temptations

Temptations 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.

Such are the temptations that we need to struggle in this life...But with God's grace and prayers, we will triumph all these circumstantial temptations... So, God have mercy on us all!