Today's readings are here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021412.cfm
"Blessed is the man who remains under temptation, because after he has become genuine, he shall receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him."
In order for us to obtain the crown of life, that is, heaven, we have to love God. But how do we know if we love God? By the way we handle temptations, which are those desires that well up within us, which are neutral in and of themselves, but often lead us to act in ways that are contrary to reason or conscience. If we give in to temptation often, then our love for God is weak (if it exists at all). If we resist temptation often, then our love for God is strong.
Remaining under temptation without consenting (which can only happen by continual dependence on God in prayer) not only proves our faith is genuine, but it also makes our faith genuine, that is, it makes our love for God grow deeper and deeper. From this point-of-view, we can see why God allows temptation to exist in our lives. It is not that he is the one who tempts us; rather, he permits us to be tempted so that our commitment to him might deepen.
May God give us the wisdom to see temptation from his perspective and the strength to remain under it so that our faith might become genuine.
Sometimes I don't even know i have given into temptation until afterwards......Thank goodness i'm forgiven!
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