ON
TEMPTATIONS
Temptation is like a winter
torrent, difficult to cross. Some, being most skilful
swimmers, pass over, not being whelmed beneath temptations nor swept
down by them at all, while others, who are not such, entering into
them, sink in them. As, for example, Judas, entering into
temptation of covetousness, swam not through it but, sinking beneath
it, was choked both in body and spirit. Peter entered into the
temptation of the denial but, having entered it, he was not
overwhelmed by it but, manfully swimming through it, he was
delivered.
Every temptation is a trial, and
the issue of every trial has its fruit; for whereas a man is
generally but little known even to himself, he knows not what he can
bear and what he cannot bear and sometimes despairs of being able to
bear what he can. Temptation comes as a kind of question, and the
man is discovered of himself for to himself he was a secret but he
was not a secret to his Maker.
"Watch and pray," said
the Lord, "lest ye enter into temptation." What is it to
"enter into temptation" but to depart from faith? For so
temptation advances as faith gives way and so far temptation gives
way as faith advances.
Many who have laid up much
spiritual wealth from their youth and have arrived at middle age,
when temptations arise against them by the machination of the evil
one, have not succeeded in resisting the weight of the tempest but
have lost all. Some concerning faith have made shipwreck; others
have cast away the chastity treasured from youth under some sudden
hurricane of sinful pleasure which has rushed upon them. A most
piteous spectacle that a man, after self-denial, after fasting,
after long prayer, after plentiful tears, after twenty or thirty
years' devotedness, a man should, through an unwatchful spirit and
carelessness, be made a show o, and stripped of all.
By merciful dispensation of the
Creator, the soul that places confidence in itself is struck
down by a providential temptation that, being brought low, it may
find out what its failing is; for as soon as the mind feels the
blow, the presumption and swelling of self begins to abate.
Saints Gregory the Great, Cyril,
Augustine and Basil
(02-29-04)
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