THE TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS.
THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS.
THE GOSPEL:
"Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil.
He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry.
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered him,
“It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”
Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.
The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written:
You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.”
Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time..” (Luke 4: 1 - 13).
Sunday 9th March 2025, First Sunday in Lent.
The Church presents us the Temptation of Jesus in the Desert according to St Luke in the first Sunday in Lent.
Nobody can go through life without multiple desert experiences. Jesus was severely tempted after 40 days of rigorous fasting and prayer. He was tempted to abandon the path His Father marked out for His mission for a grandiose scheme of the Devil.
Jesus ate nothing during the 40 days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”
If you do not know your IDENTITY IN CHRIST, you will be an easy prey for the Devil. He will suggest to you your "true identity" and then sell you a fake ID Card to be carried all the time. What if your area of weakness is money (bread). The devil might suggest that you are born to be a millionaire, own fine houses and beautiful cars and clothes, etc. Do not be deceived. The word of God in the Scriptures reveal our TRUE IDENTITY. Armed with this truth, you can strike back at the Devil. Here are a few Scriptures about money:
#1 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." (Matthew 6: 19 - 21).
#2 "Keep your lives free from love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, 'I will never leave you, I will never abandon you'" (Hebrews 13:5).
#3 "My grace is sufficient for you." (2 Corinthians 12: 9).
#4 Man does not live on money alone. Man is created to live on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Cf Matthew 4 : 4).
Jesus defeated Satan by quoting the Scriptures. Can we afford to do less? Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ, says St Jerome.
"The Eucharist is heaven on earth; the Eucharist is My Church on earth already assumed into heaven. Heaven is wheresoever the words of consecration have been pronounced over the bread and wine in the holy oblation, for there I am present, even as I am present in the glory of My Ascension, adored by the angels, praised by all the saints, held in the divine gaze of My Father, and burning with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. Believe this and you will find heaven on earth, while waiting and hoping to see My Face in glory." (IN SINU JESU, May 29, 2014 Ascension Thursday).
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
Memorare to St. Joseph:
Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession were left unassisted. Full of confidence in your power I fly unto you and beg your protection. Despise not O Guardian of the Redeemer my humble supplication, but in your bounty, hear and answer me. Amen.
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