If you spend any amount of time around young children, you will quickly realize that they like to pass the blame. What are they trying to accomplish with this behavior? They are trying to get out of trouble, but where do they learn this behavior?
The short answer is from our first parents, the founders of Original Sin. In today’s first reading, we see Adam passing the blame to Eve, who then passes the blame to the serpent. While neither of them were untruthful, they were definitely trying to avoid punishment.
Although we might be tempted to let this first reading get us down, the second reading reminds us of God’s promise of redemption: “the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also…Therefore, we are not discouraged…”
That is why we can exclaim with joy, “Oh happy fault, Oh necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!” Because of Adam’s sin, Jesus came down from heaven to save us. But not only did he save us, he made us members of his own family: “For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
Knowing we are members of God’s family should motivate us to end the cycle of blaming. It should encourage us to humbly accept our faults, confess our sins and seek to be blameless in God’s sight. It should drive us to instead lift others up by sharing the good news of God’s unconditional love. Let’s take one small step toward making that happen today.
The Tenth Sunday Ordinary Time
June 9, 2024