Traditional Catholic Teaching - Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

But while men were asleep, his enemy came and over sowed cockle among the wheat.
St. Matthew 13: 25.

The enemy, who came to sow cockle whilst the men were asleep, reminds us of another of our Lord's sayings: "Watch ye and pray, that ye enter not into temptation" (Matth. 26: 41). Vigilance and prayer are the best means of resisting the enemy when he comes to tempt us; it behooves us especially to be on our guard against him.

In what frame of mind ought we to await the coming of temptation? In order that our foe may not assail us unawares, we must always remember that, as long as we live, we shall never be free from temptation. We are reminded of this in Holy Scripture, where we read: "Son, when thou comest to the service of God . . . prepare thy soul for temptation" (Eccl. 2: 1). All who have ever seriously resolved to serve God have been subject to many grievous temptations, as we see from the lives of the saints. St. John Chrysostom says: "Of those who have been dearest and most pleasing to God, there never was one without grievous temptations, although it might appear to us that this was not the case."

For this reason we ought not to lose courage when we are tempted, nor fancy that God has forsaken us; on the contrary, temptations are a proof of His love, as He wishes to secure our salvation by means of them.

It is only when we are tempted that we can show plainly that we love God and goodness more than anything else. As Blosius says: "A pilot is seen to advantage when directing a ship, a hero on the field of battle, a brave man in adversity, and Christian virtue in time of temptation." Trees send their roots more deeply into the earth, the more they are shaken by storms, and, in the same way, virtue is made perfect in weakness. Our own weakness becomes very plain to us when we are tempted, and our recognition of it makes us humble, and leads us to distrust ourselves and trust solely in God. Humility lies at the root of all virtue, and whatever intensifies it, strengthens our spiritual life. Just as a seaman loads his ship with heavy ballast to keep it steady and prevent it from being dashed against the rocks by the waves, so God sends us temptations to steady us and keep us down, so that we may not be puffed up by any good qualities that we happen to possess, and so come to ruin.

St. Gregory Nazianzen remarks that God orders things in a wonderful way for us to be frequently tormented by temptations, since man might imagine himself strong in his own strength, unless in the depths of his heart he were conscious of his weakness. When temptation falls upon him, and he is tortured and, as it seems, excessively exhausted by it, he sees that humility is the only protection against it, and so the very thing that made him fear to fall causes him to begin to stand firm.

Temptation forces us to cling to God, and to have recourse to Him with confidence, knowing that He loves us. If we use it aright, it leads us to love Him more.

It increases also our charity toward our neighbor. Those who have not learned by personal experience of temptation how great human weakness is are apt to judge others too harshly and mercilessly. In spite of all his goodness and piety, a man who had never been tempted could not use due leniency and charity in judging is neighbour, and his severity and sternness, far from assisting the tempted and sinful, and bringing them back to God, would only plunge them yet deeper into sin. This is beautifully expressed in Holy Scripture in the words: "What doth he know that hath not been tried?" (Eccl. 3: 4 ─ 9).

It is only when we ourselves suffer temptation that we can advise and help others, partly that they may avoid what might imperil their Salvation, and partly that they may have recourse to the best means of overcoming their temptations.

We must not lose courage when we are tried, but fight bravely, and in this way alone we shall obtain the wisdom and strength necessary to enable us to be of service to others and help them to work out their Salvation.

Finally we ought not to forget that our struggles to resist temptation win for us a rich supply of merit. As St. Paul says: "He that striveth for the mastery, is not crowned except he strive lawfully" (2 Tim. 2: 5). The crown of everlasting life is composed of the merit won by resisting and overcoming temptation.

St. Ambrose gives us most encouraging advice, when he tells us not to fear temptations, but to rejoice in them and say: "If we are tempted, we are mighty, for then crowns of righteousness are being woven for us as conquerors." When you are tried, remember that your eternal reward is being prepared for you.

It is indispensable to our salvation that we should be tempted — in what frame of mind ought we therefore to await temptation? The answer can easily be supplied from what I have already said. It would be reckless folly to go out of one's way to look for temptations, but, on the other hand, if it assails us, it would be silly and harmful to lose courage and to fancy that God had forsaken us.

In times of trial let us remember St. John Chrysostom's words, for he tells us that temptation is good evidence of God's care for us. When it is present, God is not far away. Hence when it comes upon you, acknowledge calmly and without disturbance of mind your own weakness; look at the depths to which you might fall, if you were not upheld by God's almighty Hand; humble yourself before God in your heart, but at the same time call upon Him with childlike confidence to help you, and rely upon Him, trusting absolutely in Him. He is the Protector of all who trust in Him, and we need fear no defeat, as long as He is on our side. No matter how great or how violent a temptation may be, we can, like St. Paul, be sure that He "will make also with temptation issue, that we may be able to bear it" (I. Cor. 10: 13).

Let us be firmly convinced that the devil has power over us only to the extent permitted by God, in order that we may be tried for our good.

Humble, but unwavering confidence in God, is the disposition with which we may fearlessly encounter temptation.

Let us always be ready to exclaim : "If I trust in the Lord, I shall not be overthrown. Even if armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear; if a battle should rise up against me, in Him will I be confident" (Ps. 26: 3).

Nothing but true confidence in God can give us the courage necessary in our struggle against temptation, and this confidence we should awaken daily and hourly in our hearts.

No matter how often and how much we are tempted, let us never doubt God's willingness to help us. We have only to lift up our hearts to Him in childlike trust, and we shall be saved, and thus each time of temptation will be not a snare for our destruction, but one of those glorious moments when the crown of life everlasting is being prepared for us. Amen.

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