1.st Lent Sunday A Mt 4,1-11

1st Lent Sunday 2020
Introduction
Various tests are currently very popular, not only for entertainment but also for serious topics. Job seekers, students, risky professions, weapon license holders are tested … and the behavior, knowledge, characteristics, reactions of the applicant in difficult situations etc. are examined.
Similar things can be seen in Jesus today. Before he appeared in public, he underwent a kind of test, which he prepared for him. He had been fasting for forty days and his body was exhausted. But the spirit of Jesus was filled with inner strength and focused on the trial of the devil. What was the temptation?
First of all, Jesus should have recognized that matter is more important than spirit. The devil therefore tries to turn stones into bread. Jesus does not reject the need for bread, but he says that man lives not only from bread, but from every word that comes from God’s mouth.
The second temptation was directed against the divinity of Jesus. The devil forces him to stunt / that Jesus is a stuntman / to jump from the top of the temple. It is certain that the father would save his son and would not allow his death at this moment, but Jesus knows that he has no right to try the father because his relationship with the father is based on love and obedience. Therefore, he rejects the devil’s offer: you will not try the Lord your God.
The third temptation is the bravest of the devil’s side because he wants to convince Jesus to recognize him as the prince of this world. But Jesus announced radically: You will worship the Lord your God and only serve him.
Perhaps we are thinking at this point: Why did it have to happen that Jesus was subjected to these temptations. This shows us that he did it for us, because if the devil dared the son of God to try, by wievel rather, he allows himself to try us. Whatever he asked of Jesus, he also asked of us.
If one were to write the history of mankind from the perspective of the temptations of the devil, it certainly would not be enough the paper of the whole world to describe the victories of the devil over man. He would write about treachery, soul selling, craving for wealth and power, fraud, lies and hate … On the other hand, a lot of paper would also be needed to list all brave people who succumbed to the temptation in no time and in any situation and that The devil’s promise, however attractive they may be.
However, we still speak in general, so let’s be specific now. Which of us has not been contacted by the devil? And only we and God know how we reacted. How many times did we jump from the temple to earth believing that nothing could happen to us! This temptation is called trust in God’s mercy. In our case, however, the devil articulates it differently: are you afraid of committing sin? It’s a trifle. How many before you did it!
And what happened? Nothing! They haven’t died or gone to hell, or are you scared? Hesitating? What are you afraid of? You will sin today, you will confess tomorrow. If you sin tomorrow you will confess the day after tomorrow. Do you think you won’t get forgiveness? But where! Because God is merciful, he will recognize that you can fall.
But the temptation may be different: do you think God would condemn you for a little thing? But that is not logical at all. God cannot be so cruel. Only the priests frighten us.
To rely on God’s mercy, this temptation also whispers: God foresees your fragility; That is why Christ died on the cross for you. If you sin, you only confirm that he did not die in vain.
We’ve met? How many times has the devil tried it either way? How many times has he won?
If the devil tries, we have to defend ourselves. How? Jesus gives us the recipe.
Prayer is the main defense. What was his prayer? Not a minute, neither half asleep nor as a useless duty, but a constant dialogue with God connected to him. This is the best defense against the temptations of the devil.
St. Brigitte is said to have been tried by the devil one night. But her belief, hope, and love for God were so strong that she was not afraid of him, even though her devil appeared in an ugly human form. Brigitte started fighting with him. At a certain moment she shouted at him with all her might: Who are you that you want so much that you seduce me into such bad things? I, the devil replied, I’m cold …
God is warm and love, the devil is cold and hate. We know  that he never sleeps, like a roaring lion, looking for whom he would eat. We will have different tests, and how we can withstand them is up to us. Jesus offers us temptation as a helper and recommends persistent and focused prayer so that we can be connected with God.
Thanks to Jesus’ recipe, we will solve all the temptations that will come to us this week.