Vatican City, 10 March 2014 (VIS) –
At midday today, the first Sunday of Lent, the Holy Father appeared
at the window of his study to pray the Angelus with the faithful
gathered in St. Peter's Square. The Bishop of Rome commented that
every year the Gospel of the first Sunday of Lent presents Jesus'
temptations, and he mentioned that the tempter seeks to divert the
Lord from His Father's plan, or rather the way of sacrifice that
involves offering Himself in atonement and with love, and attempts to
make Him choose the easy path of success and power.
“Indeed, the devil, to divert Jesus
from the way of the cross, presents Him with false messianic hopes:
economic well-being, as indicated by the possibility of turning
stones into bread; a miraculous and spectacular style as seen in the
idea of throwing Himself off the highest point of the temple of
Jerusalem, to be saved by angels, and finally a shortcut to power and
domination, in exchange for His open worship of Satan".
Jesus, the Pope explained, "firmly
rejects all these temptations and reiterates His determination to
follow the path set out by the Father, without compromising with sin
and with the logic of the world. … This is why Jesus, instead of
entering into a dialogue like Eve, chooses to take refuge in God's
Word and responds with the power of this Word. We should remember
this when we are tempted ourselves: do not argue with Satan, always
defend ourselves with the Word of God. And this will save us".
“In his response to Satan, the Lord
reminds us, first, that 'man does not live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceeds from the mouth of God', and this gives us
strength, supporting us in our battle against the worldly mentality
that reduces man to the level of his most basic needs and causing him
to lose his hunger for what is true, good and beautiful, the hunger
for God and His love. Remember too that it is also written: 'Do not
test the Lord your God', because the road of faith also passes
through darkness and doubt, and is nourished by patience and
perseverance. Finally, remember that it is written: 'The Lord, your
God, shall you worship and Him alone shall you serve', that is, we
have rid ourselves of idols, of vain things, and build our lives on
the essentials”.
“Lent is a fitting occasion for all
of us to undertake a journey of conversion, giving sincere
consideration to this Gospel passage”, concluded Pope Francis. “Let
us renew the promises of our Baptism: renouncing Satan and all his
works and seduction, to walk the path of God to reach Easter in the
joy of the Spirit".
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