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Gospel Reading for March 9, 2025 – Luke 4: 1-13
GOD WITHIN OUR REACH
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.” Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written
You shall worship the Lord, your
God, and him alone shall you
serve.”
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, for it is written:
He will command his angels
concerning you, to guard you,
and:
With their hands they will
support you, lest you dash
your foot against a stone.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says,
You shall not put the Lord,
your God, to the test.”
When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.
————
The devil was putting the Son of God to the test. The nerve! It was so stupid to think that he could tempt the Son of God, who alone had complete power over him!
So how about us? How can we ordinary human beings win over the devil?
There is something we should take note of in this reading. It starts with – “Filled with the Holy Spirit” We may not be the Son of God, but we can be filled with the Holy Spirit if we so wish. The Holy Spirit is GOD WITHIN OUR REACH, any time, any place, any circumstance. He is all the power we need against anything. He is wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. What else can we ask for?
Let us pray St. Augustine’s Prayer to the Holy Spirit:
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
to defend all that is holy.
