13 Feb 2018
Jesus gets us out of trouble
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For 13 February 2018, Tuesday of week 6 in Ordinary Time, based on James 1:12-18
Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. No one, when tempted, should say, “I am being tempted by Godâ€; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved.
 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
13 February 2018 @ 6:12 am
Dear fr Nick – thank you – from Canada.
Your words on temptation and your referencing of Pope Francis’s instruction on the use of vernacular translations in prayer and in the liturgy struck home to me with considerable significance. I note your valid observation: “You would think that when Pope Francis makes a recommendation the Church would jump to put it into place”.
Instead we have resistance now in many quarters led by clerics to the very presence of Jorge Mario Bergoglio in the Church. This in my mind is a sin against the Spirit and a scandal as insidious as any clerical abuse. The people of God are in dire need of more of your kind of candid and forthright homilies, and plenty of plainly-spoken preaching.
Let us pray:
Our Father, do not let the people of God be put to the test … again!