Today on this first Sunday of Lent, we hear from Mark’s gospel about Jesus’ time of temptation in the desert immediately after his baptism (Mark 1:12-15). Mark gives us the short version. We find more detailed accounts in Matthew (Matthew 4:1-11) and Luke (Luke 4:1-13).

When we reflect on these scripture readings, we come to realize that Jesus was faced with the same temptations that each of us face on a daily basis.  And by his example Jesus shows us how to persevere.

First Satan tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread in order to satisfy his hunger.  It is the same for us. Many times we are tempted to “fill ourselves up” with the “bread” of this world while ignoring God’s word and our own spiritual needs. But eventually we come to realize that, like Jesus, our focus needs to be on our spiritual well-being more than our physical well-being, that it is our communion with God that gives our earthly lives real meaning and opens the door to our eternal destiny in heaven.

Satan then tempts Jesus to jump from the precipice to prove that God will come to his rescue. It is the same for us. Many times we are tempted to have God “prove” himself to us, to give us a “sign”. And sometimes when things don’t go our way, or according to our plan, we are tempted to question God’s wisdom and to have him justify himself. Sometimes when we lose sight of our “invisible” God we come to doubt his love and his desire for goodness in our life. And when that happens, sometimes we try to wrestle control of our lives away from God. But eventually we come to realize that, like Jesus, we need to abandon ourselves to God with a child-like faith and an obedient trust. We come to realize that God needs to prove nothing since he has already proved everything.

Finally Satan offers Jesus an earthly kingdom in exchange for Jesus’ worship. It is the same for us. Many times we are tempted to turn away from God in order to obtain wealth, power, and prestige. We are tempted to put God aside to pursue worldly ambitions and to satisfy our own agenda. We are tempted to allow pride and greed to cause us to trample God’s law of love. We are tempted to worship the false Gods of self, money, and possessions rather than God. We are tempted to selfishly serve ourselves rather than selflessly serve others. But eventually we come to realize that, like Jesus, it is a humble and selfless spirit that God desires, a spirit that compels us to tend to those needier than ourselves and to share our good fortune with those less fortunate.

It is Jesus who shows us how to persevere through our own temptations.  Prior to his encounter with Satan, Jesus had spent forty days in prayerful communion with his Father. And this is what sustained him in his moment of temptation. And it is the same for us. It is through constant communion with God through prayer, scripture, sacraments, and fellowship with others that we develop the holiness and fortitude that allows us to remain faithful. With his Father by his side, Jesus overcame Satan and all of his empty promises. With Jesus by our side, we can too.

It is through Jesus’ saving power that we have the grace and strength to resist our daily temptations and all of those things that take us away from God. It is Jesus’ saving power that fortifies us in our own personal war again our sinful inclinations. It is Jesus saving power and God’s infinite love and forgiveness that allows us again and again to turn back to God after we have fallen of course.  Earlier this week, on Ash Wednesday we heard God speaking to us through the prophet Joel – “return to me with your whole heart.  God speaks this to us every day.  And every day we accept God’s invitation.