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How to Respond to Temptation 2.0 (Revised and Updated)—Part 2
The Lord knows full well that you will be tempted, and He knows you will yield to temptation. I tell parishioners in the confessional that God’s standards are the highest, but His expectations are realistic.
In this life, we are not on a performance basis. Our salvation does not depend on how well we’re doing. This is the wrong way to think of your life. Many people say to me, “Father, I’m just not doing enough for God.” And they are correct. It is impossible for any fallen sinner to do “enough” for God. To do enough for God would be to do something of infinite magnitude because God’s dignity, holiness, majesty and righteousness are infinitely great.
As baptized, confirmed, practicing Catholics, we must see ourselves as God sees us. We are His beloved children. He has not abandoned us and never will. He knows all there is to know about each one of us. Jesus knew all there was and is to know about everyone before He went to the Cross. God knew it before He created the world.
So if you have yielded to temptation, do not panic. Come to confession. Jesus is waiting for you, hoping He will get the opportunity to envelope you with His love, mercy and forgiveness, all of which are infinite and not subject to change. Of course that does not mean that it’s okay to sin. It’s not. Jesus does not excuse our sins, nor does He wink at our sins. C.S. Lewis said we have a Father in Heaven, not a Grandfather in Heaven.
God, in His love and mercy has provided a way for our sins to be forgiven. Jesus became Incarnate for the purpose of reconciling fallen humanity with Holy God, a thing only someone who was at once fully human and fully divine could possibly do. And Jesus did it. “It is finished” He said as He died on the cross. Our reconciliation with God is not pending, it is not tentative, it is accomplished.
The Truth will set you free. When you are tempted, remember all these truths. Jesus didn’t come to condemn us. He could if He wanted to, and frankly, He would not be unjust if He did. We have sinned against Almighty God, a thing worthy of condemnation. But the miracle is, the incomprehensibly glorious Good News is that God is merciful and forgiving. He has absolutely zero interest in condemning anyone. Anyone can be forgiven of anything. All things are possible with God.
Jesus didn’t come to threaten us, or to scare us, either. He LOVES to forgive sinners who come to Him in confession and repentance. He CAN’T WAIT to forgive! We do not have to plead with Him or try to negotiate with Him. He already wants to forgive us, because that is what He is all about.
Of course, we must be repentant. Repentance may take some time to achieve. It often doesn’t happen instantly. If you’ve repented and you sin again, come to confession again. And we must be forgiving toward others.
But the tempter doesn’t want you to know these truths. By definition, a liar is someone who wants to avoid, suppress, negate and silence the Truth. The tempter wants you to think that all hope is lost. That way, you’ll give up.
Never give up! Never listen to the tempter’s lies! Even if you’re struggling with some besetting sin that you’ve committed over and over again for years, DO NOT QUIT! Come to confession, receive absolution and most importantly, DO NOT listen to the tempter’s lies. Perseverance is the key. Never give up hope! God loves you, and He has promised forgiveness of sins to those who confess. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us. Believe Him!
In Jesus,
Fr. David