Year C: First Sunday of Lent

The Gospel: Luke 4:1-13

In Luke’s Gospel, the temptation takes place just after Jesus has been baptised. Luke says that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit - and it is the same Spirit who gives Him the strength to overcome the obstacles that the devil is trying to put in His path.

What is on offer is very tempting - and at first sight are not even bad things.

How could it be wrong to turn stone into bread when you - and so many others - are hungry?

But Jesus is filled with the Spirit of Truth.

He sees through the lies and realises that the devil has no real power to deliver what he offers - that the promises of power and glory, etc. are empty.

Though He is hungry and tired, Jesus holds firm to His trust in the love and promise of God.

He begins to see that His status as the “Beloved Son” is not going to lead Him to earthly wealth or power.

Perhaps, even at this point, He begins to see where His obedience to the will of the Father is going to lead - to Jerusalem - to the Cross - to Resurrection.

What does it mean for me?

When have you been faced with something that seemed good - but which then turned sour?  Do you trust the power of the Holy Spirit within you - helping you to see through empty promises?

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