Temptation

“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1b)

Satan tempts the woman when, with his cunning question, he leads her into a trap. He awakens the curiosity of the first human couple. He says to them: “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5). Adam and Eve could not resist the temptation and took fruit from the forbidden tree.

Recently, we had the Lenten season. Perhaps we too resolved that, besides regular prayer, we would give up something. We did this to strengthen our faith. But temptations do not surround us only during Lent. Perhaps in each of our own “gardens” there is a forbidden tree whose fruit we should not pick so freely. Temptation, as we can see from the story of Adam and Eve, calls us to sin, leads us toward selfishness, and awakens doubt toward God.

Today, many young people declare at their confirmation that they want to belong to God. Temptation, however, tries to achieve the exact opposite: to draw us away from the Lord, to make us ashamed of our faith, or to remain Christians only “on paper.” May this not be true for them or for us! Let us remain committed to following Christ! Amen.

PRAYER: Lord, I wish to dedicate every day to You. Please make me strong so that I may resist every temptation that would draw my attention away from You. Amen.