Come back to God’s heart
The story is told about a young priest who asked a retired priest: “Father, at your age, do you still worry about avoiding temptations?” The old priest replied: “My son, at my age, my worry is that temptations are beginning to avoid me!”
—————-
In today’s Gospel (Matthew 4:1-11), we are told that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Even Jesus was not spared. The truth of the matter is that temptations spare no one, and they are never really gone. So, what temptations still come knocking at your door at this time? What have you successfully shut out, and what do you still welcome?
—————-
Be vigilant. The evil one is real. He knows when to attack us. We must never underestimate the enemy without and within. So, the first thing to do when dealing with the enemy is to know the enemy. He is an expert in his profession, using all sorts of tricks and deceptions to make us fall. Once complacency sets in, that’s when the fall begins.
—————-
The second thing to do when dealing with the enemy is to pray. Without God’s help, we cannot overcome temptations. Willpower is not enough. Prayer is our shield from the heat. Prayer is the available help within our reach. Pray, pray much. Pray.
—————-
Flee! That’s the best way to deal with this kind of enemy. Better to be a coward when it comes to temptations. In other words, don’t tempt temptation itself. Remember; if you avoid the occasion, you avoid the temptation, and avoid sin.
—————-
It all boils down to greed, in all its different forms. Greed, be it low greed, moderate greed, or high greed, causes so much havoc in our lives and in our society. And so it is that we can have a greedy individual, a greedy family, a greedy organization, or even a greedy people. We need to live out the basic message of Christianity, which is love.
—————-
“Leaders aren’t sinless, but they should sin less.” We do not expect leaders to be perfect, but leaders, precisely because of their great power and influence, should sin less because they affect the lives of so many people. Indeed, “to whom much is given, much is also required.” In our modern-day parlance, Uncle Ben from “Spiderman” said something like: “With great power comes great responsibility.”
—————-
Lent reminds us to go back to our hearts and there find Him. “Seek first the kingdom of God, and everything will be given unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) Find time, make time, seize time for God. Allow God to take you by the hand and lead you to still waters once again. Let go of your small screen and let God show you the big picture once again. Work on contact moments with your God.
—————-
Lent is the time to be humble to God, admitting that with humble and contrite heart, we are weak, we are sinners, and that we need Him. Stop running away from Him. Get rid of the delusion that you can make it on your own. Let not pride keep you far from your God. Let go of foolish pride that says, “I’m already muddy; might as well stay in mud.” All it takes is a moment to say “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Take time to go to the “red light district” (confessional) and embrace your God once again.
—————-
Lent reminds us that we all will die. “We are dust, and to dust we will return” (Genesis 3: 19). Lent should lead us to reflect on and go back to the basics once again. How long have I been in this world already? What have I done, and what am I doing with my life? What do I want to do for the rest of my life? What is really important to me? What are my values? What have I contributed to this world? What will people remember about me after I am gone? What will God tell me when I finally come before Him face to face?
—————-
Fast and listen. One with you in disciplining our bodies, our minds, and our hearts from worldly pleasures and concerns this Lenten season so that we can listen to God, to other people, especially to the cry of the suffering and the poor. Let’s do them all with love and sacrifice. As St. Augustine put it: “Love makes sacrifice easy, and perfect love makes sacrifices a joy.”
—————-
A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help us to come back to You, with all our heart. Amen.
—————-
momentswithfrjerry@gmail.com
******
Get real-time news updates: inqnews.net/inqviber
