“Things that make people fall into sin are bound to happen, but how terrible for the one who makes them happen.” (Lk 17:1)

“Things that make people fall into sin are bound to happen, but how terrible for the one who makes them happen.” (Lk 17:1)

Today’s Passage: Lk 17:1-6

Meditation: In today’s meditation verse, we hear from Jesus that tests and temptations are bound to happen, as if it is inevitable to our life. Is that really so? If it is, then, what is the role of tests and trials in our life? There are many references in the bible which give us sufficient notions as to its relevance in our life. Remember, by and large, no one likes to be tested or tempted.

 However, there are many instances in the bible where the righteous of God are well rewarded and the unjust ones punished properly through their trials and temptations. Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Hannah, David, Job, etc., are some of the large crowd of the witnesses who stand before us as models of righteous and Cain, wife of Lot, Aaron, Eli, Saul, Solomon  etc., are of the unjust ones.

If we observe closely these characters, it seems that they are not aware of their being tested. It is something like the righteous people on the judgment day saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?” (Mt 25:37) Abraham didn’t know that God was testing him, but decided to offer what God wanted from him in his righteousness (Gen 22:1-19); Job doesn’t think of God testing him, but declared in his , “We accept good things from God; and should we not accept evil?” (Job 2:10) The other way also, if we are not righteous, then we will be easily subdued by the devil and of which we may not be well aware of. That is why people often confess that they did not know about it at the time they did it.

   

The most important thing here is, then, to keep ourselves righteous before the Lord. Though our righteousness is proved and strengthened through trials and tests, unless we are faithful to God we will be a failure. We can’t discern or resist them. Old saying goes like this, prevention is always better than cure. Jesus himself exhorts his disciples, “Pray that you may not undergo the test.” (Lk 22:46) Also, when he taught his disciples how to pray, he added, “Put us not into temptations.

              

 Prayer:  Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Teach us, how to be righteous in our life. Jesus you exhorted us, “Be concerned above everything else with the kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things.” Therefore, guide us with the help of your Holy Spirit. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen! 

                

Greetings: God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Monday…