In today’s first reading, we continue the narrative from the Book of Genesis, Chapter 3 – the infamous encounter of Adam and Eve with the serpent in the Garden of Eden. We know the shape of the exchange that concludes: “But the serpent said to the woman: ‘You certainly will not die! No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is evil.’” (Gen 3:4-5) And so, Adam and Eve partake of the fruit of the tree of good and evil – and they did not die… not immediately anyway. But evicted from the Garden, in the end they surely died.

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