Dealing With Temptation
First Sunday of Lent (A)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 4: 1-11 - At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written:
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth
from the mouth of God.”
Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you
and with their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus answered him, “Again it is written,
You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written:
The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve.”
Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Jesus…was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Some things should be mentioned about temptation. First, we’ll talk about Jesus’ temptation. Second, we’ll talk about avoiding temptation. What does the Gospel mean by saying that Jesus is “tempted”? Jesus is not tempted in the sense that he really desires the devil’s offers, debates the decision back and forth, and finally chooses rightly. Certainly Jesus does see that the things offered to Him are good (bread, kingdoms, the ministry of angels), but that doesn’t mean that He is enticed to accept them from the devil or to go about obtaining these things in a way that isn’t good, or holy, or just. So the “temptation” of Jesus is not really about something happening in Him (an interior struggle of good versus evil), but something happening to Him (the devil is working to make Him fail).
We will have temptations until we die. They appeal to us because we are not divine and we are affected greatly by sin. Still, Jesus gives a great example of how to deal with them. First, Jesus deals with temptation quickly. It is much easier for us to resist a sin right at the beginning than it is after we have already entertained the thought of it or have started down its path. Second, Jesus knows the Scripture and the doctrines of the faith well enough to combat the tests and lies presented to Him. Immorality causes many sins, but so does ignorance. Third, Jesus knows that just because the things offered to Him are good, it doesn’t mean they are good for Him. We must understand that good things (money, power, pleasure, honor, etc.) in the wrong way, or wrong amount, or wrong time are very bad for us. In prayer, consider what frequently tempts us, and how we can conquer the temptations quickly.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above.(Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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