Reflection for February 18, First Sunday of Lent: Mark 1:12-15

Gospel: Mark 1:12-15

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.

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Reflection:

What is the purpose of temptation? It's to test a person's endurance against Satan and a person’s closeness to God. Many of us fall prey to these temptations because we are spiritually weak, primarily caused by our lack of constant connection with God. This is the main reason why we succumb to temptation: our missing or weak connection with God.

What enabled Jesus to survive His forty days of temptation in the wilderness by Satan? It was His close connection with God. Jesus maintained this connection through a life of prayer. This close bond with God empowered Jesus to withstand the test of temptation in the desert. Despite being tempted by Satan three times, Jesus steadfastly rejected each temptation.

Gold is purified by intense heat to remove impurities, just as humans are purified through temptations to become pure and worthy before God. Passing through and overcoming temptations makes us more worthy in the eyes of God.

As we embark on our own forty-day journey this Lent, we won't physically find ourselves in the desert like Jesus did. However, Satan will undoubtedly attempt to tempt us to sin against God and our fellow humans from time to time.

Let us stand firm against Satan's temptations, no matter how alluring they may seem. When we give in to temptation, we sin and distance ourselves from God's love. Satan is cunning and will go to great lengths to lead us astray. He often disguises sin as something appealing, hoping we'll fall into his trap. If we succumb, we risk falling under Satan's control, putting our lives and personal relationships in jeopardy.

Some may believe that avoiding Satan's temptation is equivalent to defeating it. However, avoidance merely postpones our struggle and maintains our connection with Satan. Instead, let us face Satan and his temptations head-on. When confronted, let us boldly reject him by invoking the powerful name of God.

How do you defeat Satan’s temptation? – Marino J. Dasmarinas