Being honest about our failings

Yesterday on the feast of Pentecost we heard words of Paul from his first letter to the Corinthians (12:3-7, 12-13). He reminds us that the same God is working in all of us and that the Holy Spirit will give each of us the gifts to carry out the services that we are called to. The Spirit will remind us of all that Jesus taught us and will strengthen us to live in harmony with God and with our family and neighbours. In the first reading today from Genesis 3: 9-15, we receive a sharp lesson from the story of Adam. He certainly had not received the gift of being honest with himself and kind to others. When God asks why he is hiding, Adam acts as we often do. ''It's not my fault,'' he says. It's that woman you gave me who convinced me to eat the forbidden fruit. Does Eve accept her guilt?. Not at all. ''It was the serpent who tempted me.'' she said. Faithfulness to the Word of God means being honest about our failings. How can we be forgiven if we justify our failings by blaming someone else? The Spirit of Jesus wants to fill us with his gentleness and kindness. It is liberating when we can say as Mary did, 'By myself I am weak, Lord, but with your help, I can do great things.