Satan tricked Eve into eating the fruit of knowledge, and Adam chose to cooperate. God made us in his image (Gen 1:26) and intended for us to access these fruits in union with him. Satan’s temptation was to convince us that we could be gods ourselves, relying on created things without the Creator. Eve ate, and then gave to Adam, who willingly participated in the sin. Today’s first reading reminds us that we often seek beauty and knowledge in created things. We place our confidence in AI, machinery, automation, medicine, and economics. Too often, we turn to God only when things are beyond our control or when we are in desperation. The Gospel reading warns us of the danger of making ourselves into gods by trusting solely in our abilities and in created things. In doing so, we lose sight of God’s call. Have we made gods of ourselves? Have we placed our faith in the flesh, which decays? Or are we walking in union with God, trusting him above all?

PRAYER: Abba Father, I worship you, my Creator. Amen.