Deut. 26: 4-10; Psalm 91; Romans 10:8-13; Luke 4:1-13
Led by the Spirit…to be tempted
We are blessed. Because of the presence everywhere of our faithful God, each problem in life has a solution. In today’s Gospel, Jesus endured “every temptation” and he overcame the devil’s evil suggestions, as we must do. Jesus gave us the example, and He will remain with us in our struggles as he has ever since our Baptism.
Jesus let himself…be led into the desert. He permitted this. We too must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us during the forty days of this Lent. Separating ourselves from familiar comforts, we will be free to follow the flight of the Divine Comforter.
Jesus was not led into a soft environment, but into a harsh and potentially life-threatening one. The desert was also empty of comforting companions. Jesus knew this. He wanted to show us the way to the Father.
In the barren desert the Holy Spirit shows us three of the temptations that Jesus overcame. Against the sinister suggestion to use his divine power, which was natural to him, to turn a stone into bread, Jesus answered, “It is written….”
There is something significant about writing. God thought it was important to have his words written down, because he inspired the prophets to do so.
Just like it is easier to remember information from a class if you have taken notes, or a “to do” list for your day, the written words serve as a reminder of important things.
The written word of God provided Jesus his ready defense against the devil’s insinuations. “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” The Scriptures build us up personally as well as provide a bulwark against evil. Jesus allowed the Holy Spirit to direct his steps and his words as he confronted evil. Memorizing Bible passages provides great resources for the Lenten journey to God, and for all of life.
Against the second temptation, Jesus quoted, “The Lord, your God…alone shall you serve.” Him alone. God wants undivided love. We certainly can and do love him through other people, our work, our conversations, but we must ask ourselves about our motivations. Whom do I aim to serve, to please by what I say or do?
The lovely Psalm 91 paradoxically was the enemy’s third deceitful offering to Jesus. All temptations provide similar attractive but dangerous bait. It looks good on the outside. Along with the temptation to fling himself down from the top of the temple, which would presume God’s rescue of him, Jesus heard: “He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you.” This verse of confidence in God had to be balanced by justice.
“You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
We can be tempted to presume that God will take care of things that we could and should have done. Feeling too busy to call a sick friend or even replace a used battery can lead to regret, because these are things we can manage ourselves. On the other hand, the Lord will surely help us this Lent to do the good that he inspires in us.
Jesus was truly hungry; we can help feed the hungry.
He wants us to get to know him more intimately by prayer, and Sacred Scripture is a time-tried way to do this.
In the desert Jesus sacrificed. We can join our own desert journey with his, as we aim to purify our desires so they become as single-hearted as his.
The more we become like Jesus, the more good we can do, with him.
May your Lenten journey this year be blessed with a growing awareness of Jesus’ presence beside you and within you. The desert blooms when we invite him to accompany us.
Let us let Him lead us.
and then