Reflect today on how to deal with temptation

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and was subsequently hungry. Matthew 4: 1–2

Is temptation good? It is certainly not a sin to be tempted. Otherwise our Lord could never have been tempted alone. But it was. And we too. As we enter the first full week of Lent, we are given the opportunity to meditate on the story of Jesus' temptation in the desert.

Temptation never comes from God. But God allows us to be tempted. Not in order to fall, but in order to grow in holiness. Temptation forces us to rise up and make a choice for God or for temptation. Although mercy and forgiveness are always offered when we fail, the blessings that await those who overcome temptation are numerous.

The temptation of Jesus did not increase his holiness, but offered him the opportunity to manifest his perfection in his human nature. It is that perfection that we seek and its perfection that we must strive to imitate as we face the temptations of life. Let's look at five clear "blessings" that can result from enduring the temptations of the wicked. Think carefully and slowly:

First of all, enduring a temptation and conquering it helps us to see the strength of God in our life.
Second, temptation humiliates us, taking away our pride and our struggle to think that we are self-sufficient and self-produced.
Third, there is great value in completely rejecting the devil. This not only takes him away from his continuing power to deceive us, but also clarifies our vision of who he is so that we can continue to reject him and his works.
Fourth, overcoming temptation strengthens us clearly and definitively in every virtue.
Fifthly, the devil would not tempt us if he were not worried about our holiness. Hence, we should see temptation as a sign that the wicked one is losing our life.
Overcoming the temptation is like taking an exam, winning a competition, completing a difficult project or carrying out a demanding undertaking. We should feel great joy in overcoming temptation in our life, realizing that this strengthens us in the heart of our being. While we do it, we must also do it in humility, realizing that we did not do it alone but only by the grace of God in our life.

The reverse is also true. When we repeatedly fail a particular temptation, we become discouraged and tend to lose the little virtue we have. Know that any temptation to evil can be overcome. Nothing is too beautiful. Nothing is too difficult. Humble yourself in confession, seek the help of a confidant, fall to your knees in prayer, trust in the almighty power of God. Overcoming temptation is not only possible, it is a glorious and transforming experience of grace in your life.

Reflect today on Jesus facing the devil in the desert after spending 40 days of fasting. He has dealt with every temptation of the wicked so as to ensure that if only we are fully united to Him in his human nature, so we will also have His strength to overcome anything and everything that the vile devil throws in our way.

My dear Lord, after spending 40 days of fasting and praying in the arid and hot desert, you let yourself be tempted by the wicked one. The devil attacked you with all he had and you easily, quickly and definitively defeated him, rejecting his lies and deceptions. Give me the grace I need to overcome every temptation I encounter and to entrust yourself completely to you without reservation. Jesus I believe in you.