11 December | Youth
«How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”» Genesis 39:9
In the famous Odyssey, the Greek poet Homer narrates the return home of Odysseus and his companions after the Trojan War. On this epic journey that lasted 17 years, Ulysses went through several adventures, such as facing the challenge of the Island of the Sirens. Ulysses knew that the sirens had an irresistible power of seduction that would certainly attract his sailors to the rocky slope of the island, which would result in shipwreck.
The solution found by Ulysses, then, was to put wax in the sailors' ears so that they would not hear the sirens' song. Ulysses, however, did not close his own hearing, but asked that he be tied to the vessel's mast until the journey was completed.
The poem says that, as he passed near the island, Ulysses desperately screamed to be untied, but his men did not hear him, nor did they hear the sirens' song. This is how Ulysses and his crew managed to escape to safety.
On our journey to heavenly Canaan, we also face trials and temptations. Satan uses photos, videos, literature, music and other things with immoral content to lure people to the rocks of sin. The “sirens” of impurity are beautiful and attractive. However, the fate of this “adventure” will always end in shipwreck.
A few years ago, pornography was restricted to bookstores, newsstands and video stores. Today, “Siren Island” accompanies travelers everywhere, at any time, just by having a smartphone in your hands. With one click, modern Ulysses (men or women) have access to millions of pixels created in Satan's workshop, capable of destroying family and character.
It is necessary to flee from sexual temptation (1 Cor 6:18), just as Joseph did before Potiphar's wife. Do not listen to the sirens' song! Tie yourself to the mast of purity to avoid succumbing to the devil's appeals. You have Heaven to gain and hell to avoid.
Perhaps you are lost in the dark waters of immorality and have struck the rocks of sin. Today Jesus wants to give you a new chance. He is your lifeguard. Hang in there, we are going home!