December 22, 2013 – Catechism 2846 – 2849

It is interesting to think about the difference between good temptation and bad. We ask God to lead us not into temptation, but the paragraphs also tell us that there are some gifts that God gives us that we can only discover through temptation. They italicize discern which temptations are trials and temptations. Trials put us in a situation that we can get out of with God’s gifts of grace and we will grow stronger by getting through them. Temptations are situations that lead us straight into sin.

A am guessing that a trial might be a family member suffering from a disease. A temptation might be a college student being invited to a drinking party. One situation, if you make it through, you can come out stronger. I just don’t see you going to a frat party and gaining spiritual health, even if you go and don’t do anything wrong. Being invited and not going might be a test, but going in order to test your resolve, is not a proper test, it is more temptation that can only lead to sin and has no benefit. One we ask God to keep us out of, but the testing of our faith and grace is necessary and the only way we can reach our true potential.