We listened to the words of the liturgy of the First Sunday of Lent about the 40 Days and Satan’s wiles in trying to tempt the God-man and we may think — “having power over the whole world doesn’t even tempt me!”

Usually during Lent, however, we get an unexpected temptation custom-made to our personal fantasies. In my case, one of my daughters told me about her family possibly moving to a home even nearer to the Pacific Ocean than her present place. The ocean is my favorite for natural beauty. I love the way it’s apparent infinity images God’s infinity and lifts me out of my closed in petty worries. Since it is 80 degrees in California and about to snow once again in Connecticut where I am teaching at Holy Apostles Seminary, I started thinking, “Maybe I am meant to really retire. Suppose God wants to gift me at the end of my life with sublime joy instead or more crosses? Shouldn’t I be open?”

In the midst of this reverie I thought I heard in my interior the voice of Mary laughing, “so you’d rather be a beach comber than the spiritual mother of future priests?”

What is your “custom-made temptation?” And how do the heavenly “voices” check mate it?

Dr. Ronda has many free e-books and audios on her website rondachervin.com. If you go to her website and read or listen and then want to correspond with her she will be available. Her schedule does not permit, however, responding to comments on the Blog, though she enjoys reading them. Dr. Ronda’s newest project is spiritualityrunningtogod.com.