History of Adam and Eve
Even young children know the story of Adam and Eve. Children can describe the appearance of Paradise in detail. They can also explain without hesitation why the forbidden fruit was plucked. Adults listen to similar stories usually with a pinch of salt. Heaven on earth? A wonderful garden? It is good for little ones, they think. When they are asked about the causes of evil, about suffering, wars and hunger, they spread their hands. "It's not our fault," they say. "The error is somewhere in the beginning; the error is firstborn." At the same time, they find something about a snake, about temptation under a tree and ... they fall silent. Adults are also, in a way like children.
The biblical story of Paradise explains the causes of evil. It translates in a fairy-tale way, but probably quite convincing, since it has so many paraphrases, borrowings, painting, music and scientific interpretations. Whether we like it or not, Paradise has become a part of our culture for good. It is worth taking a closer look at it. For us, the most important thing today will be what directly concerns morality.
We begin with the trees of paradise. Two of it were particularly important: the "tree of life" and the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil". In the very center of Paradise there were two trees - it is worth remembering that because when we forget that there were two trees, history loses its meaning. The fruits of the tree of life made man immortal, a bit like the apples of the Hesperides. The fruits of the second tree were also unusual. It was remarkable to such an extent that even today it stimulates speculation, often completely absurd: "The fruit of the tree of knowledge had to be eaten," some explain, "otherwise man would not be capable to know good or evil." "The tree of knowledge pushed mankind on the path of progress," others explain, "and original sin has emboldened man to undertake scientific experiments." "If God had not planted a tree with just such fruits - others speculate - it would not be evil in the world." Unfortunately, none of these colloquial hypotheses can be reconciled with either the biblical account or even common sense. God, founding Eden, could not put anything wrong in it. Moreover, he could not forbid a man to accessing something that would surely be good for him.
In other words, God could not be the origin of evil either in an ontological order (i.e., a bad thing), or a moral order (i.e., a bad deed), or even a cognitive order (i.e., falsehood). And in simpler terms, the tree of the knowledge of good and bad had to be as good as the tree of life, because it came directly from God, who is the highest Good.
Where does the evil come from then? Why couldn't man pick fruit from the tree of knowledge? The answer is simple: picking it was pointless. While the proper use of the tree of life could be made by harvesting its fruit, the correct use of the tree of knowledge consisted precisely in not taking anything from it. God did not forbid eating the fruit of one of the trees of Paradise in order to put Adam to the test (and after some time, let say, he can lift the ban).
God does not need experiments with human freedom. God, on the other hand, explained to man how to use both trees. He made it clear to the man that he could eat from one and not from the other. We do not have to refer to Paradise to understand this divine commandment. We know very well from our own life that here on earth, we can use some goods by acquiring them, while others can be used on completely different principles. And yes, we can possess all kinds of material goods, because the world is subject to our rule by God's will. Moreover, we can even possess eternal happiness thanks to Christ. But "possession" is only a piece of the truth about man. For when we say, "we have friends," we do not mean having them. We do not possess Friends. Friendship belongs to a world other than having. You do not have another person, neither love, nor beauty, nor truth. You also have neither good nor bad. One can only participate in friendship, love, beauty or good.
The truth can set you free. Love is like a new birth. But evil breeds bondage. "Owning" has nothing to do with all of these values. Freedom - yes. Thus, we could say that the two trees of Paradise summarize the universal truth about human life. Namely, that man is a citizen of two worlds: a strictly deterministic world governed by the right to possess, and a spiritual world in which freedom reigns. Picking apples belongs to the first world, love, but unfortunately also original sin, belongs to the second world.
The first parents clearly doubted the existence of this second world. They doubted what they cannot have and in what they can only have a share. They doubted the goodness of God, the beauty of God's plan, and fell captive to their own doubts. It suddenly seemed to them, with the Evil One's hint, that they should eat everything, even the truth, like apples.
Paradise is gone long time ago from the earth. Fortunately, we have access to both trees of paradise again. And this is access without restrictions. Our tree of life and our tree of knowledge is the Cross of Christ.
Reflection on Today’s Gospel
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
In Today’s Gospel passage, I am surprised by the combination of thoughts that Jesus communicates to his disciples. First, he announces a passion, and then shows that one of the conditions for being His disciple is to follow Him. Therefore, everything that he experienced is inscribed in the way with Jesus. The cross is inscribed in the path of the disciple. Jesus does not "sell" empty promises to his disciples but plays open cards. It makes it clear that following Him is not easy. Anyone who wants to follow him must renounce himself, that is, reject all selfish aspirations. You are not following Christ so that you may be well. You are not following Him for Your benefit .... If you want to follow Him, you must stop thinking only about yourself ... and start thinking about Who You want to follow.
Secondly. Must take up his cross. That is, be ready for difficulties or suffering. If you are ready for the pleasures of following Christ, be ready for disappointment. Jesus announces at the very beginning that he will suffer ... and so you, if you want to be like him, you will suffer. And it is not about any big suffering. Sometimes can be small difficulties every day. But they are inscribed in our lives. To run away from difficulties is to renounce the cross, which - as Jesus himself emphasized - is an inseparable element of the disciple's journey. Third, finally, must follow Christ. Imitate or live like him, work like him, love like him, look like him. Think like him. It is difficult ... I would say impossible. I do not think either of us is able to achieve this point on our own. However, I am sure of one thing. You cannot follow Christ talk about yourself: I am his disciple, but at the same time live completely differently from him.
There is one more important thought ... So important that I put it in the title: For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. Life is always at stake. If someone wants to save his/her life and puts it above all other values, he/she will lose it. Let us understand it well. It is not about not taking care of our life, to say to ourselves “because everyone will die of something." Human life is a great value. But in life there are things worth sacrificing for. And Jesus asks everyone if for the value of the Good News we are ready to pay the highest price - to give our own lives. If life is more important to us than God, if the comfort of life becomes an idol for us, we can be sure that this investment is not the surest place. whoever wishes to save his life will lose it. It is so obvious. After all, life passes and this earthly one has its end. One way or another. There is, however, a second way: whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. To pay the highest price because of faith is only an apparent failure. In fact, it is a success because we believe that our lives change, but it does not end there.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george