The art of resisting temptations

February 14, 2016 1st
Sunday of Lent 1st Reading: Dt 26:4–10 2nd Reading: Rom 10:8–13Gospel: Lk 4:1–13

Jesus was now full of Holy Spirit. As he returned from the Jordan, the Spirit led him into the desert where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. He did not eat anything during that time, and in the end he was hungry. The devil then said to him, “If you are son of God, tell this stone to turn into bread.”

But Jesus answered, “Scripture says: People cannot live on bread alone.” Then the devil took him up to a high place and showed him in a flash all the nations of the world. And he said to Jesus, “I can give you power over all the nations and their wealth will be yours, for power and wealth have been delivered to me and I give them to whom I wish. All this will be yours provided you worship me.” But Jesus replied, “Scripture says: You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him alone.” Then the devil took him up to Jerusalem and set him on the highest wall of the Temple; and he said, “If you are son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: God will order his angels to take care of you and again: They will hold you in their hands, lest you hurt your foot on the stones.” But Jesus replied, “It is written: You shall not challenge the Lord your God.”  When the devil had exhausted every way of tempting Jesus he left him, to return another time.

D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE (Daily Gospel in the
Assimilated Life
Experience)

Temptation will always be there, but one is not totally helpless before any of it. He can still remain righteous if, steadfast in his faith, he manages temptation meritoriously. How? Let’s learn how Jesus did it when the devil tempted him in the desert three times.

After so many days of fasting the devil began playing on Jesus’ hunger by prodding him to turn stones into bread. It’s never safe to transact with the devil even on innocent matters. Give him a square inch and he will soon squat on a hectare. Moreover, he is unrelenting. Consider how he pursued his sinister scheme by striking with his most deadly tool – the tool of pride. “If you are son of God,” he told Jesus, “throw yourself down from here, for it is written: God will order his angels to take care of you.” If Jesus said no to smaller temptations like the devil’s innocent suggestion to turn stones into bread, why should he say yes to bigger matters like those that border on pride?

While we can still say no, let’s cut temptation to the quick as Jesus did. But like any art it needs practice. Let’s practice this art during this season of Lent with the help of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.—Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.frdan.org.

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