26 February, 2023 - Fiirst Sunday of Lent

 Gospel Mt 4:1-11

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

Reflection:  

Now when we study the life of Jesus, it is important to recognize that he always has two similar kinds of works that he is doing. He came into this world to be the perfect man, to live the perfect life, to do what required to save the human beings. But he also came into this world to clean up our mess, to suffer under the weight of the curse of God against us because of our sin. It is not just that Jesus could live the perfect life, and that would be enough someone qualified.  It is also that he had to suffer for the ways in which we had fallen short of the glory of God. As a result of the temptations, Jesus was stronger and more prepared for his ministry because he had rejected three false ways of doing his task.

 Activity: 

We are in Lent. We have to get rid of those spiritual obstacles which hinder us from responding fully to God’s love. Examine and see what keeps you from following Jesus better.