and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for scripture says: God has given orders to his angels concerning you.
Their hands will hold you up, lest you hurt your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered, “But scripture also says:
You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” Then the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain, and showed him all the nations
of the world in all their greatness and splendor. And he said, “All this I will give you, if you kneel down and worship me.”
Then Jesus answered, “Be off, Satan! Scripture says: Worship the Lord your God and serve him alone!” Then the devil left him; and angels came to serve him.

LECTIO DIVINA:

Read: The first reading tells the story of the serpent which tempted the first couple to doubt the words of God.
St. Paul describes, in the se­cond reading, how the disobe­dience of Adam and Eve brought them and us a broken relationship with God and eventually death.
Jesus is presented in the gospel as being tempted by the devil. In all the devils’ tests, Jesus chose to be faithful to the Father.

Reflect: Like Adam and Eve, we are tempted to put ourselves in God's place, resent every limit on our freedom and to be held
responsible for the consequences of our choices. In contrast, today’s Gospel shows us how Jesus Christ conquered temptation by
remaining faithful to God, relying on his faith in God's Word and Authority. The readings tell us to always make a choice for God.
Moreover, the Gospel teaches us how the "desert experience" of fasting, praying, and soul-strengthening was a kind
of spiritual “training” for Jesus which enabled him to confront his temptations successfully and then to preach the Good News of salvation.
Bible scholars tell us that the temptations of Jesus presented a summary of the temptations that Jesus had in his lifetime.
In all of them, Jesus chose to be faithful to the Father even if it meant real effort on his part, even if it meant sufferings
and pains and, ultimately, death. But in remai­ning true to God, Jesus has given us life. He has saved us.

Pray: Lord, our God, as we face temptation and make choices every day, help us to be faithful to you, our Creator,
and to always walk with Jesus, our Lord.

Act: The Gospel prescribes a dual action plan for us: 1) We confront our temptations and conquer them as Jesus did, by fasting, prayer, and the Word of God.
And since we cannot be perfectly faithful, 2) we should renew our lives by true repentance and live the Good News of God’s love, mercy and forgiveness.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020