‘The devil made me do it!’
From today’s Scripture: “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
Have you ever had the opportunity to take a retreat? A time of silence or meditation? This experience is a great gift for renewal of our faith. Jesus went into the desert for 40 days to pray and get direction for his life. Jesus also fasted for these 40 days. Satan felt, after these 40 days, that Jesus would be weak. But the opposite was true. Jesus was renewed in his mission. The temptations of Satan were of no avail.
We are tempted each day. We may be tempted to overeat, to say negative things about another, or maybe to stay in bed all day. Remember, though, temptations are not sins. They can become sinful when we give in to them. The comedian Flip Wilson used to say, “The devil made me do it!” The devil can not make us do anything! We are the ones who give into temptations. We are called to be alert and ready for all temptations.
Let us pray: Dear Lord, I seek to be close to you this Lenten season. In doing so I pray that I may be strong to all temptations. I need your grace. Guide me, Lord. Amen.
Today’s author is Glenmary Father Vic Subb, pastor of Holy Family and Divine Savior missions in Macon and Clay counties, in Tennessee.
Photo courtesy Martin Jernberg
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