On this First Sunday of Lent, we hear the Gospel reading from Matthew 4 about Jesus being "led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights..."
This is kind of an encapsulation of what Lent is all about. We sacrifice things, knowing that the devil will tempt us. We also know the solution. Rely on the strength that God will provide. But there's another interesting aspect that I'm always reminded of from a sermon I heard preached by a Baptist pastor many years ago. He noted that, when tempted by the devil, Jesus responded each time with Scripture. And the pastor passionately yelled out, "When the devil tempts you, hit him with the Scriptures! Hit him with the Scriptures!"
Sacred Scripture is a most effective tool in fighting off the devil. Perhaps one of your Lenten practices this year could be to learn Scripture more. Follow the daily readings from the Liturgy. Do some Bible roulette. There is no bad way to read and learn Scripture. And use it to help get you through those temptations that will invariably come.
Father, may we have an ever great love for your Word in Sacred Scripture, and use it to do battle with the devil. Amen.
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