Monthly Archives: January 2016

Temptations

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Sometimes it is hard to say no to temptations.  We have all faced temptations.  Even Jesus faced temptations.  As the Bible says in Hebrews 4:14-16:

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find help in time of need.

It is heartening to know that even Jesus faced temptation.  He understands what we go through living in this world.  Jesus also gave us a great example of fighting against those temptations and not giving in to the inclination to sin.  This inclination to sin, or concupiscence, “cannot harm those who do not consent but manfully resist it by the grace of Jesus Christ” (CCC 1264, citing the Council of Trent (1546)).  Jesus wants us to fight those temptations, and He gives us the example of His life to show us how to do so.

Further, Jesus will forgive us if we give in to our temptations.  All we need to do is to confess those sins to a priest in the Sacrament of Penance (CCC 1446, 1456 [“Confession to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament of Penance”]).

Being Merciful to Sinners

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What does it mean to be merciful to a sinner?  The first three of the seven spiritual works of mercy are to counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, and admonish sinners (Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Appendix B, Formulas of Catholic Doctrine).  By these works, the Church seeks to protect people from the attraction of sin.  As the Bible states in Hebrews 3:12-13:

Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.  But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

The devil presents sin as attractive and “no big deal.”  That is why it is so important for people of faith to instruct and support each other in the Truth, and to admonish those who teach sin as normal or “no big deal.”  It is not merciful to ignore a person’s sins.  It is not mercy to remain silent and implicitly accept the actions of a person who lives a lifestyle that is not in accordance with the Church’s teaching, be that living with someone before marriage, committing immoral acts with another, or supporting evils such as the abortion of the “redefinition” of marriage.  It is important for the Church, both leaders and lay faithful, to speak out against those sins.  That is not judging – that is mercy.

The Cost of Faith

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[G]odliness is an abomination to a sinner.

(Sirach 1:25).

This verse tells us that sinners will reject and revile the true teaching of the Church.  We can see this all around us today.  People who try to live out their faith and properly reject true abominations such as the attempt to redefine marriage are subject to scorn, ridicule, and hate.  People who work to protect the unborn and expose the evils of abortion are denounced as radicals and terrorists.  People who speak out against immorality and call people to “repent and be saved” are belittled and rejected by the world.

This is to be expected.  There is a cost to being a Christian.  Thankfully, in most parts (though sadly not all) of the world, that cost is to one’s reputation and standing, and not to their lives.  But there is a cost nonetheless.  When people try to live and share godliness, the media and many of those in positions of power and leadership recoil – because they see godliness as an abomination.

Preparing to Make a Defense of the Reason for Our Hope

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Saint Peter tells us:

Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence; and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

(1 Peter 3:15-16).  Why do we have this hope?  I firmly believe that Jesus died for our sins, and that we are truly forgiven when we confess our sins to a priest and receive the Sacrament of Penance.  The Bible tells us that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light.  I am particularly drawn to my belief that Jesus is the truth, and that the Catholic Church has the fullness of that truth.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church lays out a great explanation of that truth.  It is in that truth that we find true happiness.

Only in God will [man] find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for.

(CCC 27).  We need to encounter God in prayer and the Sacraments.  We also need to learn and study the truth set forth in the Bible and the Church’s Tradition.  A person cannot just attend Mass and stop there.  It is imperative that Catholics take the initiative to educate themselves about what the Church really teaches.

A Couple of Bible Quotes

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Here are a couple of Bible quotes I came across in reading my Bible today.  These are quotes I would like to memorize and possibly add to my daily prayers.  The first quote is from Isaiah.

O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for thee.
Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.

(Isaiah 33:2)

The second quote is from the Book of Wisdom.  This is one of the books of the Old Testament that protestants have removed from their Bibles.  They did this because this book, like other books they have excised, contains verses that are inconsistent with protestant teachings.  For a discussion of this issue, I recommend a book called Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger by Gary Michuta.

For in everything, O Lord, thou hast exalted and glorified thy people; and thou hast not neglected to help them at all times and in all places.

(Wisdom 19:22)