When tempted

WE have to be better prepared when we are tempted. Our

usual problem is that we think that when we are tempted, it is just a

very personal affair that nobody else should intervene. This is not

the way to deal with temptations. With this attitude, the only thing

that can happen is to fall into temptation.

            We may not have the immediate access and help of other

people, but we always have God with us. It’s only with him that we

would know how to deal with temptations. Let’s never forget that God

never allows us be tempted in a way that is beyond our power to resist

or at least to bear.

            This is what St. Paul said regarding this matter: “No

temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is

faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But

when you are tempted, he will also provide an escape, so that you can

stand up under it.” (1 Cor 10,13)

            We always have to bear in mind that without God, that is,

when we choose to be alone or to do things or to resolve an issue

alone, we can only have failure. If you happen to win or to conquer a

temptation, it is because God has helped you without you noticing it.

            Of course, it would be much better that we consciously go

to God, especially when tempted. In fact, the ideal condition for us

is to be with God always, to live our life with him, to fill ourselves

with his love that brings with it all that we need, especially when we

are tempted.

            We are actually meant to live our life with God, knowing

him and loving him all the time. Ignoring him is not what human life

is all about. We would become inhuman that way.

            We have to spend time to acquire and develop that constant

consciousness of being with God, actively and abidingly relating

ourselves with him in the dynamics of his love.

            Again our usual problem is that we hardly feel we need to

have that abiding relation with God. We think that we can be on our

own and that we can manage by ourselves. And especially now that we

seem to be accomplishing and achieving many things, we can feel that

we need God less and less.

            This explains why sins proliferate like anything in this

world. And not only in number but also in the complicatedness of the

sins. Even the sins that were usually hidden generations before are

now being boldly paraded and flaunted, furthering the pollution they

produce.

            No wonder things like pornography, abortion, same-sex

activities and marriage, etc. are now being promoted as if they are

the most natural things to have. They call it pro-choice, asserting a

concept of rights and freedom that is detached from the source of such

rights and freedom. It is a completely subjective idea of rights and

freedom.

            When tempted, what we should do is to go to God

immediately, not to run away from him nor to isolate ourselves. When

tempted, we should conjure in our mind as vividly as possible the

example of Christ who showed us how to deal with temptations and

suffered and died for all our sins. Christ offers us the paradigm of

how to handle our temptations.

            Yes, when tempted, there is struggle, suffering and pain.

This should be expected because like Christ, we have to repeat the

words he spoke: “Father, if it is your will, let this cup pass by me,

but not my will but yours be done.” Self-denial will always be

involved and that can be painful. But with Christ, somehow we can

manage.

            With Christ, we would know what things we need to develop

or improve when we are tempted. Temptations are good identifiers of

our weaknesses and good occasions to attract God’s grace.