Gospel for March 6 2022 – Luke 4:1-13
Gospel Reflections for March 6 2022
Good and bad temptations
Temptations happen in two ways. You can be tempted to act selflessly …or selfishly, to do good …or do evil. President Putin has chosen evil.
Ukrainians were tempted to be brave, courageous, and heroic, and have been so from the beginning …and in freezing weather too. As a Catholic country, perhaps they knew how Jesus responded to temptations in today’s Gospel. These were not just random events.
Jesus is tempted three times by the devil in the same way that Adam and Eve were tempted in the Garden of Eden to seek pleasure, power, and pride. (Genesis 3:1-6) Our Lord reverses each temptation with the loving behavior of fasting, almsgiving (giving to the poor), and prayer.
Lent begins with this Gospel because it affirms these answers to those three temptations.
First Temptation: The Devil tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread. He had not eaten for days and so was very hungry. Yet fasting is a way of affirming you are more powerful than your desire for pleasure, even for food. Using His divine power only for Himself would have sounded great. Yet He would not do it. Jesus is all about love, and love is all about using your gifts for others.
Second Temptation: The Devil tempts Jesus to acquire all the kingdoms of the world. Having all that power for Himself would have sounded great. Yet He would not do it. Jesus is all about love, and He would only use His power for the good of others. Almsgiving for the poor affirms that our possessions do not possess us but are always used for a good cause.
Third Temptation: The Devil tempts Jesus to fall from a great height to show invulnerability to pain and suffering. Being free from suffering would have sounded great. However, He would never feel another’s pain as well, so He would not do it. Jesus, the Son of God, was not proud but rather deeply humbled Himself to enter our world precisely to share in our pain and suffering. Prayer connects you with the God of compassion and so conquers pride.
Fasting, almsgiving, and prayer reverse the sin of Adam and Eve and are the three themes of Lent.
There will always be sin in the world, as we see in Russian aggression, but there is always hope as well. The Ukrainian people were tempted to do good and fight evil, and did so, just as Jesus did in the desert. Today, that same temptation for good must continue in your life as well.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Once again, our Fr. Dave gives us practical, holy advise. Wouldn’t the world be an incredible place if we all committed to following it!?
Larry,
Well said!
Once again, our Fr. Dave gives us practical, holy advise. Just imagine how incredible the world would be if everyone committed to following it!
Larry Schauf
I pray for Ukraine that Jesus will help them my prays at mass this Sunday will be for Ukrainians
Your prayers are joined by those of the whole world! We should not forget that the world is now united in this effort.
The Lenten Season guides us in a Spiritual adventure every year to make us more aware
Of what we are all about. Self examination of our faults and failings and the fasting that tightens our belts and enhances our Spirit.
I pray the aggression in the Ukraine will cease and Putin will relent in his path of destruction and death to those brave souls. Loving others as we love ourselves is essential to achieve World Peace.
Yes, it it is meaningful that this crisis is happening during Lent when we pay special attention to sinfulness. We see it in Russian actions in Ukraine.
Love your precious thoughts and beautiful words!!!Let us consecrate our precious Ukraine to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate Heart of our Blessed Mother!!! Beautiful people, Beautiful Faith!!! may we all help them in prayer giving and love!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, franca and Dick
Thank you!
Usually I give my own reflection before reading yours, but this time I read yours first and really was blessed by it. Your statement at end about prayer and alms giving is so true. I remember when I was at St. Paschalis and you started the adoration and it was such a beautiful time. I remember going to some of the meetings and they would tell how it meant so much to others. One couple stood out to me and they were on the fringe of divorcing and Our Lord meat them in adoration and their love grew. That was just one example of the power of prayer. There were so many answers to prayer as we surrender to His love and TRUST in Him alone.
Yes, the Adoration Chapel at St. Paschal’s was the spiritual engine of our parish that did so much good.
A good teacher is worth two books, if not more. Thank-You for this reflection. I hope that everyone can say a novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help – and also prayers to Our Lady Queen of Ukraine.
You can be sure that prayers from around the world are for the Ukrainian people.
Dear Father Dave,
Resistance comes to mind, particularly when evil needs to be pushed back.
As always, thank you for your thought-provoking gospel synopsis.
God bless you and all….
Kathleen
You are very welcome!
” Fasting, almsgiving, and prayer reverse the sin of Adam and Eve and are the three themes of Lent”
It’s easy to become insensitive, an important thing that should always be kept in mind !!
What an amazing & beautiful words !!!
Thank you!
Hi Father,
Finally getting a chance to reply on your Gospel Reflections for March 6th.
How things are worded is everything to me and I loved how you worded: “Jesus is all about Love, and Love is all about using your gifts (God gave us) for others”
I pick up 2 of my grandkids from school and the day prior, I give them some “Food for Thought” There is no wrong answer but gives them something to think about. Thanks! Keep up the good work 🙂
I am so glad you have found my articles so helpful. Thanks also for your mentoring of your grandkids too!