TEXT: The Gospel according to St. Luke 4:1-13

Jesus had been baptized in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist.  The Spirit of God had manifested over Jesus as a Dove.  Witnesses heard the Voice from heaven declaring of Jesus -- "You are my beloved Son. On you my favor rests." (Luke 3:22).  We explored this on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Sunday after Epiphany.

I would like the emphasis for us today to be on two issues that will be brought to light in the text.

First, there was the filling of Jesus for the work before him.  We know who Jesus is, because we have the ears to hear the Gospel with and we know that Jesus is our Lord.  If Jesus showed us by its effect this "filling," as the opening of today's passage declares, it would be wise for you and me to understand the importance of the Holy Spirit's filling in our lives within the
Church.

Secondly, the enemy of our souls, Satan, the devil, "awaits another opportunity," as he "departed from him for a time."  These were not the only temptations that would come to Jesus, or, the Church.  However, we have this resource.  I Cor. 10:13.  God is faitful.

The emphasis of this passage is focused upon our preparedness for Satan's opportunities against us through the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

Let us reflect upon this, considering the passage in sections.

1 Filled with the holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert
2 for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry.

How many of us have fasted for even a short period of time?  Here, we have the most important ministry in all of eternity, that of Immanuel, and the commitment of Jesus is to fast for forty days.  He ate nothing.  One may also recall the days of Moses upon Mt Horeb (Sinai).  Also, recall the temptation of the people who did not fast to create the golden calf, (Exodus 32, after Moses had given the people the Law).  Now, let us remember that Moses gave the Law, but, Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ! (John 1).

Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit led him to the desert, like the children of Israel went into the desert.  Only, this "Son," the greater Son of the Most High was absolutely successful in the Father's commandments!

Do we see the parallel, my beloved, between the Old and the New Testamnets?

Out of Egypt I have called my Son, said Matthew's Gospel, (Matthew 2:13-15).

Jesus was hungry.  However, Jesus waited for his Father's will, because he was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Our Lord Jesus was never, like the world, a citizen of Egypt, craving the foods of Egypt, complaining as did his ancestors in a desert before about --  the "better life of slavery in Egypt than to die in the desert."

The holy scriptures tell us that he was hungry, just like his ancestors of the Exodus.  It is interesting that the word and tense used here for "he hungered," is (epeinasen), an aorist form of the verb, meaning, "he was famished," or, "he longed for food."  Since this is an aorist verb form, it seems in context to carry with it the meaning that he only focused upon that hunger after the forty days.

His true Focus was to perfectly fulfil the Law of God and accomplish the work of God.

It was when, "he was famished,"  that Satan came in a concerted manner to tempt Jesus at this first point of weakness.

We can learn much from this method of Satan, here.

However, we learn more from Jesus in the means to resist.

3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."

Satan knew the identity of Jesus.  Yet, Jesus laid aside his own self-centered prerogatives and perfectly sought the will of the Father.

4 Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'"

Jesus replied to the enemy with the holy scriptures, knowing that we do not live merely by earthly bread.  Is it not interesting that our Bread of Life, Jesus, would at the end of Luke's Gospel account be seen with the two on the road of Emmaus as that One who would break the bread with them and tell them who he was through the holy scriptures, the Torah, the Writings,
the Prophets?

Man does not live by bread alone, but, by every word that goes from the mouth of God.  Some texts add the words -- "all' epi panti remati theou," (but upon every word of God), or, "all' en panti remati theou," (but in every word of God), or, "all' epi panti remati exporeuomeno dia stomatos theou," (but upon every word going through the mouth of God).

The Logos tou Theou (Word of God)  knew the holy scriptures!

When we listen to the Liturgy of the Word, we are listening to the message of our Lord to you and me in community.

Therefore, Satan did not have a chance to misquote and effectively trick even a famished Man, our Lord Jesus.

5 Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.
6 The devil said to him, "I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish.
7 All this will be yours, if you worship me."

Many would accept this challenge of Satan and give in to Satan today.  After all, is this not the best way to accomplish great works for God, through the world?  Not so.  It has never been the right thing to do, that is, it is not the best choice.

The enemies of our souls too easily compromise us in our weaknesses, my beloved.

Satan would give all the power and the glory of these kingdoms of the earth.  The power was his to give, a give he would, if Jesus wanted it.

8 Jesus said to him in reply, "It is written:
'You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.'"

How, well, we may learn from this.  These are the words of the Word made Flesh, fully filled with the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is the Last Adam, only Begotten of the Father.  "It is written: 'You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.'"

It is written!

God places great importance upon what is written.  We, also, must place importance there too.  What is written here is for you and me, because Mary pondered these things in her heart, and, Dr. Luke recorded them for us to hear and possess and apply.

Nevertheless, Satan was not finished with the temptation of Jesus.

He pursues as a flood of water the remnant of the seed into the desert places, (Rev. 12).

He keeps increasing the pressure of the message.

9 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,
10 for it is written:
'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,'
11 and:
'With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"

Now, Jerusalem is the City of David.  It was the center of the Hberew people.

Here is the ultimate that Satan may bring to the Face of Jesus.

"If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here!"  "Let me quote some scriptures here to you, 'son of a god'!"  I am sure there was a tone of irritation in the voice of that fallen Cherub that covered the Throne of God.

He quotes, no -- Satan <<misquotes>>, holy scripture -- Psalm 91:11-12.

10 for it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,'
11 and: 'With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"

Satan takes it all out of context!

Listen to the context of Psalm 91:11-12

There are some conditions attached to  Psalm 91:1-16

1 You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 Say to the LORD, "My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust."
3 God will rescue you from the fowler's snare, from the destroying plague,
4 Will shelter you with pinions, spread wings that you may take refuge; God's faithfulness is a protecting shield.
5 You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness, nor the plague that ravages at noon.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, near you it shall not come.

(Notice how closely Satan came to revealing this "chip" in his Dragon's hide), for as we read on it shows the end of Satan...

8 You need simply watch; the punishment of the wicked you will see.
9 You have the LORD for your refuge; you have made the Most High your stronghold.
10 No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent.

(In Luke's Gospel -- Satan, the evil one, was telling Jesus to do something evil.)

11 For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways.
12 With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

(Notice how Satan avoided this one?), as we read on in the psalm...

13 You shall tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon.
14 Whoever clings to me I will deliver; whoever knows my name I will set on high.
15 All who call upon me I will answer; I will be with them in distress; I will deliver them and give them honor.
16 With length of days I will satisfy them and show them my saving power.

Praise God that Jesus listened to the Father and the Holy Spirit, because Jesus was our Immanuel!

Born of the Blessed Virgin Mary that one delightful Woman who will also trample that viper under her foot someday, and is seen as having done so, is the Son of the Most High, the Seed of the Woman who would destroy and crush the head of Satan under foot.

12 Jesus said to him in reply, "It also says, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.'"
13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

Now, it is obvious to this day that Satan has sought other opportunities to tempt and test the Church, which is his body, (Ephesians 1:22-23).  He continues to do this today.

We are in the desert with Mary...

Jesus is with us, because he is the Head of his Body, the Church.

However, we also have the Comforter, our Parakletos, the One who stands beside to give power over sin and temptations.  We have not been left alone as orphans.  The Church has been born on Pentecost and we are her children.

It is Jesus who has not left us alone...

The resources, the Sacramental resources, are ours in Christ and our Mother!

Preparation starts with the fulness of the Holy Spirit.  We should best meet temptations with that fulness with a ready access to a living relation-filled communion with Christ and his Church.

It is noteworthy that the verses that follow this text for today make this notation for us.

Luke 4:14-15

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
15 He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

There is the secret of success in the life of a Christian in communion with Christ and the Church.

May we follow the will of the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit, like our Lord Jesus Christ?

Deus et Sanctissima