From the Friars: Lead Us Not into Temptation
As we begin Lent, we hear again of Our Lord going into the desert for 40 days, where He was tempted by the devil. The enemy appeals to the normal desires of our human nature but in a deceptive way, designed to separate us from God. Jesus exposes his lies and manipulation and, unlike Adam, rejects the fruit that looks good on the outside but is rotten within. In all this the God-Man wishes to teach us the path to true happiness. We all want to be happy, but often we disagree about how to get there.
The devil knows well how easily we fall because we choose to seek gratification of desires which are not bad in themselves, but are disordered. Jesus shows us by word and example what we should desire and therefore what we should choose. He helps us discern between what is a destructive temptation and what is a genuine good.
A man may be strongly attracted to a married woman. He begins to think of excuses that might somehow justify sin, even though he is aware of the Sixth Commandment: Thou shall not commit adultery. He is tempted. Does he accept the very appealing rationalizations going through his mind? He thinks: she is not happy in her marriage, people change and sometimes things don’t work out, etc. Many people fall into sin in this way. Or does the man obey the Word of God? Does he trust that he will find true happiness and peace in following God’s way, and not his own preferences or disordered desires?
To trust and to follow what Jesus and His Church teach us are an essential part of what it means to believe and to love. (Rom 1:5; 1Jn 5:3) We are all tempted everyday by the world, the flesh and the devil. In Christ Our Head we can also conquer the enemies of our soul, the enemies of true happiness, and find the peace of right order in our lives.
During this sacred time, may our sacrifices and prayer help us to grow in fidelity to the Truth and in authentic Love of God and neighbor.
A Blessed Lent to all!
–Fr. Peter