“LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL” 

Monastery on the Mount of Temptation

This time we were blessed to visit the Monastery of the Mount of Temptation where Satan subjected Jesus to a triple temptation after forty days of fasting (Mt 4:1-11). This took place after Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River, and right before His public ministry.  It reminds us of the temptation of Adam and Eve who, by entering freely into temptation, rejected God’s will. Jesus, as the New Adam, is totally obedient to the will of the Father. He refuses to use his power for his own benefit and accepts whatever God wills. The devil supports his proposal by an appeal to the scriptures, Ps 91:11a, 12. Unlike Israel (Dt 6:16), Jesus refuses to “test” God by demanding from him an extraordinary show of power. [4:9] The worship of Satan to which Jesus is tempted is probably intended to recall Israel’s worship of false gods. His refusal is expressed in the words of Dt 6:13.

The rock where Jesus was tempted after forty days of fasting

Each one of us is tempted in many ways. Satan shows his hatred towards those who desire to do the will of God and stay close to Him. The evil one will use all his strength to deceive and mislead in order to bring God’s people – his enemies to a fall. We need to keep in mind that priests and religious are Satan’s number one enemy, for they destroy his business (which is taking souls away from God). Our earthly life is a state of exile and a battlefield against the evil one. However, we need to approach this battle with faith in Jesus Christ who, by His life death and resurrection, conquered Satan. Therefore, even though we face many temptations, we have great weapons to repel the enemy: humility – the root of all virtues, obedience, prayer and fasting. 

"God only permits temptations to assail us that we might grow. The more tried trails we endure, the more must we run to take refuge in God. Temptation is the water that washes us clean: the strongest temptations are like hot water which cleans us better. When you are tempted, no matter where you are, kneel before the Lord and say: Lord, I renounce Satan and his works; I want nothing but Your Spirit. And you will see that you always be victorious if you are faithful to these words." (Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified, OCD, 1848-1878)