Lord Grant me Peace......
The way life seems dark,
And yet,within my heart i know,
Though i stumble and might fall,
The light of truth will guide me on my way,
If i but heed its call.
Laura Stahl
Gospel Reflection
A temptation may come from the outside, but unless it goes to the inside it is not a temptation. The first temptation was to be a material provider. This is a good thing to be. How do you tempt a good person? – with goodness, because he will not take an evil bait. It’s not so difficult to be a material provider, and in fact most people can do it for themselves. But if Jesus had given in to this temptation, the work would have absorbed him completely, distracting him from his real task. The next temptation was to power. This is always a subtle one, and very easily rationalised. Any kind of power will do. It was said of someone that he entered the priesthood in order to do good, and did well instead. I can persuade myself that a position of power would give me greater opportunities of doing good. Jesus avoided this trap too. The most distinctive thing about him throughout his public life was his refusal of power. In the end he made himself utterly powerless on the Cross. It is very moving to see that that choice was not automatic, but conscious and deliberate. The third temptation, which cannot have occupied his mind for long, was to become a celebrity. Donagh O’Shea
