Temptation
Today's Gospel reading is about the temptation of Jesus in the desert and his strong responses (which we can also use whenever we are tempted):"Man does not live by bread alone."
" You must not put the Lord your God to the test."
" You must worship the Lord your God and serve Him alone."
We are tempted all the time. The lure of the world is strong, pulling us towards greed, power, money, status, and material pleasures. The choice is ours. If we have put a criteria that God should be the centre of our lives, then the Holy Spirit will give us the courage and the will-power to overcome temptations.
I learned long ago from a Christian gathering that whenever we feel fear in our hearts as though some dark forces are nearby us, all we have to do is declare: " I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only son, our Lord...". Satan on hearing this will run far, far away from us!
Yes, that easy....all it needs is our conviction that we want to lead a life pleasing only to God, as His children on this earth. We have a loving God who protects and guide us in our daily lives. As St Paul wrote (1 Cor:10:13) He will not let you be tested beyond what you can endure. Isn't that a consolation?
Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit
makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.
- William Yeats-
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