March 01, 2004
Lent 2004: Overcoming Temptation
During Lent, we seek to prepare for Easter. It is our goal to improve our spiritual lives by concentrating on God – a “tithe” of our annual time allotment. A key part of this struggle towards God is our work in overcoming the temptations that befall us on a daily basis.
Does God tempt us? No, we would all agree, temptation comes from the Devil. And yet God allows us to be tempted. We are not without God’s help however, He does not tempt us beyond our strength to resist and He always supplies the necessary grace for us to overcome each temptation. Despite our concupiscence, we can resist the temptations that hit us on a daily basis through the grace of God; this is important to always keep in mind.
Perhaps the best way to understand temptation is through Jesus’ example during His 40 days in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus allows (wills, even) Himself to be tempted as an example for us. He is tempted to give into His flesh, His pride, and His greed (avarice). In each, Jesus resists temptation through a deep faith in God. A faith that trusts God over His body and accepts God’s Will over His Will. This is the perfect example of how we should each respond to temptation. We must be confident that God knows better than we do. We must be aware that our needs are temporary and not worth one iota of the glory to come. We must be humble in all things.
Ultimately temptation can and should be overcome in every instance. We are human, but we have the grace of God and the Holy Spirit working within us that we may reject temptation. (Note: without the grace of God this would be impossible – this should keep us humble!). But as humans, it is always a struggle. Shield yourself through prayer and mortification. And remember, always get up when you fall.
God bless,
Jay
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