August/September
2009 - Vol. 32
On
the Lord's Prayer
From
the writings of Cassian, 4th century
And Lead us not into temptation
The request `Lead us not into temptation' raises a difficult problem.
If we pray God not to allow us to be tempted, what opportunity shall we
have to give him proof of our steadfastness and fidelity? For it is written:
`Blessed is the one who endures temptation and overcomes it.' (cf. James.1:12)
Then what is the meaning of this phrase? It does not mean: do
not allow us to come into temptation. It means: when we come into temptation,
let us not be defeated by it. Job was tempted but he did not give way to
the temptation. In fact, he did not accuse the divine Wisdom, he did not
go down the road of blasphemy to which the Tempter wanted to attract him.
Abraham was tempted, and Joseph was tempted. But neither one nor the
other yielded to the temptation, because neither of them said `yes' to
the Tempter. So praying the Lord's Prayer is like saying: `Together with
the temptation, give us also the strength to overcome it.' (1 Corinthians
10:13)
[Breviario Patristico © 1971 Piero Gribaudi
Editore, Turin, Italy; translated by Paul Drake]
| Introduction
Sermons
on God the Father
»
I
believe in God the Father, by Augustine of Hippo
»
God
is Father, by Cyril of Jerusalem
»
The
Foundation Stone of the Soul, by Cyril of Jerusalem
Sermons
on the Lord's Prayer
»
Our
Father, by Gregory of Nyssa
»
Who
art in Heaven, by Gregory of Nyssa
»
Hallowed
by thy Name, by Origen
»
Thy
Kingdom Come, by Origen
»
Thy
will be done, by Origen
»
Give
us our daily bread, by Gregory of Nyssa
»
Forgive
us our trespasses, by Cassian
»
And
lead us not into temptation, by Origen
»
But
deliver us from evil, by Cyprian of Carthage |
