Minglana, Mitch T.

BSA 301

Lesson 2

Challenges in Our Christian Moral Life

Context

Do you experience any need, hunger, craving or desire in your heart that may be the
root of your temptation? (First sharing of reflection.)

I do not know how to describe this but generally NO. I have my needs and wants
too but I think it first if I can afford that thing or not because if not, I won’t force it
to have or to buy. I know my place- we are just poor yet my family afford me to
send to school, they strive hard to give me what I need. And when it comes to my
desires, I think it twice or even thrice if I can afford or not. People got easily
tempted especially in material things- if you can’t really hold back yourself then
that’s the time you commit sin like stealing money from your parents just to buy the
things you’ve been longing for. But me it is not the case because I know how to
handle my desires instead I think practical where I save my money for future use. I
am not a type of person who can wash away my money over nonsense things. No I
don’t definitely do that. I always think of my future and the future of my family and
I think I really need to strive harder in school to get stable job, pay back my parents
and save money for them.

I got tempted sometimes too but not on material things but perhaps “lying” I guess.
Because I had this “barkada” since high school and when we plan to hang out my
 parents won’t let me go to them that is why I lied just to hang with them.

But as I grow older (I am an adult now) I know my responsibilities and that I want
the best in my life. I won’t get tempted over small things instead I will strive hard to
have ENOUGH and that enough would satisfy me for my needs and wants.

Feeling tempted for hunger, desires or whatsoever will literally ruin your life so
better to get your life close to God because he will sustain your needs and will
control your desires. God is everything we want. 

Exposition

Sacred Scripture

do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate.Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from th
our Lord.

Think of your own experience of temptation. How are you tempted to make bad choices? When
do you feel like St. Paul: “What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do
what I hate”. Share one’s reflection/ experience to the same small group.

The line of St. Paul is the same as “masarap kainin ang bawal” which means that
even if certain things are already prohibited to us yet we still do it because we want
it (we do what is wrong and not do what is right).

In my 20 years of existence, I got tempted over many things except in material

things because I literally don’t force myself to buy something especially when my
pocket is empty nor my parents don’t have enough money. I got tempted in things
like “I want to do this together with my barkada” “I want to experience overnight
with my barkadas” and so on. Those things are still prohibited to me but due to my
longings and desires, I tend to lie to my parents. My barkada’s been tolerating me
like “Pangilad rakan ing na sa project” and I did that and my parents believed. So, I
hang out with them. But I realized what I did is wrong. I lied to my parents, I lied to
myself and I lied to God.

You know, it really depend on us whether we go or not. The choice is ours that is
why we need to be careful enough for our decision because we might not know,
because of our desires-we lied and we got into an accident, right? So we need to
make things right. Its okay to live our life to its fullest (too much happiness) but
learn to CONTROL and LIMIT. Let God be the light of your life and happiness and
contentment will come to your way.