COLLECT: “O GOD, WHO TEACH US THAT YOU ABIDE IN HEARTS THAT ARE JUST AND TRUE, GRANT THAT WE MAY BE SO FASHIONED BY YOUR GRACE AS TO BECOME A DWELLING PLEASING TO YOU. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN.”
Jas 1:12-18; Ps 93:12-15,18-19 and Mk 8:14-21.
Today’s scriptures remind us that temptations are inevitable, they exist, and they will always eventually lead us to sin, except for those who, when tempted, persevere in faith. Subtly, we are told where temptations come from. They do not come from God. God does not tempt us. We are rather tempted by the Tempter, Satan, the Evil One, “No one experiencing temptation should say, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one”. Once again, temptations come from the Evil One and fellow human beings as his accomplices When they come and we are not able to persevere, then we fall into them and sin.
Another source of temptation leading to a fall into sin is when we are lured and enticed by our own desires, our carnal desires. “…Each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desires inside him or her. Then the desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity, it gives birth to death.” Here, temptation is being personified. When temptation is allowed to go through the above, then, its wages and effects are brought forth, ending in death. The need therefore to persevere when we encounter temptations.
A temptation will always begin with an evil thought and become sin when we dwell on the thought and allow it to become an action. The more we allow sin to have its way in us, the more it grows and causes more destructive things in us. The best time to stop a temptation is before it is too strong or before it is moving too fast to control you.
Jesus is a model for us. He never allowed any evil thought to move him into action. He also never gave any chance to have its way into him, let alone allowing it to grow and cause any destruction. Even in today’s Gospel he deals with it. He cautions his disciples to be on guard and watch out against the leaven or yeast of the Pharisees and Herod, instruments or channels of temptations and sin. He also cautions them to guard and watch out against other channels of temptations and sin, especially, food (loaves), material things, worldly possessions, etc.
The leaven or yeast Jesus uses here symbolises evil. Just as only a small amount of yeast or leaven is needed to make a batch of bread rise, so the hard-heartedness of the religious and political leaders could permeate, pollute and contaminate (tempt) them and the entire society for that matter, and make their temptation rise against Jesus. Let us always be on guard, watchful and vigilant about all the sources of temptations around us. Stay blessed.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, TUESDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “HAVING FET UPON THESE HEAVENLY DELIGHTS, WE PRAY, O LORD, THAT WE MAY ALWAYS LONG FOR THAT FOOD BY WHICH WE TRULY LIVE. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com
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