Gospel – March 9, 2025
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.
(Luke 4:1-13)
Today’s Gospel (Luke 4:1-13) presents the powerful moment when Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, enters the desert for forty days, facing temptation from the devil. This passage not only reveals Christ’s divine strength but also offers us a model for resisting temptation in our own lives.
Jesus faces three temptations: physical comfort, power, and pride. The devil first tempts Him with bread, urging Him to use His divine power for self-satisfaction. But Jesus responds with Scripture, showing that true sustenance comes from God alone. The second temptation offers worldly power in exchange for worshiping Satan, but Jesus rejects it, reaffirming that only God is worthy of worship. Finally, the devil challenges Jesus to test God’s protection by throwing Himself from the temple. Again, Jesus refuses, demonstrating complete trust in God’s plan rather than seeking signs or testing His Father’s love.
This Gospel reminds us that we, too, face temptations daily—temptations to seek comfort over sacrifice, power over humility, and self-reliance over trust in God. Like Jesus, we must arm ourselves with Scripture, prayer, and reliance on the Holy Spirit to overcome them.
Lent is a season of repentance, calling us to turn away from sin and seek God’s mercy. When we fall, we are not left to despair. The Sacrament of Confession offers us the grace to rise again, restoring our relationship with God. Jesus, though sinless, shows us the way: resisting temptation, trusting in the Father, and remaining steadfast in faith. Let us follow His example, turning away from sin and embracing the mercy God offers us through repentance and confession.
