James 1:12-18 / Mark 8:14-21
At times we would say that temptations come from the devil - the devil tempted me to do it - and we blame our temptations on the devil.
At other times, we would also say that God is putting us to the test.
Strange as it may seem, but are we saying the one and the same thing?
We may blame the devil and we may also blame God but the 1st reading tells us that everyone who is tempted is attracted and seduced by his own wrong desire.
What attracts us and makes us have wrong desires are none other than the people around us and the things we see around us.
It may be sexual or it may be material, but when we look long enough at it then we will give in to the temptation and fall into sin.
In the gospel, Jesus tells His disciples to keep their eyes open, and to be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.
We too need to keep guard over what our eyes are look at.
If we are not looking at who is above us, then very soon we shall give in to what is around us.