Gospel Reflections for March 10 2019
How to handle temptations.
Does that piece of cake you gave up for Lent look tempting? Does that chocolate candy look really good right now? Worse still, are you tempted to angrily curse the driver who cut you off?
All these thoughts might jump into your head, especially when a cake, some candy, or idiot driver are right in front of you. It is no accident that stores put products right in front of you at the Cash Register, where they tempt you to make an impulse buy.
Both our Catholic faith and modern evolutionary science can help handle temptations.
What is going on when you have temptations is, ironically, just the way God designed. Our human brains evolved over millions of years to simply present options in front of us for your reasoned consideration. Every temptation is simply the brain fulfilling that basic function of providing choices. However, what happens next is important, which is what you actually do.
Your brain developed its emotional powers first, and that is where temptations are first received. However, if you choose emotionally, you will often make a big mistake. Many problems arise from reacting impulsively.
However, if you stop for just a moment, and even count to ten, then your more rational brain will take over, and more reasonably decide that the cake, the chocolate, and violent road rage are not your good choices.
Sometimes, it might even be Satan tempting you, as Jesus found in today’s Gospel. He is tempted with terrible sins of extreme selfishness. He can use stones to feed Himself, or have world power, or even be invulnerable to any hurt or wound.
Does Jesus panic when He receives these temptations? Does He feel horribly guilty about any of them? Not at all! He knows these are common temptations that many people have. However, He does not act impulsively. He stays calm and even engages Satan in rational conversation.
This is very liberating Gospel if you have ever felt guilty about temptations you might feel.
You never have to worry about the temptations you might receive. You only have to worry about what you actually do!
What you do after a temptation is simply count to ten and then make a more rational choice.
Lent is our annual time of reflection on our choices. I hope that they arise from reasoned thinking and not emotional impulses. Then you will be in good company with Our Lord.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Dear Fr Dave
Good suggtions during our lent & how to make decisions! It can be a difficult time! And can appreciate some help with avoiding these temptations & how to handle! Thank you again..
For Lent I gave up posting in Facebook. I love my Facebook page and writing on others Facebook page. This has been much harder for me than giving up candy. This is almost an addiction and is teaching me balance. Thank you Lord for this discipline and learning to control my temptation. There is another Catholic who posted on her Facebook page telling friends she is giving up Facebook during Lent…this is where I got my light to follow. Thank you Father Haney for your guidance on the first Sunday of Lent.
I think you have chosen your Lenten practice very well!
Fortunately we always have a choice, even when the temptation seems insurmountable. Well illustrated. The other day I reflected on the correlation between Lent and the challenge that Rick and I are involved in at our gym. During our challenge, I have had to re-think meal preparation and change up my game by doing different types of lifting and cardio. It has required a lot of dedication, including a lot of time preparing almost all or our meals by hand. It has required much abstinence by avoiding some of the comfort foods upon which we relied. In the same respect, Lent requires us to temporarily abide a lifestyle of humility and penance, through which we receive those graces which make us holy and pleasing to God. It is a time of re-evaluation of our daily routines, which we often fall into without giving much thought about it. I always give up chips for Lent because those are my comfort foods – the first thing I reach for when I come home from a long, challenging day at work. Conversely, in my challenge, I always do a coffee taper at the end and supplement more green juices for meals to help fully detox before the final weigh-in. I embrace this time of the year as it is always a spiritual odyssey in my resolve to be the best person I can be both on physical and spiritual levels.
Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful message. I think you understand Lent very well!
Love your commentary Father Dave!! Lent is a time to reflect on our personal choices!!!Counting to 19 is a good idea when tempted!!! It is sooooooooooooooooooo precious during this season to dwell on Jesus’ love for us and how we can live that love with our family, our friends, the world!! To grow in jesus’ love would be such a beautiful miracle gift!!! Imagine the whole world living Jesus’ love!! What a precious, loving, giving world we would have!! It all begins with each one of us!! We have to make the choice to make the world beautiful with our loving Jesus’ LOVE!!!Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it!!! Thank you Father Dave for giving us Jesus’ loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, franca and Dick
Thank you!
Matthew Kelly in his popular book “The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity” talks about “Holy Moments.” And that while none of us can be holy all the time, we can experience moments of holiness in which we do something to follow Christ more closely. So we shouldn’t be discouraged when we fail at some good behavior, but rather joyful when we reject self indulgence or figure out how to make someone happy.
I shall try hard to have holy moments during Lent.
I am sure you will do well, and have a meaningful Lenten Season!
Loved your comentary… Got hungry seeing that cake😆 Just talked last night about different temptations.. Anger, hate, and working past those things. This is a good time during lent to fight the good fight of faith and “choose” to forgive and not let that unforgiveness get the best of us. Remembering that Jesus died on the cross with forgiveness in His heart.
Yes, from cake to understanding the cross of Our Lord. I like it. Good connection!
Dear Father Dave,
Thank you for your excellent reflection on today’s Gospel.
“Waiting” applies well to so many optional decisions, Partcularly big-ticket items! I recall when my husband’s father needed to buy another car. He and my mother-law lived in a lovely community in New York and always drove quality automobiles.
Well, clearly Dad gave a great deal of thought to what he wanted and at long last … brought home the most basic, economical car he could find in a color that was something between a spoiled lime and a rotten avocado.
He also loved parking it on the street in front of the house and not in the garage!
When we asked him why he bought that particular 🚙, he simply smiled.
A lesson we never forgot….
God bless you.
Sincerely,
Kathleen
Beautiful story about your father!
I slowly counted to 10 and then thought how devilish it was to feature a chocolate cake on the top of your weekly page of wisdom!
Well, i am glad it helped you count to ten!
Dear Father Dave,
Thank you for your reflection on temptation.
You mentioned a reckless driver. Many years ago, a young fellow passed me on the freeway and nearly hit my front fender, cutting in and driving dangerously fast.
We both took the next exit and stopped at a red light. We were side by side. I rolled down my window and he did the same with his passenger window. I said firmly but nicely that he nearly killed us and should be more careful.
The light changed and we went our separate ways.
One week later, I recognized his photo in the local paper. He had died in a bicycle accident racing down a mountainous hill.
A providential encounter? Perhaps.
There is a temptation to be reckless in all manner of ways. Yes, we do have to stop and think.
God bless you.
Sincerely,
Kathleen A.
A remarkable story! Thank you for sharing that. If only he had listened carefully to you words.