A 7th Sunday after Pentecost Thought About Faults and Temptations

We all have faults and temptations. It's simply the way that fallen human nature directs us, in cooperation with the world, the flesh, and the Devil.

Many of us don't like to think this way. It's understandable. Maybe it's because we subscribe to a "positive thinking' philosophy of life. Or maybe we're well aware of these and choose to ignore them, rather than face them. It also could be that some of us have drunk the Kool-Aid of believing that we'll all get to Heaven no matter, since God is a good God. 

On that last point, God surely is a good God. But He is also Just, even as He is Merciful. So don't forget the justice part in deference to the mercy part.

One simple way of recognizing our faults and temptations is a regular examination of conscience. It's a habit long recommended by our Holy Church. You can bet that our dear saints observed this. If we don't, there's no excuse. If you've got a good Spiritual Director, the subject has been addressed to be sure. If not, you can find many approaches doing a simple internet search. Just check your sources, as is prudent when searching for anything on the internet - especially these days where AI fuels so much of what pops up.

In any case, accepting that we all have faults and temptations, let's turn to a good, reliable source for for a neat outline of these by one of our great spiritual writers. It'll be a good way to spend a few minutes on this 7th Sunday after Pentecost, a day specifically devoted to Our Lord. That's why we call it "The Lord's Day." Right?

Not only will this outline organize things so that we can recognize and understand them better, but note at the end, we learn why God's permits them.  

  

Daily Faults and Temptations
(Archbishop Alban Goodier, S.J.)
  

1. It is possible –
to make too little of daily faults,
to make too much of them,
in either case to leave them alone, either as of no account, or as being incurable.

2. One of the best signs of a healthy spiritual life is refusal to acquiesce in daily faults. They may always be there, like weeds in a garden. The best ground grows the most weeds, and needs to be weeded most.

3. Faults, or at least temptations, are to be expected.
Because of the craving of our human nature which is ‘prone to evil’;
Because of past sins and habits;
Because of the enemy, who will never leave alone those who really try;
Because of the permission of God, who sees they are good for us.

4. Why does He permit them?
For our humiliation: showing us what creatures we are;
For our instruction: teaching us by experience what otherwise we would never learn; making us more sympathetic with sinners, seeing what we find ourselves to be;
For our sanctification: because of the constant battle: that we may have something to give continually to God.
 

Happy 7th Sunday after Pentecoast!