The season of lent is an opportune time to renew our own lives. We embark on this renewal not relying on our own strength but instead on God’s grace. Most of us know our weaknesses and shortcomings. Nevertheless, in order to address these weak areas of our lives, we need spiritual strength because these weaknesses or shortcomings are the areas of our lives with which we might be quite comfortable. How do we receive this transformative spiritual strength? It is through our life of prayer. Today’s gospel passage presents to us the temptation of Jesus in the desert. The focus of this passage often goes to the three temptations that Jesus had. We should not forget the fact that, prior to these moments of temptation, he spent forty days in prayer and fasting. In fact, these moments of prayer helped Jesus to deepen his intimacy with Abba Father, and they empowered Jesus to overcome these moments of temptation.

The first temptation for Jesus was to satisfy his bodily hunger. Obviously, it was quite natural that after forty days of intense prayer and fasting, Jesus might have felt hungry. At that juncture, the devil suggests that he turn the stones into bread. We may wonder: What is wrong with the devil’s suggestion? The devil is a person always trying to take us away from the love of God by closing our hearts to His grace. Jesus chose to listen to his Abba. Jesus was convinced about the fact that man does not live by bread alone; the words come from God. Jesus could resist evil because for 40 days he stayed away from the world, and he could turn his hearts and ears to listen to God and choose him alone. Our soul’s need for God is greater than any of our bodily needs.

Secondly, we see the devil taking Jesus to the pinnacle of the Jerusalem temple and asking him to jump from there. The Devil pronounces the assurance of divine protection by quoting Ps. 91. However, Jesus recognised the devil’s plan to test the power of God. Jesus experienced the providential care of Abba during the forty days he spent in the desert. He doesn’t need the name and fame that he may get through performing this miracle. Jesus resists the devil, reminding him to not test God.

Finally, we see that the devil comes with the most powerful and attractive temptation. In a matter of seconds, present before Jesus all the glory and pomp of this world. If Jesus is willing to worship him, he will give everything to him. Jesus knew the devil was a liar. He doesn’t need a short cut to redeem this world. He is going to accomplish redemption by shedding his blood. Jesus emphasises the truth that worship belongs to God alone. Jesus conquered the devil with this response. Jesus could resist these temptations because of his intense prayer and fasting. These prayer moments assisted him in getting to know his own mission and destiny. Immediately after the desert experience, he begins the mission of proclaiming repentance and belief in the gospel. As we embark on this season of lent, may all our sacrifices help us to grow closer to Jesus so that we may be able to withstand our moments of temptation and grow closer to Jesus. Thus, we all may be blessed with spiritual strength to overcome temptation and bring renewal to our lives.