Where do you stand? With God or with the Devil? From the beginning of time there has been a struggle to adhere to the will of God, or to go with the devil who incites disobedience. Notice in the first reading the devil does not speak in response to the punishment afflicted to him by God, namely that the serpent would eat dirt. No matter! He is a low life who does not care to stoop down if he accomplishes his malicious plans. Notice the devil (represented by the serpent) is quiet because he had already accomplished getting the man and the woman tricked into sinning. The defense of Adam and Eve is the devil made me do it. And the devil takes the hit because he managed to steal away paradise, break apart the relationship humans had with God. The devil from the beginning of time has a card up his sleeve to ensure the damnation of humanity and to keep humans in his side. And many continue to fall prey into his dirty tricks. Perhaps some would say, “How gullible were Adam and Eve?” But they eat up everything the devil continues to shove down their throats with the flashes of this world. And in contrast with the first couple, now there is no need to convince, many people willingly chose to be with the wrong side no matter the consequences. The devil appears like a friend, like someone who has the best interest at hand, and it’s all deception. However, humans tend to believe the devil before believing in God. It is very interesting they had no fear to speak with the devil at the Garden, but they were afraid when God asks them a simple question. The man states, “I was afraid.” How many people continue to be afraid of God? Their relationship (or lack thereof) with God is based on fear. They are afraid God will punish them. It’s always as if a vindictive God is out there to get them. How many people “obey” God out of duty, but not out of joy? It is then so ironic the contrast in the interaction that happens with God and the devil. The devil entices to do evil, and humanity goes along with him, and God who instills order and justice, and humans are fearful. If only we can know what is best. And this dynamic continues to happen even unto day. It is easier to listen to the devil, than to listen to God. And so, we know exactly where we stand! To God, we say, “I hear you. But I do not obey you.” There is sadness in all of this. Our stance continues to be with the wrong being. Even in the Gospel reading there is a continuation of this sad dynamic of humans choosing between God and the devil. In the Gospel, they continue to side with the devil. It is interesting they now accuse Jesus himself of acting with the power of the devil. How much cynicism! How blind are they! And how blind we may also be! They had the guts to call Jesus demonic. This insult was like the times one person tries to beat another person to the punch line. The scribes did precisely this. In another part of the Gospel, Jesus bluntly states that their father is the devil, and they do the work of the devil. So here they want to justify themselves and the company they kept. Even after being insulted, Jesus goes on to explain why they are wrong. The Lord did not need to defend himself, but He explained a kingdom cannot be divided against itself, for their benefit and to tell them, they are in the wrong side of history, with the wrong company. Again, before even saying, “Poor people back then, if only they knew better.” The same association with the devil is still retained (even unto day) with all the bad actions, offending the Holy Spirit. Not much has changed from the beginning, even the relatives of Jesus had his doubts, and wanted to disassociate from all “his crazy talk.” Let us look where we stand today, and hopefully we will reject Satan, and stand with God, based on our actions. The devil continues to dupe, the Lord continues to clarify, hopefully after millennia of deception by the devil, we can finally open our eyes and develop a personal relationship with God, not out of fear but out of love. And in the end, stand united with God, unto eternity.
