Beloved Parishioners,

As we begin the great season of Lent let us draw attention to temptation which is part of our daily battle in spiritual journey.

The reason we harp on the possibility and occurrence of temptation at the beginning of the Lenten season is simply because whenever we are inclined to a practice of higher virtues and observances such as are demanded of us during Lent — prayer, fasting or abstinence, and alms giving, temptation to either abandon them or derail from their authentic practice abound.

Jesus, upon inviting three of His disciples to prayer in the garden of Gethsemane and returning to find them heavily sleeping remarked thus: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Matthew 26:41). This shall be an injunction and a reminder unto us as we journey through the Lenten period.

Temptation is a universal experience that every Christian faces in their walk of faith. Whether it is the lure of materialism, pride, anger, lust, or other forms of sin, temptation has been a constant challenge since the fall of man, but for us Christians, the experience of temptation is not merely a trial to endure but an opportunity to grow in faith and become more like Christ. Jesus himself was tempted three times by the devil but Jesus defeated him using the powerful words of the Scripture (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13), and the Bible records that “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13). This implies that the temptation by the Devil of Christians has not come to a definitive end. Thus, for every Christian, encountering temptation is inevitable since the Devil is always at work tempting every believer and testing their faith. It is for us to resolve, with the help of God and prayer, to wither the tempter’s whims and caprices and grow stronger in faith.

To be sure, temptation is not a sin on its own, but what truly matters is how one responds to it. Our response to temptation determines our moral culpability. The Bible provides clear guidance on how to approach and resist temptation. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul reminds Christians that, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 a way out so that you can endure it.” This verse highlights two crucial elements: first, that temptation is a shared experience, and second, that God will provide a way out.

One major temptation by the devil of modern-day Christians subsists in our proclivity or inclination to think that the devil does not exist. The more we deny his existence, the more we downplay his work and get caught up in his webs. Robert Cardinal Sarah opines that “Satan loves nothing so much as the darkness in which he lies; the more hidden the devil, the more effective he is.” (Sarah, 2015). During his pontificate, Pope Francis had frequently spoken about the existence of the devil. There is no better way to understand the existence of the devil than through his works. St. Peter who once came under the scourge of the tempter’s minion and who was supported by Christ’s prayer (Luke 22:31-32), counsels us when he writes: “Be calm but vigilant. Because your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

To be concluded next week…

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