.

TODAY’S WORD…

.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan

and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

where for forty days He was tempted by the devil.

.

– Luke 4:1-2 (NIV)

.

.

.

REFLECTION…

.

“By abstaining forty long days from earthly food,
He consecrated through His fast
the pattern of our Lenten observance
and, by overturning all the snares of the ancient serpent,
taught us to cast out the leaven of malice…”

The Preface of today’s Mass

reminds us that Our Lord teaches us with deeds

that we must overcome temptations,

and that we should derive benefit from all trials that beset us.

.

Our Lord allows temptation,

and uses it providentially to purify you,

to make you holy,

to detach you from more of the things of earth,

to lead you to where He is.

and by the route He wants you to take,

so as to make you happy (in a life which may not be comfortable)…

above all, to make you humble, very humble.1

.

Jesus allowed this intervention by the devil in His life

and to be put to the test of temptation,

so as to give us an example of humility

and to teach us to overcome the temptations

that we are going to have to undergo in the course of our lives.

.

Jesus wanted to teach us, by His example,

that none of us should consider ourselves exempt from any type of trial.

.

Responding and rejecting the devil’s temptations,

Jesus quoted from Scripture…every time.

Our Lord wants us to realise how essential it is for us to know Scripture,

and to embrace His Gospel and teachings,

because the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit 2

which is essential armour to help us stand firm against the devil’s schemes.

.

1 Fr. Salvatore Canals – Jesus as Friend

2 Ephesians 6:17

.

.

.

REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

.

Jesus, my Lord, my God, my strength, lead me safely away from temptation.

… … … … … … … … … … … …… …

.

Note: The main source of today’s REFLECTION is the seven-volume work

“In Conversation with God” by Padre Francisco Fernández Carvajal.