Gospel Reading: Luke 4: 1-13
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the spirit through the wilderness being tempted there by the devil for forty days. During that time, he ate nothing and at the end he was hungry. Then the devil said to him, “If you are the son of God, tell this stone to turn into a loaf”. But Jesus replied “Scripture says: Man does not live on bread alone.” Then leading him to a height, the devil showed him in a moment of time all the Kingdoms of the world and said to him “I will give you all this power and the glory of these Kingdoms, for it has been committed to me and I give it to anyone I choose. Worship me, then and it shall all be yours”. But Jesus said to him, “Scripture says; you must worship the Lord Your God, and serve him alone.” Then he led him to Jerusalem and made him stand on the parapet of the Temple. “If you are the son of God, he said to him throw yourself down from here, for scripture says; he will put his angels in charge of you to guard you, and again; they will hold you up on their hands in case you hurt your foot against a stone.” But Jesus answered him, it has been said; you must not put the Lord your God to the test.” Having exhausted all these ways of tempting him, the devil left him to return at the appointed time.
GUIDELINES TO HELP US TO MEDITATE ON THE PASSAGE SO AS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE GOD’S PRESENCE AND ACTIVITY IN OUR LIVES AND WORLD TODAY.
1“During that time he ate nothing and at the end he was hungry” can you recall a time in your life when it would have been easy to give into temptation for example when you were hungry for acceptance and popularity – who guided you to make the right choices so you maintained your integrity and dignity.
2Let the passage remind you of “wilderness experience” in your own life or in the life of someone close to you, when your faith in God was badly shaken up. Sudden discovery of a serious illness, loss of a spouse or a child, experience of betrayal, hurt or humiliation, consciousness of human poverty. Can you look back now and see that it was the “Spirit of God” that led you through it.
3“I will give you all this power” – Can you remember experiences when you witnessed the abuse of power –Workplace, Community Groups, Government and Church. Give thanks for those who spoke out against abuse. Give thanks for courageous people.