Taking a bite of temptation: What's your apple?

		Living the Scriptures  with St. Paul University  Catholic Center  Gina Pignotti

Plucked from the tree on a warm summer day, it shines like a newly purchased diamond, reflecting your face.

One sniff and you realize the sweet aroma, one bite and a crunch splits the soft breeze . . . luscious, juicy, delicious.

When the 'cunning' serpent approaches Eve in the garden, he draws her to something shiny, sweet, crisp, and delicious: the wisdom of God. Despite God's command not to eat of the tree, she is tempted and takes the piercing bite.

First Sunday of Lent (Feb. 13, 2005) Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7 Ps 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17 Rom 5:12-19 or 5: 12, 17-19 Mt 4:1-11

Reflecting on the scene in the second chapter of Genesis, we can begin to understand what leads us to "bite" the temptations of this world and to chew on our own seemingly delicious apples.

It begins with a question, posed by the serpent, which instills doubt in Eve about the seriousness of God's command: "Did God really tell you not to . . .?"

As a college student, I've found myself asking this question very explicitly at times - Did God really tell us not to get drunk or take drugs? One time won't count, right?

Or, did God really tell us not to have sex before marriage? If "everyone's" doing it, then it's probably okay, right?

In less explicit ways we all ask ourselves this question frequently. With the allure of a materialistic world, we ask ourselves if God really told us that life does not consist of possessions; with the appeal of power and accolades, we ask ourselves if God really told us that pride is one of the seven deadly sins; and even with the magnetism of a comfortable, warm bed at the end of the night, we ask ourselves if God really told us of the dire importance of daily prayer.

After the questioning, Eve is tempted and left with a decision of whether to follow the temptation or follow God's command. Before choosing temptation, Eve justifies her decision, noting that the tree was "good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom."

In my own life, I realize how many times I justify my own sins before and even after making the decision to engage in them. It is easy to do.

For instance, using the above examples, it is easy to continue in greed, pride, and laziness in prayer by using justifications like, "Well, it's okay because I'm a nice person and I don't have as much as some people," "It's fine because I'm not as bad as so in so," or "God knows I care, I don't need to spend time in prayer."

Sin follows.

Then, we see what results - "the eyes of both of them are opened, and they realized that they were naked." The questioning or doubting of the seriousness of God's commands, the justifications, and the sin ultimately expose the worm in the apple. For me, the guilt of offending my Heavenly Father that results when I realize my sin causes my apple to go sour.

	Reflection questions • What are the apples or temptations in my life? • How do I question the seriousness of God's commands and justify my sins?

It is only through the mercy and grace of God that I am healed.

Lord, help us to realize the apples in our own lives. Make known to us the ways in which we doubt your commands and justify our sins against you. Please, then, grant us your mercy and forgiveness.

Gina Pignotti is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in elementary education and communication arts. At St. Paul University Catholic Center, she participates in small group Bible study, women's prayer and discipleship training, serves as a Eucharistic minister, a high school catechist, and on the high school retreat team, and is a member of the Foundation Membership Committee.

St. Paul's Web site is www.stpaulscc.org

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