Yesterday's readings were familiar to most of us. Specifically, the OT featured Adam and Eve being tempted by the cunning serpent while as is always the case in the first Sunday of Lent, the NT showed us Jesus being tempted by the devil. (See the readings here.).
There are many ways that these can be viewed, of course. However, what it really boils down to is what was talked about by Fr. L. yesterday.
First, the facts are put in doubt.
Second, the motivation is put in doubt.
Think about that when you are reading the pieces of conversation featuring the serpent or the devil. Then apply it to the larger world. This works on so many levels and from so many sources, whether human or supernatural. Yet it goes back always to the very first case of temptation and deception.
First, the facts are put in doubt.
Second, the motivation is put in doubt.
I especially thought of the quite surprising number of people I have encountered lately who have doubts and questions about the Catholic Church and the magisterium's authority. Some are merely questioning, some are defiant, however all have either left the Church or are in the process of coming back. I thought of all the reasons that people question the Church, including my own journey down the road to reading myself into agreement with Church teachings.
First, the facts are put in doubt.
Second, the motivation is put in doubt.
I am not saying that we should not question. Far from it. We were given our intelligence for a reason. It is through questioning that I wound up in the Church and later came to a greater appreciation of all She offers. However, we must be sure that we are not being led down the garden path by a subtle twisting of truth that leads us to suddenly change how we look and trust ... Read Eve's response to the serpent ... and see how differently she looks at the tree after that conversation.
We surely must be wise and also pray for guidance to be able to discern when we come up against these deceptions in our lives.
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