Luke 4 New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Chapter 4
The Temptation of Jesus.[a] 1 Filled with the holy Spirit,[b] Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert 2 for forty days,[c] to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” 5 Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. 6 The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. 7 All this will be yours, if you worship me.” 8 Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written:
‘You shall worship the Lord, your God,
and him alone shall you serve.’”
and him alone shall you serve.’”
9 [d]Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written:
‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you,’
to guard you,’
11 and:
‘With their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
12 Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’” 13 [e]When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.
The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry. 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread[f] throughout the whole region. 15 He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.
Comments
1. Not knowing
2. hungry/ thirsty at all levels
3. Powerlessness
4. Insecurity - constantly and rightly being afraid
Father Mark reminds us that Christ’s and our temptations are temptations reject our humanity. Our rejection of our humanity, trying to cheat our humanity, is the root of our sin.
As I struggle to embrace my humanity of not knowing, I tell myself over and over again - I don’t know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future.
As I struggle to embrace my humanity of powerlessness - I long over and over again for God to change my desire from being successful to being faithful thereby surrendering the result to God.
I am encouraged by an old song by Anointed “it is not the I but the You in Me.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhfFsj5ALN0
Every good thing I have done
Everything that I've become
Everything that's turned out right
Is because you're in my life
And if I ever teach a child the way
Ever learn myself to change
Ever become who I want to be
It's not the I but the You in me.
I grew up in a Christian home. I do not remember a time when God was not in my life. I am so grateful for knowing God all of these years.
Sometimes, I pause and reflect upon my struggles to embrace my humanity. As I reflect, I wonder how someone embraces his / her humanity when he or she does not know God.
Sometimes we suffer when we are near to someone’s else struggle to embrace his or her humanity - his or her feelings of powerlessness, insecurity, hunger, or not knowing.
When I suffer likewise and when I find a moment to pivot away from reacting with anger, I have compassion for her or him.
As my anger seethes in the background, I remind myself that :
• I know God and I struggle to embrace my humanity
• I must imagine how incredibly difficult it must be for him or her to embrace his or her humanity not knowing God.
• I must have compassion
I feel that I have to remind myself of these things over and over again.
This over and over again experience leads to feel embarrassed before God and thankful that God has compassion for my inner dramas.