Devotion of the day: avoid the first step towards evil

God makes it difficult. When a fruit is not ripe, it seems that it is repugnant to leave the native branch. So for our heart; where does that fear come from, in allowing the first time to impurity, revenge, sin? Who wakes up that remorse within us, that agitation that haunts us and tells us not to? - Why does it take almost an effort to give in to evil for the first time? - God makes it difficult because we abstain from it; and you despise everything for your ruin? ...

The devil makes it easy. The crafty snake knows too well how to overcome us. It does not tempt us with one blow to great evil; persuades us that we will never contract a bad habit, that it is only a small sin, a small satisfaction, an outburst for just once, to confess to us immediately afterwards, hoping in God, so good that He pities us! .., And you believe rather to the devil than to the voice of God? And you, foolish one, don't you see deception? And don't you remember how many have already fallen?

It is often irreparable. The first hypocrisy, the first immodesty, the first theft how many times began a chain of sins, bad habits, perditions! A lie, an impertinence, a free look, the prayer left behind, how many times were the origins of a cold, soft, and therefore evil life! The ancient scholars already wrote: Beware of principles; that, often, the remedy is useless later on. Whoever despises small things will fall little by little.

PRACTICE. Beware of the smallest concessions to sin.