Lent is a time of spiritual rebirth for all of us.  The Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent always presents Jesus as our model.  It speaks to us of temptation, the threat to faithful completion of our spiritual journey.

Matthew presents a great drama of three temptations hurled at Jesus by the devil and rejected by the Lord. The temptation story contrasts the suggestions that Jesus use His power for His own self-interest with His actual decision to obey the will of His Father.

The devil tries to tempt Jesus into opting for instant miracles, spectacular rescue from God, and political domination of the Kingdoms of the World.    This is not the kind of Messiah Jesus wants to be.  His option is obedience and humility, trust in God and total faithfulness to God.

At root, the temptations posed to Jesus by the devil were to use His status as the Son of God for His own comfort and glory rather than for His Father’s service.  At root, our own temptations are much the same.  Will we serve ourselves, or will we serve others.  Will we do our will or God’s will?

Knowing that God is His Father, Jesus can trust that God will provide for His needs.  Jesus is victorious over Satan because He is secure in His relationship with His Father.

Lent gives us the opportunity to deepen our relationship with God and become more secure in our eternal destiny.  Let us spend our Lent through prayer, fasting and almsgiving,  making progress as we deepen our relationship with Jesus on our spiritual Journey.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell