Gn 3:9-15, 20 Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 Eph 1:3-6, 11-12 Lk 1:26-38

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

“The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.” Genesis 3:13

How many times have we been tricked into eating the apple?

It is easy to get caught up simply with the sin and banishment from the garden because of the choice to eat the apple. However there is a deeper beauty to this familiar story: the free will which God gave to Adam and Eve. He was not a coercive God, rather they chose (although tempted) to eat the apple of their own accord.

God has granted each of us this same free will. We have the choice on a daily basis to live our lives for him or turn our backs to him. He will never force us to choose the right or to enter into a relationship with him. Rather, God is patiently waiting for us to surrender to his will. It is through following this plan that the deepest longings of our hearts will be fulfilled. This gift of free will is his expression of love for us and his trust in our goodness. The relationship with Christ is that much greater and deeper when we actively chose ourselves to enter into relationship with him.

But perhaps the most beautiful aspect is his compassion and forgiveness. We know that eating the apple isn’t the end of the story. So even when we do ‘get tricked’ and eat the apple, he is still waiting with open arms to welcome us back into his holy presence.