Sunday, March 9, is the First Sunday of Lent. Mass readings: Deuteronomy 26:4-10; Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15; Romans 10:8-13; Luke 4:1-13.

As Lent begins, we are asked to consider some of life’s temptations, as the three temptations faced by Jesus are on wide display in our own times.

Serve God

The devil encourages Jesus to turn stones into bread. After such a long fast, the thought of bread is surely a strong temptation. Jesus rebukes the devil, saying, “Man does not live on bread alone.” The Lenten lesson is that there are things more important than creature comforts.

Next, by taking Jesus up a high mountain, the devil highlights the temptation to both power and popularity; the devil promises Jesus sovereignty and glory.

One of the deepest wounds in our soul revolves around being popular and dreading being laughed at, scorned or ridiculed. For many people, giving in to this desire is a way of bowing before the devil: willing to sin in order to fit in.

But Jesus tells us how we should live daily:

“You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.”

Seek Mercy

Then the devil encourages Jesus to test God’s love for him.

In our time, the sin of presumption is seen fair and wide. Many people think sin will not have consequences. “God is love, and he would never send anyone to hell or punish them!” many believe. In saying this, they reject literally thousands of verses of Scripture that say otherwise. A mitigated form of presumption is procrastination, constantly putting off a return to the Lord.

Jesus rebukes the devil by quoting Deuteronomy: “You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” Yes, God loves us and is rich in mercy. But we cannot willfully gloss over what God calls sin. We should call on the Lord’s mercy rather than doubting that we really need it or just presuming that God doesn’t mind. He does.

Turn to the Word

Notice, too, that Jesus rebukes every temptation by having recourse to Scripture.

Draw strength from what God’s teaches and slay each temptation by the “sword of the Spirit,” which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).