Gospel of Luke 4:1-13

Filled with the Holy SpFilled 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. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.” Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.”

Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus said to him in reply,“It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”

When the devil had finished every temptation he departed from him for a time. Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”

Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory;
for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.”

Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.” Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you,  lest you dash your foot against a stone.”

Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

Luke 4:1-13

This Week’s Sunday Gospel Reflection

Lent has officially begun!  Every year, the conversation around this time is usually what people decided to give up for Lent.  This Lenten practice can be frustrating, but it is ultimately for us to grow closer to Christ.  Too frequently I hear people staying at the surface level of simply giving something up for a couple of months and then relieved to get it back at Easter. It is easy to miss the deeper meaning behind the sacrifice when we get in the routine of giving something up and not examining it further.  The point is not to “white-knuckle” our way through Lent with whatever we have given up only to binge on Easter morning. If this is our attitude, we have missed the point. 

This brings me to today’s Gospel.  Christ says that we do not live on bread alone.  I think that the hope of Lent is that we will realize that the “bread” that we have given up is temporary and short-lived compared to God.  Our goal should be to change our relationship with what we have given up instead of simply returning to it on Easter morning.  This is why we are called to give up things that we enjoy in a sacrificial way.  If we give up ice cream, the goal is that we will learn to turn to God in prayer instead of ice cream when we have had a difficult day and need relief.  The hope is that we will take this lesson out of Lent and use it in our spiritual growth and journey to union with Christ.  This week, consider reflecting on the deeper meaning of God’s call to sacrifice and how your sacrifice can be used as a way to grow closer to Christ.

Questions To Reflect On This Week

1. Is what I’m choosing to give up for Lent truly a sacrifice that will lead me closer to Christ?
2. How will I turn to God when I’m tempted to give up on my Lenten fast?
3. During Lent, we’re also called to pray and give alms. How will you live out these pillars?

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash