Just like Jesus in the desert, we are tempted on a regular basis. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ, reminds us that Jesus is both our model and our biggest support when trying to avoid temptation. Based on the readings for Sunday, March 1, 2020.
Don’t tempt me, don’t you do it!
Hello! I’m Damian Torres-Botello and this is my One-Minute reflection.
Why are we tempted? Why does Satan interfere with our lives? And, why does this candy bar look so good when I know I don’t need it?!
In the same way Satan tempted Jesus, so too does Satan tempt us with pride, lust, power, and, yes, even hunger. That evil spirit earnestly tugs at our ego and creates false inner impressions of a glorified self. We get all twisted up and eventually Satan gets his way. As a friend of mine says, “evil uses evil to gain an evil end.”
But God encourages us, sometimes even challenges us to recognize evil as it is not as the mirage it tries to be.
Awareness can help us see our personal temptations. Inviting God into that awareness, like through praying the examen, helps us see how God has assisted us in the past to battle these temptations. And knowing that can help us partner with God through future temptations.