The focus of the First Sunday of Lent dear friends is usually the temptation of Jesus Christ; an event that reminds us that no one is immune from temptation. As long as we are living, we are prone to one temptation or the other but with the way Jesus handled them all, we are encouraged that we too can live above our temptations.

As a matter of fact, that is what we are called to do for the call to holiness requires that conscious effort which helps us to grow to a matured and stable level of spirituality which avails us the grace to be able to detect temptations when they come and to overcome them.

The gospel reading of today ends with the following words: "Having exhausted all these ways of tempting him, the devil left him, to return at the appointed time." We will only be deluding ourselves, dear friends, if we think there is a level we would attain of the Christian journey and would be immuned from temptations or to think we have become too good a master over temptations. A quick one to note: Jesus was just rounding off a 40-day-journey of prayer and fasting when He was visited by the devil to tempt Him. Your days on the mountain, the many hours with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament or your countless Novenas are not enough to make you escape temptations; No, they cannot but there is something they can do and that is to give you leverage over these temptations just as Jesus was victorious in the end.

Having defeated the devil, we were told that the devil left Jesus only to return at an appointed time. The success of the present does not amount to same in the future. The defeat of now does not mean you are free, the devil never gets tired until he achieves his aim and so should the children of light. He will come back and this time around, well prepared, woe betides us if we are not well equipped.

The word of God identifies the devil as a tempter; this is his rightful appellation and description. He sets out to deceive and tempt the people of God; using those things that appeal so much to the eyes. St Peter notes: "Be calm but vigilant, because your enemy the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. Stand up to him, strong in faith" (1Pet. 5:8-9). This is simply his task for John says: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy."

Rather than think, there is a level we would reach and be free of temptations or think of ourselves as masters of temptations, we should instead equip ourselves adequately by staying in connection with God; who alone has power over the devil. We only need to call on Him for assistance, we can be sure that we would receive same as the first, second and responsorial Psalm of the day point to;

"However many ask his help, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Let us Pray: Be with us O Lord in our distress that we may not be tempted beyond our power. Amen

Happy Sunday, Stay Safe and Stay Blessed