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Word to the Wise

Daily Reflection

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Word to the Wise

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 - Tuesday in the 6th Week in Ordinary Time

[Jas 1:12-18 and Mark 8:14-21]

Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proven he will receive the crown of life that [God] promised to those who love him. No one experiencing temptation should say, "I am being tempted by God"; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death. [James]



     The comfort of traditional words can sometimes clash with contemporary language.  Such could be the case in the words we are so familiar with in the Lord's Prayer ("the Our Father")  In the celebration of the Eucharist, we begin the "Communion" portion with the recitation of that familiar prayer and we end it with the words, "And lead us not into temptation...."  Pope Francis caused a stir when he suggested a change in the Italian missal to avoid the impression  that God could lead us into temptation, which would be contrary to what the Letter of James teaches.  In point of fact, that change was made a long time ago in several English language bibles, including the one published by the American bishops.  The text in the New American Bible [Revised Edition], published in 1986, during the pontificate of Pope St. John Paul II, reads: "And do not subject us to the final test!"  But, the bishops decided that a change of that kind in liturgy was asking too much of the pewfolks and decided to leave the traditional wording in place.  It has been left to the clergy, liturgists and theologians to explain the discrepancy to anyone who happens to notice it!
     The teaching in the Letter of James is the way that traditional wording should be understood.  We are asking God to preserve us FROM temptation.  We are never led by God into it.  AMEN