In the Our Father we pray, “lead us not into temptation.” This petition should not be confused to make us think that God tempts His people. Rather, this is a petition for protection against the evil one and falling into sin. This petition places its emphasis on God’s grace which assists us in resisting temptation and being delivered from all evil.
We should not see temptation as sin. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church instructs, “Temptation is not sin itself; it becomes sin when we consent to it, that is, when we choose to do what we know is wrong.”
Instead of solely seeing temptation as means to vice we should see it as an invitation to pursue virtue. Whenever we resist temptation and strive live in line with God’s commandments we are actively strengthening our will and in return are building up the habit of virtue.
As was stated by Saint Philip Neri, “Do not give over temptations you suffer. When the Lord intends to bestow a particular virtue on us, He often permits us first to be tempted by the opposite vice. Therefore, look upon every temptation as an invitation to grow in a particular virtue and a promise by God that you will be successful, if only you stand fast.”
We must remember that prior to entering into His public ministry that the Lord was tempted by the devil in the desert. Despite being tempted the Lord did not fall into sin and unlike Adam was able to rebuke this voice that came His way. So too in the midst of our own temptations we must look towards the Lord in order to find our strength.
From 1st Corinthians we were told, “No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.”
With this verse firmly on our mind let us come to understand and believe that we have indeed been given all that we need in order to endure. We cannot allow despair to give rise in us because God’s grace is indeed sufficient in order to find a way to be triumphant. We will be triumphant in so far as we are willing to remain receptive of such a gift.
In taking up one’s cross we should go not alone, but with the Lord who assists us in such a task. Through the sacrament of confession we receive mercy and the forgiveness of sins. So too we receive that grace that is needed to move forward in this life without looking back to our life of old.
Continue to preserve in the midst of all temptation for temptation is an invitation for us to live a life of virtue.
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