Gospel for February 18 2024 – Mark 1:12-15
Gospel Reflections for February 18 2024
How to handle temptations.
Does that piece of cake you gave up for Lent look tempting? Does that chocolate bar 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, chocolate, or idiot drivers 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 you handle temptations.
What happens when you have temptations is, ironically, just what God designed. Your brain evolved over millions of years to simply present options in front of you for your thoughtful consideration. Every temptation is simply the brain fulfilling that basic function of providing choices. However, what happens next is most important, which is what you actually do.
Your brain developed emotional ideas first, and that is where temptations are first received. However, if you choose emotionally, you will often make mistakes. Most problems come 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 thoughtfully decide that the cake, the chocolate, and violent road rage are not your best 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.
Does Jesus panic or feel horribly guilty when He is tempted? Not at all! He knows these are common temptations that many people have. However, He does not act impulsively. He stays calm and even counters Satan in rational arguments from scripture.
This is a very liberating Gospel if you have ever felt guilty about temptations you might feel.
You never have to worry about any temptations you might unexpectedly 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 thoughtful and loving choice.
Lent is your annual time of reflection on your choices. I hope that they arise from reasoned and thoughtful thinking and not emotional impulses.
Then you will be in good company with Our Lord.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Ever the cool head: “You never have to worry about any temptations you might receive. You only have to worry about what you actually do.”
I appreciate your essays, Fr. Dave, and especially miss your homilies.
Right on Kathy I like how Jesus handles Temptations. He just said No. short and Sweet Gospel and today we sang some Latin Responses at Mass to connect with History and I enjoyed it. My Dear Mom was a Church Organist and. Choir Drector. Sure brought back fond memories of those days. She had a foot pedal Organ and never complained of the leg pain brought on from pumping it.
She had me singing Latin at age seven and loving the Latin responses. I do feel the Mass in English is easier to understand but still enjoy Lent and a bit of Latin thrown in.
Oh Yes She met my Dad in the Choir at St Philip the Apostle in Pasadena and where I sang was at San Marino St Felictus and Perpetua when it was just a house and at the dedication of the Present Church. Great Experience for a kid learning how to sing.
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee being in good company with our precious Lord!!! beautiful life, beautiful faith!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it!!! Thank your for your beautiful thoughts!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, franca and Dick
Dear Father Dave,
Your Gospel synopses are always encouraging.
Thank you and God bless.
Kathleen
Fr Dave,
What stood out for me in your synopsis was the”temptation to extreme selfishness.” How often I have succumbed to that in my life. Thank you for reminding us to pray for help in those circumstances & to also appeal to our rational brain by “ counting to ten”.
Blessings,
Sherrie
Yes, “Counting to ten” is a simple and yet powerful exercise.