MARY, OUR MOTHER

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #89

Then Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he was hungry. And the tempter coming said to him: "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Who answered and said: "It is written, 'Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.' " Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him upon the pinnacle of the temple, And said to him: "If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written: 'That he hath given his angels charge over thee, and in their hands shall they bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot against a stone.' " Jesus said to him: "It is written again: 'Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.' "
Again the devil took him up into a very high mountain, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, And said to him: "All these will I give thee, if falling down thou wilt adore me." Then Jesus saith to him: "Begone, Satan: for it is written: 'The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and him only shalt thou serve.' " Then the devil left him; and behold angels came and ministered to him. (Matt. 4:1-11)

MEANS OF RESISTING TEMPTATION: As a consequence of the Fall these three evil passions, which are the source of our most dangerous temptations, are rife in every man. Besides these passions, our fellow-creatures are a source of temptation to us, and the devil, also by God's permission, still tempts us to evil. We are surrounded by temptations, and therefore Jesus has taught us by His example how we are to war against them. Let us then examine closely in what way it was that Jesus obtained a victory over temptation and the Tempter.

1. He did not expose Himself wantonly to temptation, for it was by the impulse of the Holy Spirit that He went into the desert to be tempted. This teaches us not to place ourselves in danger of sin without necessity, but carefully to avoid the occasion of it. "He that loveth danger shall perish in it" (Ecclus. 3:27).

2. Jesus prepared Himself for temptation by prayer and fasting. We too must pray diligently, and practice self-denial, in order that we may be always ready to fight against the enemy of our salvation. Our Saviour says: "Watch ye and pray that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit, indeed, is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matt. 26:41). He also commands us to pray: Lead us not into temptation" (Matt. 6:13). We shall become strong in spirit and able to resist temptation, if we practice self-denial.

3. During His temptation our Lord remembered the word of God, and finally sent the Tempter away authoritatively and decisively, by the words: "Begone, Satan!" (Matt. 4:10). Thus we too, whether the temptation come from within or from without, ought to turn our thoughts at once to God and His holy word, and say to the tempter: "Begone!" Wherefore, "Resist the devil, and he will fly from you" (James 4: 7).

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)