Temptation and Prayer: In the first two Sundays of Lent, Mark, brilliantly succinct, reveals the preparation Jesus experienced. During the next three Sundays John adds shimmering lights on Jesus’ ministry before we plunge into the Crucifixion, where we watch, from wherever we are, what Jesus must go through in order to give us Easter. These six illustrations invite us to take a closer look at the choices we are making in our lives and what we might choose to discard, correct, or add.

It appears that he is affirmed and ready for ministry. Yet, immediately the Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness where he must spend 40 days taming the temptations that come with power. Only then is Jesus equipped to proclaim the good news. And so, we too are invited to notice the temptations that are pulling us off course, diverting our energy, and impeding our ability to proclaim the good news.

Yes, we are living in the fulfilled time, but we have a part to play: We are called to repent and to believe. Both can be hard, and we may be sorely tempted to take some easier path that deflects true repentance or dilutes belief in the good news. This passage reminds us to be prepared for God’s help to sometimes lead to immediate action, and to deep and lasting transformation.

The Rev. Richard Rohr, Roman Catholic Franciscan paraphrases the three temptations which are described more fully in Matthew 4: 1-11. Father Rohr says the three temptations are Success, Power, and Righteousness (being sure you are the one with the correct interpretation). How might each of these temptations have posed a risk for Jesus? How might these temptations pose a risk for us today?

Prayer: Thank you for the insights into temptations that are getting in our way. Give us courage to confront these temptations and, like Jesus was able to do, put them behind us. We ask this through your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.