Once again, we find ourselves at the beginning of the forty day Lenten journey. We encounter in this First Sunday of Lent our Lord in the desert. The Holy Spirit was responsible for leading Jesus into the desert. While in the desert, the devil attempted three times to attack Jesus in a subtle manner. This Gospel serves as a reminder to us all of the subtle ways in which the devil tries to tempt us and lead us into sin. He tried first to appeal to Jesus’ appetite, then he tried to appeal to Jesus’ authority, and finally he tried to appeal to Jesus’ identity. In each case the devil failed. He will try to appeal to our wants and hungers; he will try to appeal to our ambition; and he will try to appeal to our identity as children of God. The best advice for the next forty days ~ resist him! The book of Genesis tells us: “sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master” (Genesis 4:6). Over the next forty days, and ultimately beyond, learn how to master those temptations and sins in your life. Rely on God’s grace, the Sacraments, prayer, and each other in order to do so. Have a blessed forty days!
