Fr. Martin ALI KEKE NDEMSOU sx
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
In today’s Gospel, there is a confrontation between Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life (cf. Jn 14: 6) and Satan who is a liar and the father of lies (Jn 8: 44). However, Lie was not able to overcome the Truth which is always stronger than Satan. Jesus, the Truth did not fall into his traps.
In fact, Satan unsuccessfully tempted Jesus three times in the desert. First, he tempted the Lord with food which provides pleasure: “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves.” And we know that food is mostly appealing when one is hungry. Before food, some people can even lose control when they are hungry.
Biblically, Adam and Eve are the first people that lost control before food. When tempted by Satan to eat the forbidden fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, they fell into his trap. On the contrary, Jesus did not fall. He defeated Satan by using the word of God. To the devil that tempted him with food, Jesus clearly replied: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” If the bread physically nourishes us, the word of God spiritually strengthens us and sanctifies us.
That is why in his priestly prayer, Jesus says: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (Jn 17: 17). During this Lenten season, may the word of God be our spiritual nourishment. It (the word of God) “is alive and powerful, capable of converting hearts and leading them back to God” (cf. Pope Francis, Message for Lent 2017). Let us feed ourselves as much as possible on it.
Secondly, Satan tempted Jesus, and by doing so he put God to the test. Again Jesus defeated the father of lies by using the word of God: “You must not put the Lord your God to the test.” Similarly, (3rd temptation) Satan, after showing the splendor of the world, promised to grant it to Jesus, if he worshipped him. But Jesus categorically refused saying: “You must worship the Lord your God and serve him alone.”
May this Lenten season help us to cling to Jesus who is the Truth which is always more powerful than the lie. Let us take time to listen to God’s Word which is our spiritual nourishment. Then will we be able to overcome the devil as Jesus did.
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
In today’s Gospel, there is a confrontation between Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life (cf. Jn 14: 6) and Satan who is a liar and the father of lies (Jn 8: 44). However, Lie was not able to overcome the Truth which is always stronger than Satan. Jesus, the Truth did not fall into his traps.
In fact, Satan unsuccessfully tempted Jesus three times in the desert. First, he tempted the Lord with food which provides pleasure: “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves.” And we know that food is mostly appealing when one is hungry. Before food, some people can even lose control when they are hungry.
Biblically, Adam and Eve are the first people that lost control before food. When tempted by Satan to eat the forbidden fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, they fell into his trap. On the contrary, Jesus did not fall. He defeated Satan by using the word of God. To the devil that tempted him with food, Jesus clearly replied: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” If the bread physically nourishes us, the word of God spiritually strengthens us and sanctifies us.
That is why in his priestly prayer, Jesus says: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (Jn 17: 17). During this Lenten season, may the word of God be our spiritual nourishment. It (the word of God) “is alive and powerful, capable of converting hearts and leading them back to God” (cf. Pope Francis, Message for Lent 2017). Let us feed ourselves as much as possible on it.
Secondly, Satan tempted Jesus, and by doing so he put God to the test. Again Jesus defeated the father of lies by using the word of God: “You must not put the Lord your God to the test.” Similarly, (3rd temptation) Satan, after showing the splendor of the world, promised to grant it to Jesus, if he worshipped him. But Jesus categorically refused saying: “You must worship the Lord your God and serve him alone.”
May this Lenten season help us to cling to Jesus who is the Truth which is always more powerful than the lie. Let us take time to listen to God’s Word which is our spiritual nourishment. Then will we be able to overcome the devil as Jesus did.