As we begin the season of Lent, we hear Luke’s version of the three temptations of Jesus at the beginning of his public ministry. His responses will determine the direction of his mission.

The first temptation is about food. “Turn this stone into bread.” After being without food for forty days it would have been simple for Jesus to satisfy his hunger by turning stone into bread by using his divine power. Jesus does not succumb to self-gratification but quotes the Book of Deuteronomy reminding the devil that we do not live “on bread alone.”

Today, the temptation to self-indulgence is not simply about food, but it may be about a lifestyle where our personal concerns are prioritised above the needs of others.

The second temptation is about power over others when the devil invites Jesus to exercise authority over nations. This is a seductive temptation for power and control is an aphrodisiac, and Pope Francis constantly warns us against the abuse of power when we use our roles in church and society to aggrandise ourselves rather than promote the concerns of those less fortunate. Jesus calls us to promote not ourselves but commitment to the needy as evidenced in the ministry of Jesus.

The third temptation is for Jesus to do something amazing by throwing himself off the top of the temple and asking the angels to catch him. Jesus resists the temptation to do something spectacular and reproves the devil by quoting scripture to confirm God’s love for those who are faithful. Success is not everything as Mother Theresa famously put it: “God has not called us to be successful but to be faithful.”

This does not mean that our lives will be free from temptation, but scripture teaches us that Jesus overcame the devil and won the battle for us and for our world. In the wilderness and on the cross Jesus resisted the devil’s temptations. He did not listen to Peter, who tried to convince him to stay away from Jerusalem and certain death. He did not call on an army of angels when arrested in the garden of Gethsemane. Even crucified on the cross, Jesus refused to save himself.

We do not have to fear the devil because Jesus has defeated him. Which means that no matter what is happening in our lives, no matter the temptations, trials and tests we might be going through, we can turn to Jesus, and he will be there for us, to lead and guide us along the way.

We will not be challenged as Jesus was, but we will be tempted to live for ourselves, to exercise power and control, and to focus on success rather than faithfulness. Jesus teaches us that through prayer, scripture, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and service of others we will be able to resist temptation and be missionary disciples proclaiming the good news by word and deed.

Michael A Kelly CSsR

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