The Power of the Holy Spirit in facing the Temptations of the Devil

Gospel Thoughts

*Lenten Season : C Cycle : First Week: Sunday*

*GOSPEL - Lk 4:1-13*

*FIRST READING - Dt 26:4-10*

*SECOND READING - Rom 10:8-13*

*The Power of the Holy Spirit in facing the Temptations of the Devil*

*1)Jesus was Full of Holy Spirit*

As Jesus was receiving the Baptism in the River Jordan, the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus in the form of Dove and dwelt in Him

Because of the Power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was filled with special strength to face any challenges

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus went to the Desert to be tempted by the devil. 

So the devil tempted Jesus with various temptations to trap Him in some or the other ways 

*2) The Devil tempts Jesus*

When the devil came to Jesus it had a definite plan to tempt Jesus. In three ways it tried to tempt Jesus 

*First Temptation* The temptation of the food

One of the strong temptations of Human nature, which includes the temptation of taste, drinks, bodily desires and sensual pleasures 

So this is one if the easiest ways to tempt human beings 

*Second Temptation* The temptation of the desire for wordly things and its glory 

This is also one of the strong temptations of human nature. 

All desire money, power, glory, wordly things and wealth 

Easiest way to tempt human beings 

*Third temptation* The temptation to equate oneself with God.

Temptation to dictate terms to God, when God has to do something or not 

So all these three powerful temptations were brought to Jesus by the devil 

*3) Jesus Challenges all the temptations of the Devil*

All these three powerful temptations were challenged by Jesus in a most convincing way 

At no point of time, Jesus even had a slightest, leaning towards the temptations of the devil 

This is because Jesus clearly knew the worth of wordly things and also the greatness of heavenly things 

Moreover Jesus was fully with the power of the Holy Spirit

*4) Jesus and the Power of the Holy Spirit*

This is one of the important point to note that Jesus was fully with the Holy Spirit. 

When devil tempted Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit within Himself not only worked, but also challenged the temptations of Devil 

So finally with the same Spirit Jesus was able to challenge the devil, which finally left with out any success. 

*5) We are in possession of the Holy Spirit*

The same Holy Spirit which decended on Jesus also decends on us on the day of Baptism. 

Such a Holy Spirit we have received who can challenge any temptations of the devil in our life 

But are we allowing the Holy Spirit to act uopn us when we are tempted? 

Do we seek the guidance or the Strength of the Holy Spirit when we are tempted? 

*6) All of us are tempted*

We all of us are tempted like Jesus 

These above three temptations include the entire world of temptations which is not very easy to face 

So it is not very important whether we are tempted or not, but the question is, *What do we do after temptationn?*

*7) Am I able to over come temptations?*

Jesus overcame all the temptations. What about me? 

What are the special steps which I can take to challenge the temptations? 

Prayer and fasting were the best methods used by Jesus. Am I ready to use these methods? 

What else can I do to face the temptations of the Devil? 

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*