Will your reaction to temptation be that of a polar bear or of a black bear? The choice is in your hands… But it might help to read this article first.
Newsroom (19/04/2024 13:22, Gaudium Press) Anyone walking through the boreal forests, whether in Siberia, Canada or the Nordic countries of Europe, might easily come across a gigantic, very furry and always hungry animal: the bear.
In children’s representations, bears are often presented as charming and even picturesque, but when faced with one of them, completely opposite adjectives come to mind… emphasized by the most primal reactions of the instinct for self-preservation!
Their attack strategies, and ways of living and feeding vary between species.
The polar bear is the fiercest hunter and, as creatures for food are scarce at the North Pole, God has endowed it with a keen “cunning“: to camouflage itself from its prey in the white landscape, and it even covers its black nose with its very white paws. So well does it resemble a mountain of snow that the victim does not realize it until it is too late… and it stands out for being a very agile runner and an excellent swimmer! In short, if you catch a glimpse of one, do not think twice about running away!
The black bear, on the other hand, is found over a much wider range. They can be found in many nature reserves and forests close to inhabited areas. Although it is carnivorous, it only attacks humans when it feels threatened. It is, however, a very strong animal, capable of felling trees and making its way through the forest, which is why it is a danger to our species.
I will give you a piece of advice: if you have the misfortune of coming across a black bear, do not run away immediately, but stay calm and stare at it for a while. That way it will be stunned and go away. If, on the other hand, you run, you will be chased and, if not killed, at the very least seriously injured.
The reader is probably thinking that all this information would fit better in a scientific journal or on the lips of a zoologist… but he would be wrong.
St. Bonaventure says that the Eternal Father has given us three books to learn from: the book of Creation, the Incarnate book – Jesus Christ – and the book of Salvation History. In the first we can find the two attitudes we should take towards temptation.
You yourself, dear reader, will judge the following cases and say which way each one fits: the “polar bear” reaction or the “black bear” reaction.
When the alarm goes off in the morning and I feel the urge to keep sleeping, what should I do: run away from the temptation, cover my head with the blanket and go back to sleep – the “polar bear” reaction; or face my laziness, look the situation in the face and get out of bed with energy – the “black bear” reaction?
How should I behave in different circumstances, such as when, in a circle of friends, at work or in a restaurant, I need to express my faith – whether through the Sign of the Cross, a prayer or a proud response to an enquiry about my religion – and I have to shy away from confessing it? Should I face the situation – the “black bear” – or do I have the right to shy away – the “polar bear” – and let them mock my cowardice?
However, when I watch television and come across scenes that are not in keeping with Catholic morality, should I face the temptations to purity as they present themselves – “black bear” reaction – or simply flee from this occasion of sin – “polar bear” reaction – by switching off the screen?
This is one of the lessons of the Book of Creation!
The Incarnate book taught us to watch and pray so as not to fall into temptation (cf. Mt 26:41). And what do we find in the book of Salvation History? Every one of its pages proclaims: it has never been heard that any devotee of Mary Most Holy was left helpless.
Therefore, in moments of temptation, let us wisely judge the best course of action, asking Heaven for the strength we need to overcome obstacles, full of confidence that Our Lady will help us, will place us under her mantle, and thus we will emerge victorious in the fight against evil.
Text taken from Heralds Magazine no. 261, September 2023. By Sr Mary Teresa MacIsaac, EP.
Compiled by Sandra Chisholm
