We hear the familiar story of God finding out that Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. It is important to note that neither Adam nor Eve ever expressed regret or sorry for their disobedience. In fact, they blamed each other and the serpent for their decision to disobey God. How often do we refuse to accept the responsibility for our poor decisions? Ever wonder how the outcome might have changed if they had expressed remorse? The Psalm picks up on this by pointing out God is full of mercy and redemption, (If we lift our voce in supplication!).
Paul points out that our trust is in the grace in abundance that God has poured out upon us. He reminds us that, despite the secular emphasis on power and possessions, our world is transitory. He emphasizes that we are looking toward a not what is temporal but for what is eternal. Not what is seen, but what is unseen. Do we take that to heart? Yes, we still need to pay the rent, and put food on the table, but all of this is transitory, if our focus is on heaven.
The Gospel today has two key foci, the integrity of Jesus’s authority over Satan, and the significance of what it means to be a disciple, i.e., brother and sister and mother. Even if others think we are crazy for ignoring normal family, being a disciple has a greater value.
Countenance of God 