Gospel Reflection March 9 – Deacon Stephen Petrill
Sunday, March 9
First Sunday of Lent
Luke 4: 1-13
Gospel:
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.
Gospel Reflection:
Several years ago, I had the privilege of helping lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. One morning, we began our journey at the Jordan River and then traveled through the Judean Desert on our way to Jerusalem. This desert is nothing like the ones depicted in Western movies — there are no cacti or tumbleweeds. Instead, it resembles the rugged landscapes of Canyonlands or the Badlands — stark, desolate, and isolated, with rocky terrain stretching for miles. As I took in the harsh beauty of this place, I couldn’t help but wonder: Why would the Holy Spirit lead Jesus here to be tempted by the devil in such a place? And why would Jesus willingly go?
Jesus enters the wilderness to show us that, at times, the Holy Spirit will lead us into difficult places. The desert strips away comfort and security, leaving us vulnerable and exposed. Yet, this is sometimes part of God’s plan. Jesus wants us to understand that temptation is inevitable — that the devil is cunning and will try to lure us away from God’s purpose, especially in our weakest moments. But more importantly, He shows us that with God’s help, temptation can be resisted and overcome. Above all, Jesus goes into the desert out of love for us; to enter the wilderness we created when we strayed from Him, so that He could ultimately lead us back.
Each of us faces our own desert experiences in life: Times of hardship, loneliness, or spiritual dryness. These seasons are never easy, but if we trust in the Lord and follow His example, we will leave the desert stronger than when we entered it. As we journey through these 40 days of Lent, may we draw near to Christ’s own 40 days in the wilderness, knowing that He walks beside us and will never abandon us.
Deacon Stephen Petrill
