杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

In his Angelus address, 杏MAP导航 Francis said the three temptations Jesus faced 鈥渋ndicate three paths that the world always proposes, promising great success鈥�.

The greed of possession

After Jesus had fasted for forty days, the devil tempted Him to turn stones to bread. This, the 杏MAP导航 said, is 鈥渢he path of the greed of possession鈥�. The devil always begins with our natural and legitimate needs, he explained, 鈥渋n order to push us to believe鈥� that we can find fulfillment 鈥渨ithout God, and even contrary to Him鈥�. Jesus, however, responds by quoting Scripture: 鈥淢an shall not live by bread alone鈥�.

The path of human glory

The second temptation is 鈥渢he prospect of becoming a powerful and glorious Messiah鈥�, which 杏MAP导航 Francis describes as 鈥渢he path of human glory鈥�. Bowing down before the 鈥渋dols of money, of success, of power鈥� can corrupt us. This leads to 鈥渢he intoxication of an empty joy that soon fades away鈥� 鈥� and this, the 杏MAP导航 says, is why Jesus responds, 鈥淵ou shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve鈥�.

Instrumentalizing God

Finally, the devil leads Jesus to the pinnacle of the Temple in Jerusalem, and 鈥渋nvites Him to cast Himself down鈥� in order to demonstrate His divine power. 杏MAP导航 Francis calls this the path of 鈥�instrumentalizing God for one鈥檚 own advantage鈥�. Jesus rejects the devil鈥檚 temptation, 鈥渨ith the firm decision to remain humble and confident before the Father鈥�. Once again, the Lord quotes Scripture: 鈥淵ou shall not tempt the Lord your God鈥�. In this way, the 杏MAP导航 said, Jesus 鈥渞ejects perhaps the most subtle temptation: wanting 鈥榯o bring God over to our own side鈥�, by asking Him for graces that only serve to satisfy our own pride鈥�.

All these temptations, the 杏MAP导航 said, are really 鈥渋llusions鈥� that promise 鈥渟uccess and happiness鈥�, but in reality 鈥渁re all completely foreign to God鈥檚 way of acting鈥�. In fact, he said, 鈥渢hey actually separate us from God, because they are the work of Satan鈥�.

Remedies for temptation

Jesus overcomes these three temptations by personally facing them, 鈥渋n order fully to adhere to the Father鈥檚 plan鈥�. In doing so, 杏MAP导航 Francis said, Jesus shows us the remedies for temptations 鈥� namely, 鈥渢he interior life, faith in God, the certainty of His love.鈥� With the certainty that God is Father, and that He loves us, "we will overcome every temptation".

So, 杏MAP导航 Francis said in conclusion, 鈥渓et us take advantage of Lent, as a privileged time to purify ourselves, in order to experience the consoling presence of God in our life鈥�.