Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/482

 Satan’s  efforts. How did  Satan  in  the  story  we  have  read  prove himself to  be  a liar? By the  words:  ‘‘All  these  things  will  I give you.” And  how  did  he  at  the  same  time  betray  that  he  was  the  adversary of  God,  and  possessed  by  a senseless  pride? By the  condition he made:  “If  thou  wilt  fall  down  and  worship  me.”  Thus  he  demanded divine worship  for  himself! His whole  desire  is  to  oppose  what  is  divine, and to  put  himself  in  God’s  place  as  lord  of  creation!

After you  received  holy  Baptism,  you  too were a beloved  child  of  God  with  whom  your  Heavenly  Father was well-pleased. Are you  still  a holy  and  innocent  child? Is your soul  still  unstained  by  sin? Is there  anything  in  you  with which God  cannot  be  pleased,  such  as  lies,  disobedience,  anger or deceitfulness? Oh, remember  that  by  sin  you  have  stained your white  robe  of  innocence; repent  of  this,  detest  sin  and  avoid it for  the  future.

If you  pay  attention  to  yourself,  you  will  find  that  in  the course of  the  day  you  are  assailed  by  many  temptations. Do you know to  what  you  are  most  often  tempted? Yet temptation  is not  sin;  it  only  becomes  sin  when  you  take  pleasure  in  it  and consent to  it. As often  as  you  resist  and  overcome  it,  you  gain in virtue,  and  merit  a reward  from  God. When you  are  tempted, turn to  God;  pray  to  Jesus  and  Mary  for  help,  and  remember the word  of  God  which  warns  you  against  the  very  sin  to  which you are  tempted. If anger  rises  within  you,  say: “Blessed  are  the meek,” or  else:  “For  the  anger  of  man  worketh  not  the  justice of God”  (James  i,  20). If you  are  inclined  to  quarrel  or  fight, say to  yourself: “Blessed  are  the  peace  makers”; or  if  you  are in danger  of  telling  lies,  remind  yourself  of  the  proverb:  “Lying lips are  an  abomination  to  the  Lord”  (Prov.  12,  22).

ESUS left  the  desert  and  returned  to  the  country  about  the Jordan. As soon  as  John  saw  Him,  he  said  to  the  multitude that surrounded  him:  “Behold  the  Lamb  of  God! Behold Him who taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world! This is  He  of  whom