Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.
The Desert
1. Being led. Life’s journey inevitably leads us through challenging times. These moments of testing help you mature, and tough circumstances push you to change your viewpoints. You are called not only to embrace life fully, but also to take responsibility for it—with all its ups and downs. The “desert” represents both a mental and life stage; it feels like wandering in emptiness, in the middle of nowhere without anything to hold onto. Yet, this period is necessary to discover something new and transformative for your life.
2. The devil. Throughout life, you’ll encounter people and situations trying to divide or discourage you. Don’t allow these challenges to trap you or diminish your sense of worth. Remember: the desert is a normal part of life, but being torn down, feeling insignificant, is a form of temptation—a strategy to draw you away from what’s truly sacred. Refocus on God, so He can guide your choices and remind you of your true value.
3. Power. Temptations are ever-present, but the greatest of them all is the desire for power—the longing to control and direct everything around you. Today, ask God for humility. Pray that your actions serve His glory, not just your own reputation or status. Let your “desert experiences” help you grow and allow the temptations you encounter to guide you toward greater compassion for others.
In times of temptation, refrain from making hasty decisions; instead, turn to prayer and ask God to enlighten your way so you can see clearly. Learn to be patient, as despair is your greatest adversary during these moments. Be patient, pray, and surrender yourself to God. He will bless you with His grace.
Don’t forget that something good is on the way!
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
