On this first Sunday of Lent, we hear Luke’s account of Jesus’ temptation in the desert. After his baptism and before beginning his ministry, Jesus went to the desert to be tempted by the devil. After a 40-day period of fasting, Jesus experienced a series of temptations through which the devil tried to entice him to infidelity. But Jesus resisted and emerged victorious, anticipating his ultimate victory on the cross.

There are many lessons we can draw from this encounter. The first is that we do, in fact, have a spiritual enemy who seeks to entice us away from God. And although he is clever – even using words of Scripture to deceive – we must always remember that the devil is only a creature and our Lord has defeated him. Any time we recognize or suspect the enemy is at work, we have only to raise our hearts in prayer to the Lord, asking for his help.

The context within which these temptations occur also has something to teach us. The desert, with its extreme climate, was not a comfortable place to spend 40 days. Furthermore, by going out into the desert, Jesus chose a place of solitude, a place with few distractions. It was in this barren place of discomfort and silence that he focused on preparing for his mission.

During Lent, we might not go out into a literal desert, but by exhorting us to engage in the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, the Church invites us to experience a degree of discomfort, away from distractions. In this context, we can focus on confronting the temptations that can lead us away from fulfilling God’s plan in our lives. The absence of normal consolations and amusements enables us to rely on God’s help, as Jesus did. Thus, when faced with the burdens of our own crosses, we will not be lured away by temptation but will be able to embrace and carry them as Jesus embraced his.

Fortunately for us, we don’t embark on this journey alone. Jesus has gone before us precisely so that he could be with us and help us. In addition, we have the grace of the sacraments through which the Lord grants us his strength. When we are united to him, his strength is made manifest in us and there is no temptation we can’t resist. So let us avail ourselves of that help and embark on our Lenten journey with confidence in the Lord.

(Fr. Michał Pająk, OMI, March 9, 2025)