Saturday February 15, 2025

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God called to Adam and asked him, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:9)

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Good News Reflection for:

Saturday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
February 15, 2025

Today’s Readings:

Genesis 3:9-24
Psalm 90:2-6, 12-13
Mark 8:1-10
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021525.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-february-15-2025

The real sin of Adam may surprise you

Do you know what the first sin of our first human father was? Disobedience, yes. He ate from the tree that God had forbidden. But it’s a much larger problem than that. We know that our first mother succumbed to temptation because she listened to the seductive tricks of the serpent and she allowed herself to be fooled by him. But what was Adam’s temptation?

Our first father — like many fathers since — failed to serve his family as their protector against evil. Adam represents the man who has been given the truth but does not protect his soulmate (and by extension, their children) from the lies of the Devil. Where was Adam when Eve saw the serpent? And listened to the serpent? He was with her (see Genesis 3:6). Silently watching. Silently cooperating with the lie because he did not speak up. Silently agreeing to the sin when he accepted the evil fruit that Eve gave to him.

What then do you suppose was Adam’s image of God? A Father who is silent when temptation strikes? No; remember that Adam hid from God after the sin. He thought that he actually could hide! He is the father who teaches by his own behaviors that we can do whatever we please because the Father doesn’t see us; God is not always with us.

Do you know any fathers who teach the same thing by their silence about or cooperation with sin? They’re unwittingly used by Satan to spread false images about God, about sin, and about the consequences of disobedience.

God’s Fatherhood is widely disrespected in our world. Our society is full of adults who are still seeking the father they needed during childhood while at the same time hiding from God, the only Perfect Father. They miss out on his love by deciding for themselves what is right and what is wrong, allowing Satan to usurp God’s authority over their lives.

Have you ever wondered how God feels about the lost souls in your family? You pray for them because you yearn for their salvation. You even ache for them, knowing that their sinful lifestyles are separating them from the God who loves them and they are endangering their eternal souls.

Abba-Father’s yearning desire to embrace his lost loved ones is being manifested through you. The ache you feel for those who are rejecting him is a tiny portion of God’s ache. When you grieve for them, you are tasting the salt of Father God’s tears.

God is counting on you to work with him in bringing lost souls to his outstretched arms. You might not be able to do it with your own family members, but you can succeed with someone else’s family members.

The first step is to know God as your Father better than you do now so that you can reveal his loving Fatherhood to the people he puts in your path. That’s what my book The Father’s Heart will help you accomplish. Visit tothefathersheart.com.

© 2025 by Terry A. Modica

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