Aug 21 Mon
Temptation is an inducement to sin; it can never come from God. It always comes from any of the three causes: the world, the devil, and the flesh.
The WORLD refers here to men and society in general, “lifestyles” organized without regard for God.
The FLESH refers to the internal disorder in man, caused by original sin and aggravated by personal sins.
It has three manifestations: “the lust of the flesh,” which encourages man to impurity, gluttony, etc.; “the lust of the eyes,” which encourages him to greed; and the “pride of life,” which is the beginning of all sins (cf. 1 Jn 2:16).
The DEVIL encourages us to sin with strength and skill. We should neither ignore nor be surprised at his action (cf. 1 Pt 5:8; Jas 4:7).
Feeling a temptation is not a sin. Consenting to it, that is, accepting it by our will, is.
It is not right to arouse a temptation willfully. Putting oneself in danger of committing a mortal sin without serious cause will already be a serious sin, even if the sin is eventually not committed. It shows that one does not mind seriously offending God, and this is a serious sin in itself.
Sin renews and aggravates the four wounds left by original sin: ignorance in the intellect, malice in the will, weakness in the irascible appetite (wrath), and disorderly desires in the concupiscible appetite (lust).
Mortal sin causes the loss of sanctifying grace, and of the infused virtues (faith and hope may remain, but formless and dead), the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and all previously acquired merits (which, however, are recovered with grace when the sin is forgiven).
Sin spreads not just within the soul, but through the whole self. It produces a remorse of conscience. In addition, man is condemned to eternal punishment. Sin also affects human products —art, technology, even language.
Sin is not a passing event. It lasts. Sin is primarily a choice, and choices are spiritual acts that completely mark the persons who make them. Our choices cause us to be, in moral terms, the kind of persons we are, what we have chosen to be.
We cannot erase our own sins.
Guilt is the persistence of sin, not a matter of feelings. Sin remains until sinners change their minds and hearts —themselves— by repenting before God and seeking forgiveness by the Church. Repenting means a great deal more than simply not repeating sinful behavior.
Listen to the podcast: