Be yourself, Tagle tells faithful

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle: Accept who you are. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The key to dodging temptation is to be who you are.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle gave this piece of advice to the Filipino faithful in his homily at a Mass marking the first Sunday of Lent and National Migrant’s Sunday.

Reflecting on the Mass readings, Tagle urged Catholics to be wise when confronted with worldly temptations which usually start from good offers. He noted that people easily give in to temptation because “they want to be extraordinary and famous,” which drives them to do the wrong things.

“Whatever temptation you are experiencing, be wise. Temptations start from good offers, because if it is bad no one will be enticed,” Tagle said.

His remarks were reported in CBCP News, the official news service of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Tagle celebrated the Mass at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia in Ermita, Manila.

“These people know they are wrong but they still keep doing it. Why? It’s because they want a new identity. They want to be like God,” said Tagle. “That’s how frightening temptation is. Why? Because those who give in to temptation are deceived.”

To avoid falling into temptation, Tagle said one must accept “who you are” and “stick to the roots of the Gospel.”

“The temptation is about who we are. Let us accept our being human and being a child of God,” he said, encouraging the faithful to be more Christ-like and willing to carry their own cross.