More Temptations: Pappa Was A Rollin' Stone

In continuing to look at temptation, good Thomas examines how these temptations are laid out.  He examines the person who is ungrounded in prayer, or one who lacks confidence in what God can do in a situation of temptation. We will look at two saints and see what they practiced.  Thomas says that while we are all tempted, those of us who are grounded in prayer and faith stand a better chance than those of a fickle mind and conscience.  This reminded me of another Temptations song:  "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone."  Give it a listen while you read below and discover that temptation discovers who we are.

4. A fickle mind and low confidence in God is the beginning of all evil temptations.

For as a ship without a rudder is tossed to and fro by the waves, so the man who is remiss, and who quits his resolutions, is tempted in many ways.


Fire tries iron, and temptation tries a just man.


We often do not know what we can do but temptation discovers what we are.


However, we must be watchful, especially in the beginning of temptation, because then the enemy is easier overcome, if he is not suffered to come in at all at the door of the soul, but is keep out and resisted at his first knock.


From there a certain man said: “Withstand the beginning, after- remedies come too late.”


For first there comes into the mind a bare, simple thought; then a strong imagination; afterwards delight, and evil motion and then consent.


And so, little by little, the wicked enemy gains full entrance when he is not resisted in the beginning.


The slower we are in resisting temptation, the weaker one becomes daily, and the enemy becomes stronger.

As you read this next section, think of Mother Theresa, who was said to have had tremendous temptations and emptiness later in her life:  in other words, no consolation of God's grace.  The temptation to deny Him is the worst of temptations.  And so Thomas' counsel to pray more and not despair was Mother Teresa's answer.

5. Some suffer awful temptations in the beginning of their conversion, others in the end; and some are much troubled nearly their whole life.

6. We must not, therefore, despair when we are tempted, but more fervently pray for God to grant us help in every tribulation: who no doubt, according to the sayings of St. Paul, will make such issue with the temptation, that we may be able to sustain it (1 Cor 10:13).

Let us humble our souls under the hand of God in every temptation and tribulation; for the humble in spirit He will save and exalt.
 

St Therese of Lisieux

7. In temptations and tribulations you are proved as to what progress you have made; and in these there is great merit, and your virtue appears more evident.

Nor is it much if you are devout and fervent when you feel no trouble; but if in the time of adversity you bear up with patience, then there is hope of great advancement.

Some of you are preserved from great temptations and are often overcome in little daily ones; that, being humbled, you may never presume on yourselves in great things, who are weak in such small things.

Going out on a high note, listen to My Girl, where the Temptations elicit a wholesome love, even noting that riches mean nothing compared with "my girl".
Or, if you're tired of Temptations, try "Oh Lord, I'm on my way.." where Porgy, who really has plenty o' nuthin' heads into the Promised Land.

Next time, we will look at Chapter 14:
ON AVOIDING RASH JUDGMENT.


Until Next Time,
Thanks for reading and praying along with me.
tim
*No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.
 

The Temptations: Not Just Your Imagination Running Away



The Temptations

 This week, we look at part 1 of Resisting Temptations.  Click here to take a listen while you read through.  I like this song for many reasons, but The Temptations seem to capture some of the essence of the idea which our good friend Thomas a' Kempis is talking about in this first part of the meditation on Temptation.  The song tells us to pray!

First, Thomas sets the stage in that we are faced with temptation all our life. He tells us to pay attention to our tendencies.  Then he tells us that even the best of saints, like St. Francis of Assisi, were heavily tempted. Legend has it that St. Francis would roll in the snow when tempted toward fleshly urges, or throw himself into a thorn bush!

Finally, Thomas begins to give us a strategy to fighting temptation.  Getting to the root of the temptation is the key, he says, to conquering whatever is grabbing our attention.

Chapter 13 (part 1)  Resisting Temptations

As long as we live in this world we cannot be without tribulation and temptation. Hence it is written in the Book of Job: “the life of a man upon earth is a temptation and a drudgery (Job 7:1)."


Everyone, therefore, ought to be anxious about his temptations, and to watch in prayer, for fear that the devil, who never sleeps, but “goes about seeking whom he may devour” find room to deceive him (1 Peter 5:8).


No man is so perfect and holy as not to have some temptations; and we never can be wholly free from them.


2. Yet temptations are often very profitable to a man although troublesome and grievous; for in them a man is humbled, purified, and instructed.


St Francis of Assisi

All the saints have passed through many tribulations and temptations and have profited by the same; and they who could not support temptations have become reprobates and fallen away.

There is no order so holy, nor place so retired, where there are not temptations and adversities.


3. A man is never entirely secure from temptations as long as he lives; because we have within us the source of temptation, having been born in concupiscence.


When one temptation or tribulation is over, another comes on; and we shall have always something to suffer, because we have lost the good of our original happiness.


Many seek to fly temptations and fall more painfully into them.


We cannot overcome temptations by flight alone; but by patience and true humility we are made stronger than our enemies.

He who only fights off temptations outwardly and does not pluck out the root will profit little; indeed, temptations will soon return to him and he will find himself in a worse condition than before.


By degree, and by patience, with forbearance, you shall by God’s grace better overcome temptation than by harshness and your own demands.


In temptation, often take counsel, and do not deal harshly with one that is tempted; but comfort him as you would wish to be comforted.

More next week on this strategy:  Thomas will advise us that we can deal with our temptation rationally and methodically, and in overcoming these in the long-run is like working out to become physically fit.
 
Until next time,
Thanks for reading and praying along with me.
tim

Will This Spaghetti Make Me Restless?

Chapter 6: Of Inordinate Affections (Too much of a good thing).  

Today, Thomas tells us an obvious truth:  that if we eat too much, we will get indigestion; that if we drink too much alcohol, we will suffer a hang-over; that any blessing can be perverted into a curse.  The root of the problem lies in controlling our desires:

1. Whenever you desire more than you should reasonably expect, immediately you become restless. The proud and the self-interested are never at rest; while the poor of spirit and humble of heart abide in peace. Whoever is not wholly dead to self is soon tempted, and is overcome in small and unimportant matters. It is hard for the weak in spirit, especially those who are still in part of the carnal and inclined to the pleasures of the flesh, to withdraw altogether from worldly desires. When withdrawing from these inclinations, he is often sad, and easily angered too if anyone thwarts his will.

From here, good Thomas tells us how to get out of our self-dug hole:  resist these passions by filling your desires with fruits of the Spirit rather than worldliness.

It is OK to enjoy a thing so long as desire for that thing does not turn into an unhealthy desire - be it for more spaghetti, more ale, or more sex, more ______ (there's more to the list...just think of your favorite sins and fill in the blank). 

God does not have laws against charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generousity, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.  Of these we can have as much as we desire.  Let our passions be for these fruits of the Spirit.

2. On the other hand, if you yield to your tendencies, immediately you are weighed down by the conviction of your conscience; for you have followed your own desires, and yet in no way attained the hoped for peace by yielding to these temptations. For true peace of heart is to be found in resisting your passions, not in yielding to those passions. There is no peace in your heart when you are focused on the flesh. Nor is there peace for you who are given up to the things that are outside of you. Peace rests with you who are fervent towards God and living the life of the Spirit (see Gal 5:16-25).

Thanks for praying along with me,
'til next time, be Imitators of Christ!

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