Flee and pray

THE STORY is told about an overweight wife (on a very strict diet) seen eating a calorie-loaded chocolate cake when her husband got home. When asked for an explanation, she said: "I was driving by this bakery and I saw this delicious cake by the window. God knows how I prayed to be delivered from temptation; but I also asked Him that if He really wanted me to have one piece, to let me find a parking space right in front of the bakery, and sure enough, on my ninth time around the block, there it was!"

* * *

In today's Gospel (Mt. 4, 1-11), Jesus was tempted by the devil persistently, but Jesus was firm, clear and outright in His rejection. "Just say no." This is the best formula for overcoming temptations. The problem with us is that we give an inch. And once we do that, once we give a little opening, most likely, we will fall. We know that, and we even pray to the Lord to lead us not into temptation, and yet we lead ourselves into temptation.

* * *

Our novice master once advised us how to fight temptation with just two words: FLEE AND PRAY! Flee because it is better to be a coward than to be a hero when it comes to dealing with this enemy. Pray because it is the only way to be shielded from the assaults of the enemy. "Pray that when you have the courage, you will not have the opportunity, and when you have the opportunity, you will not have the courage to sin."

* * *

Our newspapers are loaded with stories of corrupt people who gave in and even sought out temptations. They knew it was wrong, and yet they did it, perhaps with the thought that no one would know it, and that in this country, they could, after all, get away with it. And you know what? They do get away with it. They continue to steal from the poorest of the poor, amass ill-gotten wealth, and have the gall to face our people calling themselves public servants. I still have to see a public servant who became poorer in this country. A timely Lenten reminder is that you can't get away with it: You are dust, to dust you will return.

* * *

Conscience is the voice of God within us. If we look at what's happening around us these days, one can't help but say "What's that again?" It seems that the voice of God is hardly audible these days. Is anybody listening? Never mind "them." How about you? Do you still listen to God's voice within you? D. L. Moody put it beautifully: "Unless we have within us that which is above us, we shall soon yield to that which is about us."

* * *

Many of us are good shoppers. We shun that which is fake and costly. A good advise is to put the tag "FAKE" and "COSTLY" to any temptation that comes our way. The devil is a genius in ensnaring us into giving in to deceitful, fleeting pleasures, the effects of which on our character, on our relationships, even on our health and peace of mind, and yes, also on our souls, are very costly and long lasting. When tempted, just ask the question "Is it worth it?" What is a moment compared to a lifetime to eternity?

* * *

On Monday we celebrate Valentine's Day to remind us that we have hearts that feel and love. The temptation is always there to deny or belittle the heart and matters of the heart, all in the name of practicality and pragmatism. May the Lord deliver us from the sin of being heartless. And also from the sin of losing heart in the midst of many problems, disappointments, deprivations and heartaches. Take a close look at your relationships today. How many of these are presentable to God? How many of these need maintaining? How many of these need mending? And how many of these need ending?

* * *

Today is Migrants' Sunday. Brave are they who dare and leave their comfort zones and venture into distant shores. Migrants remind us that we have no permanent home on this earth. We are all pilgrims, traveling on borrowed time. That being the case, let us pray to be delivered from the temptation of being too attached to our worldly wealth and worldly affiliations that make us indifferent or uncaring to other people who are "different" from us. We are all migrants. We are all servants.

* * *

Think about it: Time spent on a negative feeling, any negative feeling, is wasted time. No matter how right or how valid, we are not obliged to entertain negative feelings. When negative feelings come, just flee and pray.

* * *

I read somewhere that the average person speaks 30,000 words a day! (Some, maybe more!) There is always the temptation to talk too much, to keep rewinding and to keep right on talking. My suggestion is 50 percent. If only you cut down 50 percent of what you usually (and often unnecessarily) say, you'll have more peace, and the people around you will have more peace. Try it. It works.

* * *

For inquiries regarding "An Evening of Light Moments With Fr. Jerry" on February 19 at Urdaneta, Pangasinan, please call +63919 4475703.

* * *

A moment with the Lord:
Lord, teach me to flee and pray whenever temptation comes my way. Amen.