16th century master illuminator Simon Bening‘s depiction of the devil approaching Jesus with a stone to be turned into bread

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The account of Matthew uses language from the Old Testament. The imagery of a conflict between an earlier “Jesus” and “the devil” would be familiar to Matthew’s contemporary readers, recalling the vision of a conflict between Satan and the Angel of the Lord. In the Septuagint Greek version of Zechariah 3 the name Iesous and term diabolos are identical to the Greek terms of Matthew 4.^[11] Additionally Matthew presents the three scriptural passages cited by Jesus (Deut 8:3, Deut 6:13, and Deut 6:16) not in their order in the book of Deuteronomy, but in the sequence of the trials of Israel as they wandered in the desert, as recorded in the book of Exodus.^[12][13] Luke’s account is similar, though his inversion of the second and third temptations “represents a more natural geographic movement, from the wilderness to the temple”.^[14] Luke’s closing statement that the devil “departed from him until an opportune time”^[15] may provide a narrative link to the immediately following attempt at Nazareth to throw Jesus down from a high place,^[16] or may anticipate a role for Satan in the Passion (cf. Luke 22:3).^[17][18]

In Luke’s and Matthew’s accounts, the order of the three temptations, and the timing (within or at the end of the 40 days) differs. Both Matthew and Luke makes clear that the Spirit has led Jesus into the desert. In both the devil tempts Jesus to:

• Make bread out of stones to relieve his own hunger
• Free himself from a pinnacle by jumping and relying on angels to break his fall. The narrative of both Luke and Matthew has the devil quote Psalm 91:11-12 to show that God had promised this assistance, although the devil implies that the passage may be used to justify presumptuous acts, while the Psalm only promises that God will deliver those who trust and abide in Him.
• Worship the devil in return for all the kingdoms of the world. Luke has the devil explicitly claim this authority had previously been handed to himself, the devil.

Fasting traditionally presaged a great spiritual struggle.^[19] Elijah and Moses in the Old Testament fasted 40 days and nights, and so Jesus doing the same invites comparison to these events. At the time, 40 was less a specific number and more a general expression for any large figure.^[20]

First Sunday of Lent -Year B

Citations of
Gn 9,8-15: www.clerus.org/bibliaclerusonline/en/9ammqbi.htm
www.clerus.org/bibliaclerusonline/en/9avumli.htm
1P 3,18-22: www.clerus.org/bibliaclerusonline/en/9a10zqc.htm
Mc 1,12-15: www.clerus.org/bibliaclerusonline/en/9asrrqa.htm
www.clerus.org/bibliaclerusonline/en/9avun0a.htm

“The Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness and he remained there for forty days, and was tempted by satan” (Mk 1:12-13).

Having introduced the season of Lent with the imposition of ashes, the Church today points out the path for us to journey along. She also tells us the nature of this journey and how we might go about following it.

The Gospel reading shows us how the journey of Lent consists in letting ourselves be led into the desert, allowing ourselves to remain there for forty days, and challenging ourselves to face the temptations of satan. It is like the Exodus of Israel towards the Promised Land; it is the exodus of humanity with each of us journeying as pilgrims towards heaven. We don’t look forward to this journey for its own sake, but we are led along it by Another. The journey is signposted by our combat with the temptation of Satan and – with all that implies in terms of fatigue and suffering. It is a long journey which only our sure hope allows us to undertake with faith and courage.

The nature of this Lenten journey is revealed in the collect, the opening prayer, addressed to God, Our Father, that “we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effect”.
This Lenten journey is a “sacramental sign” of our conversion. What does this mean? “Sacramental sign” means that on this road, that is common to every man, God has preceded us and has done something for us and now He asks us to play our part. He has already fulfilled this journey of conversion for us.

The model to follow is Jesus Christ. “The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert.” It is Christ, true God and true Man, “the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous” (1 Pt 3:18) who has taken upon Himself our sins and by His free choice, as He was without sin and totally immune to it, has decided to also face our temptations. St Augustine wrote: “Christ took his flesh from you and in return gave you the salvation that resides in him; he took your death for himself and gave you his life; he took the share you deserved and gave you the honor that was his. Consequently, he took your temptation and gave you his victory.” (Comm in Ps., 60).

It is not asked of us, therefore, to make this journey simply by ‘doing likewise’. There would be nothing new in that, because, whether we like it or not, our daily life is already like this with all its hard work and hopes! We are asked, in fact, to welcome what is new about Lent: the Other on this path, who is our companion, who has already journeyed on the path of the Exodus, and who has associated us, by our Baptism, with His Victory.

We are all called to stay close to Christ, giving over everything to him – our flesh, our sin, our humiliations, and our temptations – so that we can receive back so much more. He offers us His Salvation, His Life, His Glory, His Victory! Let’s, therefore, give everything to the Lord in the great gift of sacramental Confession, in Eucharistic adoration and in frequent Communion, where Jesus takes our entirety and gives us His Very Self. Let us trust everything to our “greatest friend”, that God has placed at our side.

And so we offer all our sacrifices and hardships to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, because she who is the treasurer of heaven, will distribute to humanity the merits of her Son. Obtain for us, we pray, O Mary, that we will keep our eyes fixed on Christ so to defeat, along with Him, the temptations of satan and thus gain the gift of Eternal Life. Amen.