By Fr. Thomas G. Weinandy, OFM, Cap.

The Gospel reading this year on the first Sunday in Lent is Mark's summary account of Jesus' temptations in the wilderness. Matthew's Gospel provides a fuller depiction, and I will theologically examine both here.

To grasp the significance of Jesus' temptations we first need to know what immediately preceded it. John the Baptist was baptizing in the Jordan in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Jesus came to him to be baptized.

In the act of John baptizing Jesus, the heavens were opened, and the Spirit of God descended upon Him like a dove, whereupon a voice from heaven declared: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Why is the Father pleased with his beloved Son, Jesus? He is delighted in Jesus, for by being baptized in the Holy Spirit, Jesus committed himself to do his Father's will. This Spirit is the commissioning-Spirit, the Spirit that sends Jesus forth to his Father's saving work, a work that will culminate in Jesus offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice. What John the Baptist's baptism symbolized, Jesus' saving death on the Cross achieved - the forgiveness of sins.

Mark's Gospel then declares that "the Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert" where Satan tempted Him. These temptations bear upon Jesus' faithfulness to doing his Father's salvific will, and Matthew's Gospel delineates the content of these trials.

Having fasted for forty days, Jesus was hungry. Taking advantage of Jesus' vulnerability, the tempter said to Jesus: "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread." Yes, if you really are the Son of God as God says you are, then nothing could be easier than for you, in your hunger, to change stones into bread.

Jesus replies by quoting scripture: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Deuteronomy 8:3) As God's Word incarnate, Jesus, the Father's beloved Spirit-filled Son, lives not by earthly bread but by faithful adherence to his Father's command. He will not be deterred from laying down His life for the world's salvation.

During Lent, Catholics are exhorted to fast. Such fasting reminds us that we too do not live on bread alone, but as the Father's sons and daughters are, like Jesus, to be faithful to our Father's life-giving word, that is, we are to be loyal to Jesus Himself, in whom we have eternal life.

The Devil next takes Jesus to Jerusalem and sets him on the pinnacle of the temple, where he says to Jesus that if He really is the Son of God, he should cast Himself down, for angels will bear Him up and He will not be harmed. This first appears to be a bizarre temptation. What would it achieve? Satan is tempting Jesus to make a spectacle of Himself. Everyone would marvel at such a sight. People would be mesmerized by His very presence.

Jesus refuses to be a superstar or celebrity. He will not use His divine power for self-aggrandizement. He reminds the Devil that it is written: "You shall not tempt the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 6:16)

God has the power to do spectacular things, yet it's diabolical to tempt Him to employ his divine power for selfish purposes. That would be beneath both his dignity and his love, a love not for Himself, but for His children.

Deeply sown within our fallen nature is the desire to be someone. We want to be important, to have others admire us and to think highly of us. Lent is a time wherein we seek to put this self-aggrandizement to death. Instead, we strive more earnestly to care for others - especially the poor and the needy. In so doing, we conform ourselves into the likeness of God, for we love as He loves.

We lay down our lives for our spouses, children and grandchildren, and relatives, neighbors, and friends - even those that we might consider enemies. Such is our Father's will for us.

Lastly, the Devil takes Jesus to a high mountain and displays before Him all the kingdoms of the world with their glory. The Devil declares: "All these I...