Resist temptation!

"At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil..."

Matthew 4:1

 

We had a wonderful homily on this reading Saturday night and I spent much of my prayer time yesterday sorting it all out.  The question is, are we similarly tempted in our daily lives, and, if so, how can we resist the temptation like Jesus did? Yes, our temptations are very similar, even though we may not be tempted to turn stones into loaves of bread.  But we can be victims of our own self- control (or lack of it), aren't we? The devil tempted Jesus to take the easy way out...cut to the chase, show his glory immediately, without going through the three years of doing it God's way.  We are tempted to take the easy way, too, at times aren't we? Who wants to plod through years of suffering and trial when we could take the easy way out? And how do we resist? First, Jesus was centered on who he was.  He was the Son of God, as explained on the day of his baptism.  Jesus centered himself on his Father and never forgot his mission was God's mission.  Second, Jesus knew the scripture and relied on it to combat the devil.  Each time the devil tempted him, Jesus quoted scripture.  And finally, Jesus just told the devil to be gone.  As Fr. Gorman used to say, "Tell the devil to go to hell, where he belongs." So, yes, we have similar temptations in our twenty-first century lives. Doing it God's way or the way of the world. And yes, we can resist, just as Jesus resisted.  By knowing who we are, centered in God, knowing our scripture and where to turn, and telling the devil to get lost.  Blessings on your Lenten Monday.  Love, heidi