“Now the serpent was more subtle than any of the beasts of the earth which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman: ‘Why hath God commanded you, that you should not eat of every tree of paradise?’ And the woman answered him, saying: ‘Of the fruit of the trees that are in paradise we do eat: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of paradise, God hath commanded us that we should not eat; and that we should not touch it, lest perhaps we die.’ And the serpent said to the woman: ‘No, you shall not die the death. For God doth know that in what day soever you shall eat thereof, your eyes shall be opened: and you shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil.’”
The garden of Eden represents the happy life, which is a life committed to the joyful, festive service of the Lord, and this is something from which the ancient dragon was exiled. He entered the paradise of her life and attempted to undermine God’s command, which she had not heard directly, but from her husband. He did this because, just as love draws out love and makes the beloved more like itself, “he that hath fellowship with the proud, shall put on pride” (Ecclesiasticus 13:1). Filled with envy at the happiness of human beings, he enters to ruin it all, to break the communion of love that exists between Adam, Eve, and God. He asks her a warped question, looking to plant doubt of God’s goodness in her heart. This voice is still so active today, whispering doubts about how loved you are in your mind and using this belittlement to draw you away from Him who loves you. Now, Eve replies with a command that extends beyond what God had ordered, that they would not even touch the tree. This is notable because it can be interpreted that Eve is beginning to give ground that God is arbitrary and restrictive, that His commandments are burdensome and malicious. Likewise, following the commandments without a heart inflamed by love is to enter the valley of dry bones. However, “Thus saith the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will send spirit into you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to grow over you, and will cover you with skin: and I will give you spirit and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezechiel 37:5-6). To follow the commandments without the love of God is a heavy burden, but this love brings about understanding of His law: “’Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind.’ This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like to this: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40). This small concession the devil then uses to open the door entirely, denying God’s goodness and saying that His commandments are laid down for the sake of the suppression of their true selves, which can be found with a sense of freedom from His merciful chains. The reality is quite different, however. It is love that makes you fully alive. It is the freedom to truly love, in the way laid down by Love Itself that is true freedom and in which you will find yourself. It is in this love that all about you, including your weaknesses, will be loved and used for Love’s sake. God desires to share His divine life with you, which the serpent here denies, saying that leaving His ways elevates one to God. God desires a communication of love, to give you His love that you may be love: “I in them, and thou in me; that they may be made perfect in one” (John 17:23). His ways may be difficult at first, but Wisdom beckons: “Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains: bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bands… for in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned to thy joy” (Ecclesiasticus 6:25-29). Furthermore, freedom from God yields slavery to sin: “Amen, amen I say unto you: that whosoever commiteth sin, is the servant of sin” (John 8:34). No, it is the way of divine love, to be directed by grace to love beautifully that is the true expression of your humanity. It is to this way that Jesus invites you sweetly: “Arise, make haste, my love, my dove, my beautiful one, and come” (Song 2:10), that He may make you like Himself, that is, radiant with love.