“And Lead Us Not Into Temptation” (CCC, 2847)
The Holy Spirit makes us discern between trials, which are necessary for the growth of the inner man (Cf. Lk 8:13-15; Acts 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; 2 Tim 3:12.), and temptation, which leads to sin and death (Cf. Jas. 1:14-15). We must also discern between being tempted and consenting to temptation. Finally, discernment unmasks the lie of temptation, whose object appears to be good, a “delight to the eyes” and desirable (Cf. Gen 3:6.), when in reality its fruit is death.
“God does not want to impose the good, but wants free beings. . . . There is a certain usefulness to temptation. No one but God knows what our soul has received from him, not even we ourselves. But temptation reveals it in order to teach us to know ourselves, and in this way we discover our evil inclinations and are obliged to give thanks for the goods that temptation has revealed to us (Origen, De orat. 29: PG 11, 544CD.).
When I work with spiritual directees, one phrase that I use often regarding discernment is, “trust the process.” Discernment is a process, one that requires an action in order to call it discernment, by which there is a right order to things, namely, relationships. When our relationship with God and one another is rightly ordered, the temptation is to disrupt the order, which is ongoing and never ending while on earth. Therefore, let us trust the process, that the Lord will always guide us and move us toward the good we have been made for.
Vere resurrexit! — Headmaster Eric Schreiber
St. John Paul II Classical School and Chesterton Academy are of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. They are private Catholic classical schools serving Montessori preschool and elementary through high school. They have open enrollment and provide an individualized education in an integrated faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. Learn more by scheduling a visit.
