In the Beginning….Adam blamed Eve.
As we begin our basic training for this final battle for the family, we need to go back to the beginning so we can understand how we ended up in this situation. For believers and nonbelievers alike, a likely majority have heard something of the story of Adam and Eve. Whether they represent real people (the belief of the writer) or not (the belief of some scholars), their behavior and choices provide a great example of past and present human behavior.
As the story goes, Adam was created and did not have a worthy partner. This led God to create Eve, who would be a worthy partner for Adam. God created them in His image, male and female. This was the first family. God told them to be fruitful and multiply (we will talk more about this command later). Also, God told them to tend to the Garden in which He had given them. They could eat of any tree in the Garden except one. This means that they had only three rules: 1 - Be fruitful and multiply; 2 - Tend to creation; 3 - Eat of every tree but one. Seems like these were reasonable requests from God.
After an unknown amount of time, the serpent (i.e., Satan) came to Eve and tempted her. He did not tempt her with riches, food, nice clothes (remember they were still naked and unashamed), or any other potential tangible item. He tempted her with Power, Knowledge, and Equality with God. He convinced her of two things. First, that she would be like God if she simply ate of that tree. Second, he convinced Eve that God was against her and did not want her to be like Him. So, Eve took the fruit, ate it, and gave it to Adam to eat as well.
In Genesis 3:6, it specifically states that Adam was with Even when she ate the fruit. We would love to pretend that Adam was not around, Eve was tricked, then Adam swooped in JUUUUUSSSST a bit late to save the day. Unfortunately, this is not how it went down. Adam was there. It reads as if he were there the whole time (i.e., when Satan was tempting Eve). What did Adam do? Apparently, nothing much to stop the temptation, the grabbing of the fruit, the eating of the fruit, or his own taking and ingesting the fruit. Then Adam did the most manly thing he could do….he blamed God for giving him Eve. “Hey, it wasn’t my fault. I would not have done this if you hadn’t made this woman for me!” Dadgummit Adam….you were supposed to be the hero of the story.
Now, we are at the crux of the issue….the first step in our basic training for battle. It is human nature to find someone to blame for our failures. It started all the way back at the beginning. Acknowledging within our roles as men, husbands, and fathers, our lack of initiative can be difficult. Essentially, that was Adam’s issue. He did not take the initiative to stop his wife from committing sin. This fact cannot be overstated. It was not his lack of initiative in keeping the Garden or tending the animals; rather, it was his lack of initiative in spiritual matters that led to this sin.
The takeaway from this short reflection is for us to think through our family’s life to see where we are not taking the initiative in spiritual matters. Are we being “present” like Adam, but not active in preventing sin within our families? Do we see our wife or children engaging with the enemy while we just stand there? In what areas of our life do we see where we can be more active?
Yes to Action: Take nine days (a novena…more on this later) to pray for where you can take the initiative to lead your family. To do this, either mark in on your calendar or set an alarm on your phone to remind you to pray. You can simply pray from your heart, your favorite novena, or use the following:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Dear God, You who created man to be a leader of the family, who saw Adam avoid taking the initiative to stop Eve from committing sin, and who loved us enough to free us from our sins through Jesus’ Precious Blood on the cross, please reveal to me the areas in which I am not taking the initiative with my family to help them avoid the unnecessary occasion of sin. Holy Spirit, inspire my thoughts with the areas I need to protect my and my family’s spiritual growth. Animate me to act on the inspiration to lead and protect my family. May Satan and his minions be deaf, dumb, and blind to me and my family so that we can do Your Holy Will. In Jesus’ Most Holy Name. Amen.