hardship, or a bout of hopelessness. Suddenly, the discernment we had yesterday dissolves into a desire to rid ourselves of the bad feelings we have today, and what was once wrong now looks like the perfect remedy. And the serpent is not quite done. When we follow him into disobedience, Satan will add one final strategy: “You are now irredeemably bad, and God could never forgive or love you.” This is a variation on his theme that God is not good, but it has more bite to it. Shame replaces communion