Margery Kempe’s Temptations

“When this creature was thus drawn to our Lord she had great quiet of spirit from any temptations” [1]. Margery Kempe endured the adversities of fasting, being rebellious, fulfilling the desires of flesh, fearing Satan, and being boastful because she loved God more than he loved her, as she thought. Yet, Jesus sent her three years of temptation as an example to show her that her own powers can not save her from the spiritual enemy. As she believed, her physical desire was completely destroyed; Jesus sent a sin of lechery to come upon her. This excessive act of lust made her confess, weep, and pray, though “she would rather have been dead than consent to” lechery [1]. Secondly, Jesus seduced Margery by a man she fancied; now, mind you she did have a husband. Yet, it seemed at the moment that the “said man” stated all the right words so persuasively that her troubled mind could not focus on the religious activities that were taking place. After being confused by the man’s intentions, she went home displeased, still, infatuated with love. Not knowing, she made an agreement with the enemy and fell into temptation. The acts of speaking to the man haunted her, but Margery still demanded his affection. She displayed that she wanted to have sexual intercourse with the “said man” due to her persuasive attitude towards his sexual acts. The “said man,” as a test to her will, embarrassed her to the point of depression. At this, she thought she was unworthy of God’s mercy. To gain God’s mercy and forgiveness, she shriven many times and did as the confessor told her to do [1]. She began to lose faith and belief in herself and God because she thought God had forsaken her. Even though he didn’t take the temptation away, he still showed mercy and grace for Margery.

Can you imagine being a married woman and lusting over another man? In today’s society, you see it all the time; women want other men, and men want other woman. Is it right? Is it wrong? Religiously, it is called adultery when a man/woman look at another woman/man in a lustful way. Yet, naturally, the flesh is weak, and it will only take God, the Almighty, to help a person sustain himself. This is the moral of the story; you can not fight your battles without God.

Source:

[1] Windeatt, B. A. (1985). “The Book of Margery Kempe.” England: Penguin Books.