"YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD,YOUR GOD TO THE TEST."
This First Sunday of Lent reminds us that life is a constant struggle against the devil. But we are expected to face up to the source of all evil in the power of God’s Word and in our determination to be faithful to Him. Jesus’ victory in all temptations encourages us to reject any compromise with the devil.
Today is also the 24th National Migrants’ Sunday, a day when the Church invites us to remember with special love and concern all our brothers and sisters who have migrated either from the provinces to the cities or from their homeland to work in more affluent nations. Let our internal migrants and the Filipino Overseas Contract Workers and their families be today the object of our special love and prayers.
Filled 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.
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.
