Our Father: Part 6 - Fr. Gregory - March 20, 2022

Today Father Gregory continues his series on the Lord's Prayer with the line, "and lead us not into temptation." Temptations in life are unavoidable. The Israelites were tempted in the wilderness for forty years and Jesus forty days in the desert after His Baptism. Temptations or trials are a necessary struggle for Orthodox Christians in their journey toward salvation. The Fathers teach temptations will be inevitable until our last breath. James says we should count it all joy when we fall into various trials as this testing will produce patience and endurance. In our temptations, we should ask God not to let us fall. When we remain humble, alert, trust in God, and take responsibility for ourselves, life's trials can be a benefit as we face them rather than run.