31st Week in Ordinary Time, 2012
Deacon Robert Banet
(We continue our dialog on the Our Father.)
You remember when we talked about the Our Father? About His not leading us into temptation?
Yes, I remember. You said we might have to come back to it.
Acccording to the Catechism, if you remember, the original word is hard to translate and it should give the idea that we ask God to preserve us in the temtpation and keep us from falling into sin.
Yes. That cleared up a lot for me. But now I wonder, why He would permit temptations in the first place. It seems very risky to me. It opens the door to sin.
You’re right. It does seem that way. There is some risk in it. But then when He gave us free will in the first place, that was very risky.
God takes a chance
So why does He take that chance? Say on, O wise one.
I’ll let St. Catherine of Siena handle that one. God explained to her that in order to grow in holiness, your virtue must be tested.
I follow you so far. Go ahead.
Well, the testing can go either way but when you overcome the temptation, you grow stronger in that virtue.
Let’s say I have an inclination to eat and drink beyond what is necessary, that I drink to the point of getting drunk. Then if I’m in a situation where it would be very easy to overindulge, that would be a temptation, right?
Yes. And if you say no, if you overcome that temptation, your virtue of temperance would grow. You would grow stronger.
And I guess it would be the same with the other virtues, like purity and charity and generosity, right?
You’re right, according to Doctor Catherine. She’ s a doctor of the Church, you know.
Why grow in holiness?
Yes. But I still have question. Why should we grow in holiness? Isn’t it enough to stay out of mortal sin?
Good question. We should grow because the bible say so.
Where does it say that?
Look at St. Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, chapter four. “It is God’s will that you grow in holiness.”
Do I have to read the whole chapter?
Duh!