Our first reading today shows us the consequences of our first parents’, Adam and Eve’s disobedience to the Lord. We know that in the beginning, God placed them in the Garden of Eden. They were not yet mortal. There was no death until they ate the forbidden fruit.
Satan, seeking to destroy God’s plan, tempted Adam and Eve to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Satan assured Eve that they would not die but that they would possess the wisdom of God and be able to recognize good and evil. They saw that the tree was beautiful, that its fruit was good to eat, and believed that it would make them wise – even wiser than God. They yielded to the temptation and ate the fruit.
Because Adam and Eve did not follow God, the Lord sent them out of the Garden of Eden into the world. Their physical condition changed due to disobeying the Lord by eating the forbidden fruit.
The devil tempted them to eat the fruit to have instant wisdom. Among other things, this story in the Book of Genesis about temptation tells us the consequences of instant gratification and acquiring knowledge without hard work.
Instant or immediate gratification is a term that refers to the temptation and the resulting tendency to forego a future benefit to obtain a less rewarding but more immediate benefit. It becomes almost an inherent human urge to want good things and to want them now.
This story of the great temptation reminds us to avoid the false promise of being rewarded with something even without genuine efforts. We must work with dedication on our road to success. We shall not be tempted to follow the shortcut and gain something dishonestly. It entails hard work and righteousness to gain wisdom, and it does not happen overnight.
This time of the year is graduation season. It is an important message to our young ones to be aware of unearned wisdom as they move on to the next chapter of their educational and professional pursuits. Please remember that when we acquire something very easily and quickly, our mind is not encouraged to explore the value of our work.
Today, technology is readily available in our world. Many youths today are growing up surrounded by technology like artificial intelligence (AI), which influences their thinking, conduct, and behavior. AI is the theory and development of computer systems that can perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. AI includes robots or self-navigating vehicles, the internet, social media, smart devices, or personal. AI can assist in writing papers, navigating important
information, and even decision-making. It makes everyday life easier for us.
In the modern world, AI can become an essential technology that can help society progress – as long as it is made for this purpose. AI for the youth is best used in an educational setup. AI can assist us with our work. However, we should not allow it to take over the acquisition of human wisdom from social interaction, sharing experiences, personal reflection, hard work, and life-long creative learning.
Technology and AI will likely not go away. They will continue to be an essential part of our day-to-day lives. Let us remember that amid the progress made by science and technology, we should not depend on AI as the source of wisdom.
Let us continue to work diligently and hone our knowledge and skills with proper attitude. We are agents of change in our society who need authenticity and creativity. Always rely on faith, coupled with honesty and hard work, as the real source of wisdom.
Do not be tempted to follow the easy route, as this may only lead to brokenness and less fulfillment. There is a saying that goes, easy come, easy go!