Eve looks at the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. She knows that she and her husband are forbidden to eat from it because she reports as much to the serpent. Yet the serpent assures her that God is a liar: "You shall not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God knowing good and evil." (Gn 3: 4-5) Eve can see three reasons for why she should eat the fruit: the tree was good for food, the fruit was a delight to the eye, and it could make her wise (Gn 3: 5-6), in other words, food/appetite, beauty and knowledge. The devil also holds out three reasons to Jesus to tempt him to disobey his heavenly Father in the gospel: food, fame and power. How many of our obvious or hidden addictions/compulsions are underpinned by a desire for such things? For this reason, Lent is a valuable season to purify our hearts and the vision of our minds so that we repudiate any form of idolatry. Jesus dismisses the devil saying: "Worship the Lord your God and serve only him." (Mt 4: 10). I exhort all Catholics to commit to the process of repentance and renewal of Lent by attending Mass every Sunday and, if possible, on weekdays, as well as the ceremonies of the Easter Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil. Together we will vindicate ourselves against all temptations in a society that has eyes only for the blandishments of the devil.
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