The necessity of temptation

Whether we like temptation or not, it is necessary in order to make our characters strong.  Athletes develop their muscles and make them strong by getting them used to hard running.  They would never get into training by resting them all the time.  You know how wobbly your legs feel if you have been ill in bed for even a few days.  So it is temptation that makes our wills and characters strong.  We learn to be patient only by having our patience tried.  We learn to be brave only by facing danger or unpleasantness.  We learn to be honest only by refusing to lie or steal.  The more we choose what is right, the stronger our wills and characters become.

Lead us not into temptation

Of course there is always the danger that, when we are tested, we may fail.  We may become impatient or cowardly, we may do wrong.  So we don’t go about looking for temptation or running into it on purpose.  We have quite enough temptations as it is without asking for them, and for that reason we should avoid temptation when we can.  So we pray, “Lead us not into temptation”.  We must not be like St Peter was during the night of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.