What do we learn from the Temptations of Jesus?

Prepare yourself for spiritual warfare. 

Our undisciplined desires are the key to our temptations. 

"At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the ­desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” 

He said in reply, “It is written:

One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written:

He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”

Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.”

 At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written:

The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.”

Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him." (Matthew 4: 1 - 11).

Sunday February 26th 2023, the first Sunday of Lent. 

The Temptation of Jesus teaches us that temptations are necessary territory of Christian life. It was necessary that Jesus should be tested extensively in order to teach this lesson. 

Every saint underwent drastic temptations before receiving the crown of eternal life. 

Jesus fought Satan in the Desert with the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. Jesus our Captain has shown us how to fight and win spiritual warfare. Study the word of God every day. Copy and store your choice Scriptures to use when you are attacked. 

These memorized and stored Scriptures are our main weapon of warfare. To the unbeliever, they may seem simplistic but the Bible says that they are more powerful than any weapons the enemy will launch against us. 

Soldier of Jesus Christ, put on the full armor of God. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Matthew follow Me.

Follow Me. 

"Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” 

"And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.

"Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them.

"The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying,

“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 

"Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.

"I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” (Luke 5: 27 - 32).

Saturday February 25th 2023, Saturday after Ash Wednesday. 

We have an amazing conversion story. Jesus called Levi, better known as Matthew. He closed for good his tax office. He prepared a great feast to celebrate this important transition in his life. In faith, Matthew believed that He who called him is faithful and will bring to a happy conclusion the event of his Calling to a new life. 

You too must trust Jesus if He invites you to follow Him. In every transition, Jesus remains faithful. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The type of fasting that pleases God.

This is the fasting that God wants. 

"The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, 

“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” 

"Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” (Matthew 9: 14 - 15). 

Friday February 24th, Friday after Ash Wednesday in the Season of Lent. 

The Holy Scriptures today speak of fasting. The catechesis of Jesus and Isaiah converge in the question: What is the fasting that pleases God? 

The magesterium of the Church has taught from the very beginning that Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving are the three pillars of the Christian faith. Specifically, the Corporal and the Spiritual Works of Mercy covers everything that is required:

CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY

1. Feed the hungry

2. Give drink to the thirsty

3. Clothe the naked

4. Shelter the homeless

5. Visit the sick

6. Visit the imprisoned

7. Bury the dead

SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY

1. Instruct the ignorant

2. Counsel the doubtful

3. Admonish sinners

4. Bear wrongs patiently

5. Forgive offences willingly

6. Comfort the afflicted

7. Pray for the living and the dead

Do this and you will be blessed. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com 

Deny yourself every day during Lent 2023.

Deny yourself. Take up your cross daily and follow Christ this Lent. 

 

"Jesus said to his disciples: 

“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

"Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?” (Luke 9: 22 - 25). 

 

Thursday 23rd February 2023, Thursday after Ash Wednesday in the Season of Lent. Today is the feast of St Polycarp, an Apostolic Father. (circa 69 - 155). Bishop of Smyrna in Turkey. Martyr. St Polycarp was instructed in the faith by St John the Apostle. He, Polycarp instructed St Irenaeus who became a Bishop and an early Church Father in France.

St Polycarp heard and believed the word of Christ:

"Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." 

He who cannot pick up his cross daily and follow Jesus will not be able to pick it up if a persecution breaks out suddenly. 

This holy Season of Lent gives us a fresh opportunity to learn to pick up our cross every day to follow Jesus. If you welcome this message, then commit to renewing:

1. Daily Prayer. 

2. Daily Bible Reading. 

3. Couple of weekday Masses every week. 

4. Monthly Confession. 

5. Daily Examen. 

6. Daily Spiritual Reading. 

7. Weekly involment in the ministry of your choice. 

Do this and you will have the best Lent of your life. 

"My Heart thirsts for the love of the saints. To those who come to Me, I will give love and holiness. And in this shall My Father be glorified.  And this shall come to pass through the intimate action of My Spirit. Where I am present in the Sacrament of My love, there also is the Spirit of the Father and of the Son. It is by the Holy Spirit that My Eucharistic presence is My glorious presence to the Father in heaven, and it is by the Holy Spirit that My Eucharistic presence touches the souls who adore Me to unite them to Me, and to bear them up even before My Father’s face."  (IN SINU JESU, Monday, October 29, 2007).

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

Lent - the most acceptable time to be reconciled with God.

Ash Wednesday 2023.

This is the most favorable time to seek the face of God and find it. 

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. 

"When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” (Matthew6:1-6, 16-18). 

Wednesday February 22 is Ash Wednesday 2023, the beginning of the holy Season of Lent. 

Taking the ashes is a pretty good sign that your heart is well disposed towards God. 

Do not stop with this. Scripture teaches and the Church confirms that Lent is the most favorable time for grace and mercy. By faith, many Christians believe this. Lapsed and lukewarm Christians are converted to God during Lent. 

By the obedience of faith, Christians undertake Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving as directed by the Church. Practicing Christians rise in holiness. Lukewarm Christians become devout. This is the Promise of Lent. 

Mother Church knows this works from a very long experience. 

Be reconciled with God. This is the most acceptable time. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Do you desire to serve God? Prepare yourself well.

Preparation is the Secret of success in life. 

"My son, when you come to serve the Lord, stand in justice and fear, prepare yourself for trials.

"Be sincere of heart and steadfast, incline your ear and receive the word of understanding, undisturbed in time of adversity.

"Wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not;

thus will you be wise in all your ways.

"Accept whatever befalls you, when sorrowful, be steadfast, and in crushing misfortune be patient;

For in fire gold and silver are tested, and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation.

"Trust God and God will help you; trust in him, and he will direct your way; keep his fear and grow old therein.

"You who fear the LORD," wait for his mercy, turn not away lest you fall.

You who fear the LORD, trust him, and your reward will not be lost.

You who fear the LORD, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy.

You who fear the LORD, love him, and your hearts will be enlightened.

"Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed?

Has anyone persevered in his commandments and been forsaken?  

Has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?

Compassionate and merciful is the LORD;

he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble and he is a protector to all who seek him in truth." (Sirach 2: 1 - 11).

Tuesday February 21st in the 7th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Peter Damian (1001 - 1072). Italian. Benedictine monk. Bishop and Doctor of the Church.  The monk-Cardinal whose life we celebrate today is a Reformer in the make of the great reformers of the Church:  Saints Francis of Assisi, Dominic, Ignatius Loyola, Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, etc. . Damian  urged his fellow clergy to live upright lives. Many clergy at all levels were at that time living sordid lives. But Peter pursued reforms with the heart of a pastor.

Our first Reading from Sirach 2: 1 - 11 is the crème de la crème of the Wisdom Books of the Old Testament. 

The message of the passage is simple:

The Key to Success in any walk of life, in any endeavor is Preparation, Preparation and Preparation. 

This message is so relevant now because tomorrow, February 22nd, Lent 2023 commences. Jesus spent 40 Days in the Wilderness to prepare for His ministry. By the great Providence of God, the Church instituted the Season of Lent as a Preparation time for her children on the journey to eternal life. Our Scripture today from Sirach teaches us everything we need for a good preparation. 

"Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed?" 

As a man who likes history, my answer to the above question is: No one has ever been disappointed who placed his hope in God. In every transition, every change in life, God will be there and He remains faithful. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Lord help my Unbelief.

Jesus, please increase my faith. 

"As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, and John and approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. 

"Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him.

"He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 

"Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.”

"He said to them in reply, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.”

"They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. 

"Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” 

"He replied, “Since childhood. It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

"Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.”

"Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”

"Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!”

"Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” 

"But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.

"When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive the spirit out?” He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.” (Mark 9: 14 - 29).

Monday 20th February 2023 in the 7th Week of Ordinary Time. 

In the Gospel of today, by faith the father of the possessed hoped against hope for the cure of his son. He went to Jesus although his faith was little. 

"Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Jesus said to the father of the possessed and to us. 

If you believe this, blessed are you.  You will cry to Jesus: “I do believe, help my unbelief!”

What is Faith? I like the AMPC rendition of Hebrews 11: 1. 

"Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]."

You can enrich your Bible experiences by looking up other translations of key Scripture verses. 

The bottom line of today's Scripture passage is that without faith, you condemn yourself to living underwhelming life. 

How to grow in faith? Best answer is the example of father of possessed boy. "Jesus my faith is little. Please increase my faith. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com