Tuesday, Sixth Week of Ordinary Time February 18, 2020

READINGS

Lectionary: 336

James 1: 12-18

Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation,

for when he has been proven he will receive the crown

of life that he promised to those who love him. No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters: all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

GOSPEL MK 8:14-21

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?”They answered him, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

REFLECTION

Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proven he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.

How can we “endure evil?” How can we persevere in temptation?

My grandmother on my mother’s side was a wise woman. She would give us, my sisters and I, advice about how to treat others. My grandmother would say, “If you can’t say anything nice about someone, then don’t say anything at all.”

When I was younger, I would remind myself of what she said and practice her wisdom in conversations with friends. Somehow, it was easier for me to follow her advice when I was younger. As I got older with more pressures from many different relationships, the temptation was greater to say something judgmental or unkind. I found myself just like James says, “Rather, each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.” (James 1: 15) I was caving into my desire to say something negative. I chose to say something unkind.

St. Augustine corroborates St. James’ message. That evil is the corruption of the Will. It is the willful action of choosing, “no good.” (The Practicing of Patience As The Virtue of “Love Enduring Evil” Delivering Us From Temptation And Bringing Us Into Salvation, a Dissertation submitted by Fr. Michael Joseph Nguyen Truong Luan, C.Ss.R.)

So, what is the solution? " For St. Augustine, it is the grace of charity. It is nothing else, but love. It is love that tolerates evil."..." It is the love of God that fills up the loss of goodness." (Fr. Michael Joseph Nguyen Truong Luan, 2019). Praise God! When I go to confession and make a good confession, then God fills me with His Goodness. I am so grateful! Now, I will be able to apply my grandmother's advice the next time I am tempted. Just as she suggested I must say what is good. With God's grace I can "persevere" in temptation as St. James gave us his warning and which St. Augustine confirms. Thank God for giving us the Sacraments and the Priests to administer them to us. Let us pray that we have holy priests who teach us and give us the Sacraments, especially Penance and the Eucharist. This will help us "...receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him." (James 1: 12)

Please, join me in praying the PAPA Prayer for Priests.