Temptation tips

DID you hear the story about a man who had a track record of living a lustful life? One day he went to his confessor and boasted that he is already a changed man. He has learned, he said, how to deal with temptation and how to avoid sin. As a clincher, he said: "Father, I am a changed man. In fact, I don't even come near my wife anymore, because my doctor advised "Iwasan ang taba (Avoid fats)!"

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The man in our story will likely fall again because of overconfidence and rationalization. The best way to deal with our beasts without and within is to simply flee from them and not to deliberately leave our doors half open for them. You and I know that once we become proud and self-confident, we will fall. Once we take the road of alibis and rationalization, we will lose the way. The evil one is an expert when it comes to when, where and how to attack us. In today's Gospel (Lk. 4, 1-13) he attacked Jesus who was fasting for 40 days (when), in the desert (where), by offering him money, power and fame (how). With God's help, Jesus overcame the temptations. However, today's Gospel ends with the warning: That when the devil had exhausted every way of tempting Jesus, he left Him... "to return another time." Careful, the evil one is not only an expert. He is also very thorough, and he is very persistent.

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If you think that temptations are no big deal for you, and that there is no clear and present danger as far as you are concerned, careful. That is precisely what the evil one wants you to think. Do not underestimate the enemy, and never overestimate yourself when dealing with temptations. As somebody put it: "When temptation calls, just drop the receiver." Period. And when you flee from temptation, don't leave a forwarding address. The thing is that we often ask the Lord to lead us not into temptation, while we ourselves go right on looking for it.

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I am learning a lot from my dog Toffie. When I give him junk food, oily and salty food, he simply rejects it, no matter how hungry he is. "No" for him, is a complete sentence. The problem with us is that our "No" is often conditional and relative.

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The other night, I finally had the courage to say "No" to my dog which wanted to sleep inside my room. I wanted that, too but, giving in meant a messy, smelly room, full of fleas. I had to play deaf to his persistent barking and knocking at my door with matching paawa effect. I had to be strong in my decision. It was not easy but after "crossing the Rubicon," I felt at peace about it. He, too. He still tries to get in whenever he can, and I still want him in, but, the matter is now clear, final and definitive. Period. Amen. That is how we should deal with temptations.

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The Lenten season is here once again. Lent reminds us that our lives are only lent to us. On Ash Wednesday, we were told once again that we are "dust and to dust we shall return." The problem with some of us is that we think we are some kind of a stone, a fixed monument, or an unmovable mountain. But we are just "dust in the wind." The world was turning before, and will continue turning long after we are gone. Blinded by money, power, pleasure and fame, many of us cannot know who God is, and who we really are. If one humbles oneself before God, everything falls into place, and one lives a more peaceful and more meaningful life.

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The best way to fight temptation is to be humble. Ash Wednesday reminds that we are dust (abo), so, we should not be abosado. A humble person will not be abusive of himself, of others and with God's mercy. A humble person will also not be aborido, i.e. worried about his/her spiritual welfare because God Himself will be His shield and strength. So in humility accept that you are dust (abo), then you will never be abusive (abosado) or worried (aborido). Ka-abo, anong say mo?

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Last Wednesday, I received this text message that brought me to a moment of prayer: "As we begin this Lenten season, I would like to humbly ask your forgiveness if I have offended or hurt you in one way or another..." Forgiveness and reconciliation is the heart and the call of Lent. Let us hasten to His heart, and let us listen to His call.

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Father Larry La Plante, SVD was a priest who radiated the gentleness of the Loving Father. This American missionary from Buffalo, New York who spent 36 years in the Philippines mostly in the North, was a picture of a simple, prayerful, joyful, hard-working yet welcoming missionary. He was a hugging and huggable person. He has gone ahead to the embrace of the Father. This Lenten season, let us let go of temptations and allow ourselves to hug and be hugged by our Loving Father.

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A moment with the Lord

Lord, whenever I am tempted, help me to let go, and hug you, and allow myself to be hugged by you. Amen.