Deflecting Temptations

Here is an old but nonetheless telling story. It is the story about a poor guy who died. Much to his surprise he was sentenced not to heaven, but to Satan's domain. Before he was admitted, however, He was interviewed by Satan himself. "It's pretty bad down here, isn't it?" asked the man. "Not at all!" said Satan. "You're surrounded by people who know how to enjoy! Each day we have a theme. Monday, for example, is Party Day! We party around the clock. Tuesday is Alcohol Day! An open bar, take all you want! Wednesday is Tobacco Day! The finest Havana cigars, all the best cigarette blends." The guy begins to brighten up. He says, "I'm sold. Let me in!" They let him in the gate and he promptly falls into a fiery pit where he is prodded by a nasty looking thing with a pitchfork. "Hey," he cried, "what happened to those Theme Days?" "Today is Thursday," Satan giggles with glee. "Thursdays we tell lies!" Evil is an obstacle for all of us. It can inhibit us from being truly who we can be. Because we are made in the image of our God – the ability to choose in freedom what actions we will take – the hope is that we choose the good and avoid the evil. In the Baptismal Rite, there is a prayer of exorcism on the individual to be baptized. The prayer has nothing to do with the movie of that title! It is a prayer of encouragement and support that the person is strengthened to choose the good and to decline the evil option. And that process of choice is a life-long reality. Sometimes we contemplate the choice. Sometimes others provide us the chance to choose as well. That’s what happened in today’s gospel. Despite the clear indication from Jesus as to what His future was going to be, Peter did not want to hear it. Peter rebuked Jesus in the hopes that that would not occur. And Jesus was tempted by Peter’s words. But knowing what His call was, Jesus with a clear and perhaps tenacious voice equated Peter’s suggestion with that of Satan. It was a harsh but clear indication of Jesus to Peter. Sometimes the clear and strong denial is one way of dissipating those temptations that come our way – either from our selves or from others. What is your strategy in deflecting the temptations that come into your life?

Msgr. Mike