March 9, 2025.
“Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,being tempted for forty days by the devil.” (Luke 4, 1-4)
The world and the devil are prodigal in suggesting temptations which separate us from the path of Christ, the path of love. Temptations which are always attractive, since if not they would be very easily if not automatically rejected.
There are many temptations and, perhaps, each one has its own peculiarities, the same as certain virtues. Frequently, there are vices that are joined to virtues; nervous people are usually active people and calm people tend to be lazy; people who explode with a bad temper tend to have a good heart and don’t hold a grudge, while those who better control their temper at times pay later. Given this we shouldn’t get upset because we feel temptations, but we must fight so as not to succumb to them, while at the same time taking advantage of the good side of the way we are, the way each of us is.
However there is a temptation that is frequent today; that of working against exhaustion without nourishing ourselves with motivation which helps us recuperate the strength we use up at work. There are many people who give and then one day discover they are empty. Giving of oneself is a form of fulfilment, certainly, but this happens only when the living is for the love of God. To not fall into the temptation of activity is the goal of this week.
Intention: Pray more to work better. Look for in Christ the help we need to love as He has shown us, to reject temptations.