“Those who follow you, Lord will have the light of Life,” so today’s Responsorial goes (PS 1: 1-2, 3, 4 and 6).

What does it mean to follow?  Are we afraid to follow?  Does it show weakness in character or lack of confidence? …

In the selection from Genesis today (Gn 3:9-15, 20), we hear the aftermath story of the “fall” of humankind.  The “original sin” as it has been traditionally referred to…that moment when Adam and Eve decided to defy the Creator’s request and take the fruit of the tree of “Knowledge of Good and Evil,” despite clear instructions not to do so. …

“The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song.”  (Is 35:1-10 )

A “steppe” is a grassland region that is semi-arid, too dry to grow forests of trees, but not dry enough to be considered a desert. …

 Last week, Central Park in New York City was painted in fall finery of yellow, green, and red as the leaves of the trees welcomed the season of dormancy and stillness.  Even in the face of the season of falling or dying, there is a vibrancy that not only expresses the gratitude for the season of growth now ending, but also gives a hint of what is yet to come in another time. …

What does it mean to have a shared fate or even a common destiny?  A shared fate seems to imply something to which we all will have to undergo as fellow creatures.  Arguably, it is said that the 2 things that we cannot escape is that we all must die and we all must pay taxes (note I said “arguably”). …