Sunday, March 13, 2011

Read It:
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.

Reflect on it: Jesus is being lead into the desert and tempted in today's Gospel. Unlike so many of us, he resists the temptation, being FULLY dependent of God today. In every allurement that Satan offers Jesus, he is steadfast, trusting in the Father. So often we are tempted because the things that the evil one offers us look alluring. Jesus didn't fall for the temporary allurements that Satan offered. Instead, he stayed steadfast in all that the Lord offered him.


Pray about it: God, you protected your Son from temptation in the desert. Help me to be steadfast in my trust and faithfulness to you. Help me to ward off temptation and to always be faithful to you. Amen.


Live it! Challenge: Pray the St. Michael the Archangel prayer today whenever you feel tempted.

St. Michael the Archangel, protect us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray and do thou oh Prince of the Heavenly Host, cast into Hell Satan and all the evil Spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.