Our lengthy first reading contains a very practical
teaching about temptation.
The elders faced the temptation to lust after a
beautiful woman. In a telling
manner, Daniel reports, “They
suppressed their consciences; they would not allow their eyes to
look to heaven, and did not keep in mind just
judgments.”
Susanna was tempted to save face, or to not trust in
God. Yet she proclaimed both, “it is better for me to fall into your power
without guilt than to sin before the Lord,”
and, “O eternal God, you know what is
hidden and
are aware of all things before they come to be: you know that they have testified
falsely against me.”
Note the dramatic difference. The elders turned to themselves, desiring momentary
pleasure. Susanna turned to God,
trusting in His deliverance.
Each of us face temptations every day of our
lives. Some are particular to us
as men or as women, and others to us as an individual with a unique personality. It is at the moment of temptation we
walk “in the valley of the shadow of
death”. May we, like Susanna,
bring these temptations to the light of Jesus. Just like he did with Susanna, He will walk with us and we
may confidently say, “you are at my side.”
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