Pope Benedict XVI once compared Lent to “a period of spiritual ‘combat’ which we must experience alongside Jesus, not with pride and presumption, but using the arms of faith: prayer, listening to the word of God, and penance. In this way, we will be able to celebrate Easter in truth, ready to renew the promises of our Baptism.”
This beloved Holy Father wanted Catholics to understand that we must be willing to battle Satan. When we think about what we plan to sacrifice until Easter Sunday, the devil will do everything he can to make us fall. It is our job to stand our ground and never back down.
In the Gospel chosen for the first Sunday of Lent, Jesus is led by the spirit into the desert. After forty days in the desert, he is tempted by the devil (Satan). The devil says to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answers, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”
Later, Satan tempts Jesus again by saying, ““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.” Then, Jesus overcomes the second temptation by saying, “It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.”
In his final attempt to get Jesus to fall (literally), Satan leads Jesus on the top of a hill. “If you are the Son of God, throw your self 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.”
Jesus overcame three temptations from the devil. He lived by the word of God, overcame unruly passions, and looked at what was higher.
As Lent gets into full swing and we have discern what we plan to sacrifice, it is a time of spiritual mortification. Our main goal during these 40 Days of Lent is to detach ourselves from the world.
St. Josemaria Escriba reminds us to not despise little things “for by the continual practice of denying yourself again and again in such things you will add strength and resilience to your character”.
Let’s confront the obstacles and barriers that keeps us in living in Christian perfection. We may fall but we must keep getting back up and try our hardest to resist Satan and his empty promises.