Temptation
Lead us not into temptation.
Reading (Matthew 4: 1-11)
Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit to be tempted by the Evil One. He fasted for forty days, and he was hungry. The Evil One approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread."
But Jesus said in reply, "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God."
Then the Evil One took him to the holy city, to the very top of the temple, and said, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, 'He will command his angels to guard you, and they will protect you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"
Jesus answered, "It is also written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Then the Evil One took him to a high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms fo the world, and said, "All this I will give you if you will prostrate yourself and worship me."
At this Jesus said to him, "Go away, Evil One. It is written, 'The Lord your God you shall worship, and him alone shall you serve.'"
With that the Evil One left him, and angels came and ministered to him.
Song (Psalm 73)
I was envious of the arrogant,
For they suffer no pain.
Their bodies are healthy and sleek.
They are free of the burdens of life;
They are not afflicted like others.Is it in vain that I have kept my heart clean?
For I am afflicted day after day.
My heart is embittered,
And my soul deeply wounded.Yet you are always with me,
You take hold of my hand.
With your counsel you guide me;
Whom else have I in heaven?
Though my flesh and my heart fail,
God is my rock and my portion forever.
Reflection
Every day our faith is put to the test. Each day we are faced with choices that place before us good and evil, that require us to choose between doing God's will or following our own inclinations.Most of these choices are about matters that are of little consequence in themselves. But they are important because they are God's way of reaching out to us and drawing us to himself. When taken together with all the choices we have already made, and those we are yet to make, they set the direction of our life. They determine whether we move closer to God, or move away. And in the end they determine what will become of us for all eternity.
We must pray that God's Spirit will guide us in the choices of our life, that the forces of evil may not prevail against us, but that we be led along the straight path to eternal life.
Prayer
Lord God, send forth your Spirit into our hearts that we may be strengthened by the gift of your love. May we be protected against the forces of evil that would separate us from you. And may we joyfully accept your will as the way to eternal life.