Thought for the Day – 14 June – The Endurance of Temptation

Thought for the Day – 14 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

The Endurance of Temptation

1. Temptations are a necessary element in the career of all the servants of God. ‘Because thou wast acceptable to God‘, says the Angel to Tobias, ‘it was necessary that temptation should try thee.‘ (Tobias 12 : 13.) Temptations, therefore, far from being any mark of God’s anger or displeasure, are a sign of His love and favour. This ought to be our consolation when we are harassed by temptations. St James tells us: ‘My brethren, count it all joy, when you fall into divers temptations. (St James 1 : 2.)
   I must take a more cheerful view of temptation than I have hitherto done. I must take it as a mark of God’s favour and then, I shall meet it more bravely.
2. How is temptation a sign of God’s love? It is an excellent instrument for engendering humility. If we are inclined to think too much of ourselves, nothing brings us to our senses, like some humiliating temptation. It shows us our own weakness and the necessity of continual reliance on God. It produces in us, a spirit of dependence upon God. This is the only way to pass through temptation safely.
   God has promised that He will always make a way to escape from every temptation.
3. Temptation is also necessary to enable us to feel for others under their temptations. Even our Lord, the Apostle tells us, suffered being tempted that He may be able to succour those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2 : 18.) He knew indeed, from the beginning, all that His servants suffer but, by enduring temptation, He learned it by His own experience, so as to feel their sufferings. We do not even know the sufferings of others, much less can we sympathise with them thoroughly.
   Am I gentle towards those who are tempted, or am I hard and unsympathetic?