In the first reading from the Lectionary today, we are told that God planted two trees in the Garden of Eden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the tree of life. The bulk of the story revolves around the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, with the other tree, the tree of life, playing a secondary role.
What struck me today, however, is the fact that in Genesis God is worried that Adam and Eve, having now eaten from the first tree, will eat from the tree of life and “live forever” (Gn 3:22b). But then, 15 minutes after the reading, I received communion, eating the fruit of the tree of life, which is the cross of Christ. There are many ways to parse this. Certainly, this is one of the things St. Paul is trying to accomplish in the second reading. But in light of today’s gospel on the temptation of Jesus, I am struck by the way that Satan will tempt us to claim as our own what God will freely give. God our creator has given us life, and He wants to give us the gift of everlasting life. We only need to accept it for what it is–a gift–and not in pride insist that it is ours by right.
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