temptation

Today, the Church celebrates the liturgy of the first Sunday of Lent. The Gospel presents Jesus readying for his public life. He goes into the wilderness where He spends forty days in prayer and penance. There, He is tempted by the devil.

The Gospel says, (Mk 1:12-15): The Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness and He remained there for forty days, and was tempted by Satan. He was with the wild beasts, and the angels looked after him. After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There He proclaimed the Good News from God. «The time has become», He said «and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News».
We must also get ready for Easter. Satan is our great enemy. There are many persons that do not believe in him, and claim that he is a product of our fantasy, or he is just an abstract conception of evil, diluted in the people and the world. No!

The Holy Scriptures mention him quite often as a spiritual and tangible being. He is a fallen angel. Jesus defines him by saying: «There is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies» (Jn 8:44). St. Peter compares him with a roaring lion: «Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour» (1Pe 5:8). And Paul VI teaches: «The Devil is the number one enemy, the preeminent tempter. So we know that this dark disturbing being exists and that he is still at work with his treacherous cunning».

How? By lying, by deceiving. Where there are lies or deceit, there is a devilish action. «The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist» (Baudelaire). And, how does he lie? He presents us with evil actions as if they were good ones; he induces us to do evil; and, in the third place, he suggests plenty of excuses to justify our sins. After swindling us, he fills us up with anxiety and sadness. Have you not felt any such experience, ever before?

In life, we are faced with temptations. When I speak of temptation, I do not speak only of temptation of the flesh. Temptation can also come in the form of choosing the easy way out.Temptations can also come in the form of telling a lie because you are afraid to be punished or to be humiliated.

Temptations can also come in the form of leaning towards the more convenient or the more expedient ways, instead of the moral and proper thing to do.We can speak of people who abuse their authority for their own convenience. We can speak of people who abuse the goodness and meekness of their fellowmen.

That is the first temptation of Jesus-- the temptation to make life comfortable at the expense of others, the temptation to abuse oneself to make life easier and more convenient.The second is the temptation for power--worldly power, secular power. This is very clear for the Lord who says: “I do not need worldly power because I do not live in this world.”

In our life, arguments run like these: there is no sex in heaven so we might as well enjoy everything here on earth; we cannot bring our money to heaven, so it might as well be spent here in whatever manner we desire; let us enjoy all the praises here on earth, there might not be any in heaven. These are the temptations of popularity, money and sex.The third temptation is to ask people to serve you rather than you serving other people; asking the Lord to serve you because you have been very good; asking the Lord to spare you from sickness because you attend Mass regularly; asking the Lord to make your family and children good and successful because you pray everyday.

We are here not because we want to be rewarded. We are here because we want to repay the Lord. When everything has been said and done, we can only say that we are just but useless servants of God. We do not do good because we want to be rewarded. We do good because God has been good to us.

The third question is: How did the Lord face temptation?Jesus, when tempted, did not argue. He did not use His reasoning. He used the Scriptures against the devil.The way to overcome temptation is not to use psychology, logic, philosophy or even theology. The way to overcome temptation is by attuning yourself always to the Word of God--by prayer.You must pray when you are tempted.

It is very difficult to face temptations. I speak from experience. It is easier to fall into temptations. One geek may say: “the way to get rid of temptations is to do them.” By this he meant that the way to get rid of temptations is to do the sin. Thus he banish temptation by giving in to it.

It is enjoyable to give in to temptation, and it can be very easy. But the Lord never promised us an easy life, only a meaningful life.

Our attitude in front of temptation? Before: to watch, to pray and to avoid the occasions. While: direct or indirect resistance.

Afterwards: if you have won, thank God for that. A defeated temptation is progress in sanctity. And, if you have failed, ask for forgiveness and try to learn from experience in future. Which attitude have you shown so far?