Are we hiding from God?

Readings for the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time can be found at http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061018.cfm

In the first reading from Genesis we hear the familiar story of Adam and Eve eating from the tree of life and death. The prohibition was to protect Adam and Eve from some of the hurtful consequences of eating from that tree, death being one of them. But the man and woman  ignore God's protective  word and listen to the word of another who is not at all concerned with their welfare.

Realizing their mistake and fearing God because they were naked, they attempt to hide from God. Before their rejection of God's command, they were comfortable with God's presence. Now they feel shame and hid from His presence.

And what do they do when God approaches them? They start shifting the blame to others. At first, when God presented the woman to Adam, Adam was grateful and satisfied at finding someone he can share his life with. Now, after eating the forbidden fruit, facing God, accuses the woman of giving him the fruit, calling her instead "the woman you put here with me", as if it was God's fault for putting her there with Adam.

Then there's Eve, with Adam pointing his accusing finger at her, pointing her finger at the serpent for getting them into this mess to begin with. The serpent gets his just reward from God for tempting Adam and Eve as he did. "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers...", (Genesis 3:15) but ultimately Adam and Eve have to take responsibility for their actions in disobeying God.

How often in the mistakes of our lives do we point the blame to others, rather than taking on the responsibility ourselves?

The message of Adam and Eve is that we are always to be open to God's promptings in our lives. We are to do what is right, according to God's Will, in all the circumstances of our lives, no matter how difficult. We are to be obedient to His Will for us to love Him, and to love others in our lives. We are never to turn away from God and ignore Him. He's there for us in our gatherings on Sunday, and in Scripture. In all our decisions of our lives we are to act as God would have us act.

Keep God in the center of all you do. And, when you sin and turn away from Him, don't be afraid to turn back to him in repentance and ask His forgiveness.