We all think we understand what temptation is. Imagine this: there’s a little boy in a grocery store who walks by an open pack of chocolate-peanut butter cookies. A clerk notices him eye the cookies. “Son, what are you doing there?” “Nothing,” replied the boy. “It looks to me like you’re trying to steal a cookie.” “No,” said the boy, “I’m trying not to.” That’s temptation!
We understand that temptation leads to trouble. Such was the plight of the man that I read about in Reader’s Digest. The man told this on himself. He was shopping with his wife in the mall when a shapely young woman in a short, form-fitting dress walked by. He followed her with his eyes. Without looking up from the item she was examining his wife asked, “Was it worth the trouble you are in?” That’s the trouble with temptation!
How many of us have shrugged and said, “The devil made me do it!” and used that as an excuse when caught doing something we weren’t supposed to? It’s a convenient defense. But there’s one problem: the devil can’t MAKE us do anything. He may be clever, but he’s not all powerful. It may feel that way, however, when we’re dangling on temptation’s hook, because the devil has a tried and true strategy for luring us into his net. First, he lays out the bait like a skilled fisherman. The devil has been following our clues and noting our habits and social media hangouts. Then a custom-made lure appears right in front of our noses.
Now comes the appeal. We can’t be made to bite, but you know what happens when we catch a glimpse of the tantalizing bait like (maybe a snapshot promo on TV). We’re drawn in, we linger over it. We toy with the idea and roll it over in our minds until it consumes our imagination. We just HAVE to know what the gossip tidbit was we overheard. Now the struggle really begins. Our conscience jabs us in the ribs, the red flags go up, the warning sirens go off but that invitation looks so delightful. What do we do?
Notice how Luke ends his report – the devil departed for a time. We know what happened to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The depth of Jesus’ trust in God is shown most fully when He rejects the temptation to turn away from his God-given mission. Christ let Satan make us of all his evil conniving forces and defeated him at every angle until the devil got discouraged and left “for a time.”
Benedict knew this dynamic, didn’t he? Remember in chapter 43 where he warns if the monastic comes late for chapel?! Even though ashamed, she should still come inside lest she be tempted to return to bed and sleep, or worse, settle down outside and engage in idle talk, thereby giving occasion to the Evil One. Latecomers should come inside so that they will not lose everything and may amend in the future. Either we will resist or yield. We will swim away or swallow the temptation whole. When you give in you know the feeling of emptiness and the pain that sticks in your throat or gut. But, be alert when you do resist – be ready for the temptation to come from a different direction. However, when you do resist you will know a feeling of blessed freedom.
You may have learned this little ditty of a prayer as a child. It’s still a good one for nightly protection. I liken it to a child’s compline (evening prayer).
“Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
Bless this bed that I lie on.
Before I close my eyes in sleep,
I give my soul to Christ to keep.
Four corners to my bed,
Four angels ’round my head,
One to watch, one to pray,
And two to bear my soul away.
I go by sea, I go by land,
The Lord made me with his right hand,
If any danger come to me,
Sweet Jesus Christ, deliver me.
You are the branch, I am the flower,
I pray God send me a happy hour,
And if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB
May you each have a spirituality enriching LENT 2025 experience!
First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:4-10 Second Reading: Romans 10:8-13
Gospel: Luke 4:1-13
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