Thought for the Day – 24 October – “Lead Us Not Into Temptation”

Thought for the Day – 24 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

“Month of the Holy Rosary”
“Lead Us Not Into Temptation”

“Let no man say, when he is tempted,” St James warns us, “that he is tempted by God; for God is no tempter to evil and he himself tempts no-one. But everyone is tempted by being drawn away and enticed by his own passion. Then, when passion has conceived, it brings forth sin but when sin has matured, it begets death” (Js 1:13-15).

When we ask God during the Pater Noster not to lead us into temptation, we should really beseech Him to rescue us from temptation.
We should not request this in any absolute sense, however, for it would be a poor soldier who would refuse to be tried in battle.
Our prayer should be prompted by a holy fear of offending God.
We should ask Him, therefore, either to set us free from temptations or to grant us the grace to overcome them.
We should then co-operate earnestly with divine grace in resisting these temptations and should adopt the means necessary to overcome them.

In the first place, we should never go voluntarily into an occasion of sin.
What use is it asking God to rescue us from temptations, if we immediately proceed to go in search of them?
When possible, therefore, avoid the occasions of sin.
“He who loves danger,” says the Holy Spirit, “will persist in it” (Ecclus 3:25).
If duty or charity compels us to expose ourselves to danger, God will certainly help us.
But, if we fail to recognise our own frailty and expose ourselves voluntarily to the risk of committing sin, God is not obliged to work a miracle to save us.
Our presumption and imprudence will be severely punished.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci