Francis Gayang csc –
Readings: Titus 1:1-9; Lk 17:1-6
“Temptation can be Satan’s weapon to defeat us,” says Warren W. Wiersbe “but it can become God’s tool to build us.” All of us are victims of temptation, though it may differ in degree from person to person. This is because we are completely normal and, to a certain extent, inevitable. However, some circumstances are more threatening than others, so we have to make wise choices before putting ourselves in them. When we are tempted, we are also left with a choice to make and every choice that we make has the potential to build us up or destroy us little by little.
Jesus throughout his ministry always was clear with his choice and never uttered a flattering word to all those who follow him, in fact he challenged them and at times asking them to make a hard choice than they could imagine. At times Jesus appeared to be a strict teacher roaring like a lion and demanding complete obedience to God. At certain times he appeared to be so gentle like a lamb, always forgiving and seeking peaceful coexistence. So as the passage opens up “Temptation is bounded to come,” we must be ready to be tempted. It may sound strange but true that temptation is a necessary evil to improve and define our spiritual depth.
In this passage, Jesus emphasises also an attitude of forgiveness to those who repent without setting a limit. As great as our desire to be forgiven, we must also be generous to forgive for our God is so great in his mercy, as the psalm would say that God can control his anger but never his mercy (Ps 103). So, let us remember that it is faith, that has taken us this far in our life journey, let us continues to have faith in the Lord no matter how broken and fragile we might think we are, for to have faith and trust in the Lord is the wisest of all things.