Jesus Is Tempted
At his baptism Jesus hears his Father's voice, "You are My beloved Son." He is then led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. The temptations begin "If you are the Son of God, ..." They are temptations to his identity, his self-understanding, his mission. They are tempting because they are three different ways to fulfill his mission without his death on the cross. The devil says, Feed the people and they will follow you, cure the sick and the possessed and they will follow you. Jesus refuses to buy their loyalty; he wants them to believe and love him and everyone else. He feeds and cures out of compassion for their hunger and suffering, not as bribery.
In the Spiritual Exercises Ignatius calls the devil "the father of lies". He always tempts us by his lie that this choice, this decision will make us happy, satisfied, fulfilled, admired, important, etc. We know from experience that it doesn't. Let us ask the grace to recognize and resist the lies and always turn to the Lord for strength in our weakness.
Fr. Ralph Huse, S.J.
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