Temptation is not a sin, however-

Richard Salbato July 19, 2011

When praying the Lord’s Prayer we say “lead us not into temptation” and we wonder why God would allow us to be tempted. The truth is that temptation is good for us and in fact adds more grace to us when we overcome temptation. I am not tempted by wealth, so what grace can I receive by overcoming greed? If, however, I had huge desires for wealth and power, but overcame those temptations for the glory of God, this would be a great grace, and God would give me great rewards. This is why temptation is good for people and God often sends it for our good according to our ability to overcome it. If we are very saintly, the temptation will be much harder even to the point of being attacked by demons.

However, if we give in to temptation even for one second, we have sinned. Most people think of temptation in terms of “Sex” but sex is a very small part of temptation and because it is such a small part of temptation becomes the entire reason for this Newsletter. But sex is a good way to explain giving in to temptation for even a second, when we think of something that tempts us to lust and we don’t quickly turn away our eyes, or turn back to look twice. This becomes a sin quickly.

DO NOT BE THE TEMPTOR

Saint John Chrysostom, called the man with the Golden Voice, said: “Who is more guilty, the man who takes poison or the man who gives it?”And Christ said: “If you cause one of these little ones to sin, it would be better that a rock be tied around your neck and dropped into the sea.”

Every moment of every day we must constantly be aware that we must not cause others to sin by our actions, our words, our appearance or our opinions. When thinking of temptation we constantly think of how we dress, but how about temptation to gossip, to hate, to accept sin, to compromise truth. Do we tell true stories about people that damage their reputations for no reason except to gossip? Do we pass on our prejudices to others making then have the same prejudices? Do we make light of some sins as though they are not so important? Do we compromise truth, especially the truth of faith, claiming it is not so important? If we convince people that sin is not sin, we are the tempter.

No matter what we say, even if always right, people judge us by our life, how we live. Think of a recent priest who gave great talks and always said the right thing, but when we looked into his life we found he lived the opposite of what he said. How will his followers think of the Church and priests afterwards?

Even if you are living a moral life but live in such a way that people do not believe it, you may be setting an example that causes others to sin or give up trying.

Saints Peter and Paul constantly remind us to not aggravate our children and to correct them with extreme kindness so as not to drive them away from the truth of faith and morals.

What if we are writers on the internet and always say the truth but in doing so we attack bad bishops, mistakes of the pope, sins of Catholics and over and over until we drive people out of the Church? Will God be happy with us?

What if we set an example in Church of inattention or disrespect to God in the Tabernacle and by so doing those who watch us stop believing in the true presence of Christ in the Tabernacle? Will God be happy with us? What if we talk around people who are trying to pray? Will God be happy with us?

Beware of teachers who do not know what they are talking about. You might not think of yourself as a teacher, but anytime you promote something, an apparition, a healing priest, a movement, etc. you are tempting others to believe in something that might not be true and from God. It would be better if you just shut up unless you did long and extensive investigation with a strong background it your faith.

I have seen priests who, just because they are priests, think they know their faith so well that they can discern things and then promote them only to find them false.

These are the many TEMPTERS that God condemns to the pits of Hell. Be anything but a tempter. Better to shut up than to talk without knowing what you are talking about.

There are web sites, Newspapers and TV stations on the internet today that call themselves Catholic that I would not. Be very careful that you are teaching the truth and are not leading these little ones to sin?

Richard Salbato