Temptations!

"Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days,  to be  tempted by the devil."  (Luke 4:1-13)

 

 

     This Sunday's gospel is one that really speaks to me.  Jesus was just baptized by John in the Jordan river and the first thing He decided to do was go into the desert to pray and fast.  I love that this is the reading for the first Sunday of Lent.  On Ash Wednesday, we all began our Lenten journey as we were marked with ashes.   We made a choice to take the next 40 days seriously and to do our best to participate in some sort of prayer, fasting and giving.  Jesus knew we were "falling" away from Him and He needed to reinvigorate our faith.  So, He calls out to us, "Return to me," and we have answered YES!!!!  We begin this Lenten journey with excitement and determination to return to Jesus and give Him all that we have for the next 40 days.  BUT.......a few days have passed.  The ashes are washed away.  The temptations have begun. 

Maybe one piece of candy won't hurt.

Well, technically Sundays are a part of Lent.

Oh no, is it Friday?  I totally forgot and ate meat.

 

     Sound familiar?  After His own baptism, He knew that He, the Son of God, the Almighty, the Divine one, would need strength to begin His public ministry.  Before He began healing, forgiving, preaching and performing miracles, He took time to fast and pray.  He knew that the task in front of Him was going to be hard.  He knew it was going to come with many temptations and He needed to be prepared.  Jesus knew this would happen to us too.  He knows that over the next 40 days, we are going to be tempted to forget, to give up, and to give in.  Just like He was tempted in the desert by the devil, we too will be tempted.  When we said  "YES" on Wednesday, the devil went into action!  He wants to take us off track, to fill us with doubt, and to make us question the excitement and determination that we had on Ash Wednesday. 

 

     So, what can we do?  We need to do as Jesus did.  Call on the Holy Spirit and PRAY! 

 

Dear Lord,  
Let everything I do this day and in this season of Lent 
come from you, be inspired by you.

I long to be closer to you. 
Help me to remember that nothing is important in my life 
unless it glorifies you in some way.

It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day of my life and keep saying,
"Tomorrow, I will spend more time in prayer," 
but now my longing meets your love and I want to do it now.  
Help me to rely on you for help during these next 40 days.

AMEN