Reading: Matthew 6,13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
Reflection: Yesterday I wrote about how we pray that we do not fall into temptation. I invited you to pray together for God’s guidance, wisdom, open eyes and ears so that we would be alert, and not find ourselves in trouble. It is much wiser, in fact, not to get ourselves into a situation where the temptation is strong, than to resist the strength of the temptation.
However, even though Jesus himself prayed that the cup of bitter experience would pass him by (Mt 26:39), he had to drink from that cup. Although he warned Peter to pray that he would not fall into temptation, Peter still put himself in a place where his faith weakened and where he succumbed to temptation. Some things, some difficult experiences in our lives, are unavoidable, and sometimes we will fail and disappoint ourselves, and our faith will weaken, and temptation will overcome us.
Let us remember how Peter, in good faith, walked on water and how, at one point, that faith could no longer hold, so he began to sink. There are moments in life when evil prevails and it seems that we have lost every chance. Then we should remember the hand that Jesus reached out to Peter, to deliver him from a bad fate, to snatch him from the Evil One. We should remember that as long as he is with us, all is not lost, even when we do everything wrong. We should remember that Peter found his forgiveness after succumbing to temptation.
Prayer: God, you know and see that we try and fight for our faith. You see everything and nothing is hidden from you; you see when we succeed, and when we begin to sink. Help us in our helplessness to resist when evil begins to overcome us. Extend your hand and save us. Deliver us from evil. Without you, we are lost and helpless, and therefore we pray that you protect us, first of all with your guidance, so that by following you wisely, we do not put ourselves in situations that are a temptation for us, and then, even when we come to the place of inevitable danger and feel defeated, we reach for your outstretched hand that delivers us. We are grateful for your endless grace and patience with us. Amen.
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