“With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.”In the first reading (Gn 3:9-15), God has just discovered Adam and Eve disobeyed him. After God had given them the gift of life and a beautiful garden in which they lived, and the only condition being not to eat the fruit of one tree, they caved in to temptation and disobeyed. But what does God do next? Does he punish them right away? No, he starts his plan to redeem the human race. In condemning the snake to crawling on the ground, he predicts the coming of a redeemer, a savior who will do battle with the devil. “He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.” In other words, the heel of Jesus will crush the head of the serpent.
God’s first thought is redemption, for with him there is mercy and fullness of redemption. Let us never grow tired of seeking his mercy and forgiveness as we extend the same treatment to those who offend us.
Fr. Carl
