Most of us probably started this season of Lent with some new Lenten resolutions. Some of them are very simple and small, like staying away from sweets, or from social media. Some are very ambitious and important, like praying more, helping others, going to church each Sunday. Whatever resolution you made, you will be tempted to break it, there is no doubt. Today in the Gospel we read that “At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” What is interesting is that the gospel does not say that Jesus went to that desert, but that He was led there by the Spirit to be tempted. Why? When I read this gospel, I begin to understand that Jesus, the Son of God, was also tempted, just like we are. But he never sinned, never gave in to any temptation. He wants to teach us how to deal with them, how to deal with Satan. What I learn today is that when I am tempted, I need to be like Jesus -- very brief, very specific, and very strong. I can’t rationalize with the evil one’s temptations. I can’t think -- what if I do this just this one time. I can’t let Satan continue tempting me, but I need to cut off those temptations quickly, right away. Otherwise, he will win. “Then the devil left him and behold, angels came and ministered to him.”
