Read Wisdom 1:1-7, Ps.139:1-10, Luke 17:1-6
“Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come!” (Luke 17:1)
Today, we hear Jesus saying to us: “Temptations to sin are sure to come but woe to him by whom they come.” Temptations do not happen in a vacuum. We are often the cause of temptation. As Jesus warns, the consequence of leading others to sin is worse than having a millstone hung around one’s neck and thrown into the sea. (Cf. Matthew 18:7, Luke 17:1)
Before stepping out of your house, ask yourself: “Is my dressing a source of temptation to others?” There are clothes specifically designed for seduction; clothes that reveal one’s nakedness and make him or her more sexually attractive. Such clothes are not meant to be worn in public but unfortunately, they seem to have become fashionable today.
Before beginning a conversation with a friend or colleague, ask yourself: “Are my choice of words a source of temptation?” As a parent or an adult, before telling a lie, ask yourself: “What would be the fate of this child when he or she gets to know the truth?”
Our first reading today says: “Wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul, nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin. For a holy and disciplined spirit will flee from deceit, and will rise and depart from foolish thoughts, and will be ashamed at the approach of unrighteousness…. God is a witness of inmost feelings, and a true observer of (our) heart.” (Wisdom 1:4-6). Always remember that God sees your heart.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may I never be a source of temptation to others. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of week 32 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Wisdom 1:1-7, Ps.139:1-10, Luke 17:1-6).