Friday, April 8 : Saint Gregory the Great

Our ancient enemy, the devil, rose up against the first human being, our ancestor, in three temptations. He tempted him by gluttony, by vain glory and by avarice. And he overcame him when he tempted him, because he subjugated him through consent. He tempted him by gluttony when he showed him the forbidden food of the tree, and told him: “Taste it.” He tempted him by vain glory when he said, “You will be like gods.” He tempted him by adding avarice when he said, “knowing good and evil.” Avarice is concerned not only with money but also with high position. We rightly call it avarice when we seek high position beyond measure… But the means by which the devil overcame the first man were the same ones which caused him to yield when he tempted Christ. He tempted him by gluttony when he said, “Tell these stones to become bread.” He tempted him by vain glory when he said, “If you are the son of God, cast yourself down.” He tempted him by an avaricious desire for high position when he showed him all the kingdoms of the world, saying, “I will give you all these if you will fall down and worship me”… But there is something else we have to consider too in this temptation of the Lord’s, dearly beloved. When the Lord was tempted by the devil, he answered him with the commands of sacred Scripture. By the Word which he was, he could have plunged his tempter into the depths. He did not reveal the power of his might, but he only brought forth the precepts of Scripture. This was to give us an example of his patience, so that as often as we suffer something from vicious persons we should be aroused to teach rather than to exact revenge. Consider how great God’s patience is, how great our impatience. If we are provoked by injuries, or by some attack, influenced by rage we either take vengeance for ourselves to the extent of our ability, or we threaten to do so. The Lord endured the devil’s opposition, and he answered him with nothing except words of meekness.

maronite readings – rosary,team