Suy Niệm: Trong thân phận con người, Chúa Giê-su đã chia sẻ trọn vẹn kiếp nhân sinh. Ngài đã biết đói, biết khóc, biết buồn thương, vui mừng. Và, – như một con người, – Ngài cũng không thoát những cơn cám dỗ. Nói cho đúng, Ngài đến là “để chịu cám dỗ”, như Phúc Âm Mát-thêu nhấn mạnh (x. Mt 4,1). Những cái bẫy ma quỷ giăng ra để cám dỗ Ngài cũng là những nhu cầu, ham muốn mà con người hay kiếm tìm: đó là lòng tham lam hưởng thụ, tiền của, danh vọng, quyền lực. Ma quỷ dụ dỗ Chúa Giê-su dùng quyền năng của mình là Thiên Chúa để bất tuân ý muốn của Chúa Cha. Nhưng Chúa Giê-su dùng chính Lời của Thiên Chúa để đập tan âm mưu của chúng. Ma quỷ thua cuộc nhưng không bỏ cuộc mà tìm thời cơ mới; chúng vẫn đeo đẳng cám dỗ cho tới khi Ngài chịu đóng đinh trên thập giá: “Nếu mi là Con Thiên Chúa, thì hãy xuống khỏi thập giá xem nào!” (Mt 27,40).
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Cầu Nguyện: Lạy Chúa Giê-su, xin ban ơn cho chúng con biết lướt thắng những cám dỗ, để chúng con luôn vững tin vào Lời Chúa và biết sống Lời Chúa trong cuộc đời mình. Amen.
Chúa Nhật 1 Mùa Chay – Năm C
BÀI ĐỌC I: Đnl 26, 4-10 “Dân được chọn tuyên xưng đức tin”.
Trích sách Đệ Nhị Luật.
Ông Môsê nói cùng dân chúng rằng: “Thầy tư tế nhận của đầu mùa từ tay ngươi và đem đặt trước bàn thờ của Chúa là Thiên Chúa ngươi, và ngươi sẽ nói trước mặt Chúa là Thiên Chúa rằng: “Tổ phụ con là Aramêô du mục đã đi xuống Ai-cập và sống ở đó như ngoại kiều với một ít người; và đã phát triển thành một dân tộc vĩ đại, hùng mạnh và đông đúc. Các người Ai-cập đã ngược đãi, hành hạ và bắt chúng con làm việc nặng nhọc. Chúng con đã kêu cầu Chúa là Thiên Chúa cha ông chúng con, và Chúa đã nghe lời chúng con, đã nhìn thấy cảnh thống khổ, cực nhọc và khốn cùng của chúng con. Chúa đã dùng bàn tay mạnh, cánh tay hùng, dùng những biến cố khủng khiếp và những dấu lạ phi thường mà dẫn chúng con ra khỏi Ai-cập. Chúa đưa chúng con đến đây, ban cho chúng con xứ này, một xứ chảy sữa và mật. Và vì thế, lạy Chúa, giờ đây con dâng tiến Chúa những của đầu mùa, hoa màu ruộng đất mà Chúa đã ban cho con”. Ngươi sẽ đem đặt nó trước mặt Chúa là Thiên Chúa ngươi và sấp mình trước tôn nhan Người. Đó là lời Chúa.
ĐÁP CA: Tv 90, 1-2. 10-11. 12-13. 14-15
Đáp: Lạy Chúa, xin hãy ở cùng con trong lúc gian truân (x. c. 15b).
Xướng:
1) Bạn sống trong sự che chở của Đấng Tối Cao, bạn cư ngụ dưới bóng của Đấng Toàn Năng. Hãy thưa cùng Chúa: Chúa là chiến luỹ, nơi con nương náu, lạy Chúa con, con tin cậy ở Ngài. – Đáp.
2) Tai nạn không đến gần được bạn, và oan ương không bén mảng tới nhà bạn ở. Vì Chúa ra lệnh cho các Thiên Thần Ngài săn sóc bạn, để chư vị đó gìn giữ bạn trên khắp nẻo đường. – Đáp.
3) Chư vị đó bồng bế bạn trên tay, để bạn khỏi vấp chân vào đá. Trên mình hổ mang, rắn lục bạn bước đi, bạn đạp chân trên sư tử và giao long. – Đáp.
4) Vì người quý mến Ta, Ta sẽ giải thoát cho, Ta sẽ che chở người bởi lẽ người nhìn biết danh Ta. Người sẽ kêu cầu Ta và Ta sẽ nhậm lời, Ta sẽ ở cùng người trong lúc gian truân, Ta sẽ cứu gỡ và làm vinh dự cho người. – Đáp.
BÀI ĐỌC II: Rm 10, 8-13 “Kẻ tin tưởng tuyên xưng đức tin trong Chúa Kitô”.
Trích thư Thánh Phaolô Tông đồ gửi tín hữu Rôma.
Anh em thân mến, Thánh Kinh nói gì? Lời ở kề trong miệng và trong lòng ngươi. Đó là lời đức tin mà chúng tôi rao giảng. Vì nếu miệng ngươi tuyên xưng Đức Giêsu là Chúa, và lòng ngươi tin rằng Thiên Chúa đã cho Người từ cõi chết sống lại, thì ngươi sẽ được rỗi. Quả thế, tin trong lòng thì sẽ được công chính, tuyên xưng ngoài miệng sẽ được cứu rỗi. Vì Thánh Kinh đã có nói: “Hễ ai tin vào Người sẽ không phải hổ thẹn”. Bởi lẽ không có sự phân biệt người Do-thái và Hy-lạp: Vì là cùng một Chúa của mọi người, Ngài rộng rãi đối với tất cả mọi người khẩn xin cùng Ngài. Vì mọi kẻ cầu khẩn Danh Ngài, đều được cứu độ. Đó là lời Chúa.
CÂU XƯỚNG TRƯỚC PHÚC ÂM: Mt 4,4b Người ta sống không nguyên bởi bánh, nhưng bởi mọi lời do miệng Thiên Chúa phán ra.
PHÚC ÂM: Lc 4, 1-13 “Thánh Thần thúc đẩy Chúa vào hoang địa, và chịu cám dỗ”.
Tin Mừng Chúa Giêsu Kitô theo Thánh Luca.
Khi ấy, Chúa Giêsu được đầy Thánh Thần, liền rời vùng sông Giođan và được Thánh Thần đưa vào hoang địa ở đó suốt bốn mươi ngày, và chịu ma quỷ cám dỗ. Trong những ngày ấy, Người không ăn gì và sau thời gian đó, Người đói. Vì thế, ma quỷ đến thưa Người: “Nếu ông là Con Thiên Chúa, thì hãy truyền cho đá này biến thành bánh đi”. Chúa Giêsu đáp: “Có lời chép rằng: Người ta không phải chỉ sống bằng cơm bánh, mà còn bằng lời Chúa nữa”.
Rồi ma quỷ lại đem Người lên cao hơn cho xem ngay một lúc tất cả các nước thiên hạ và nói với Người rằng: “Tôi sẽ cho ông hết thảy quyền hành và vinh quang của các nước này, vì tất cả đó là của tôi và tôi muốn cho ai tuỳ ý. Vậy nếu ông sấp mình thờ lạy tôi, thì mọi sự ấy sẽ thuộc về ông!” Nhưng Chúa Giêsu đáp lại: “Có lời chép rằng: Ngươi phải thờ lạy Chúa là Thiên Chúa ngươi và chỉ phụng thờ một mình Người thôi”.
Rồi ma quỷ lại đưa Người lên Giêrusalem, để Người trên góc tường cao đền thờ và bảo rằng: “Nếu ông là Con Thiên Chúa, thì hãy gieo mình xuống, vì có lời chép rằng: “Chúa sẽ truyền cho Thiên Thần gìn giữ ông!” Và còn thêm rằng: “Các vị đó sẽ giơ tay nâng đỡ ông khỏi vấp phải đá”. Chúa Giêsu đáp lại: “Có lời chép rằng: Ngươi đừng thử thách Chúa là Thiên Chúa ngươi!” Sau khi làm đủ cách cám dỗ, ma quỷ rút lui để chờ dịp khác. Đó là lời Chúa.
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Gospel Luke 4:1-13
1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit 2 for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing in those days; and when they were ended, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, `Man shall not live by bread alone.'” 5 And the devil took him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it shall all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, `You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'” 9 And he took him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle 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 give his angels charge of you, to guard you,’ 11 and `On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'” 12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, `You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'” 13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.[/one_half]
Daily Reading & Meditation
Sunday (March 6): Repent and believe in the Gospel
Meditation: Are you ready to follow the Lord Jesus wherever he wishes to lead you? After Jesus’ was baptized by John the Baptist at the River Jordan, he withdrew into the wilderness of Judea – a vast and mostly uninhabitable wilderness full of danger. Danger from scorching heat by day and extreme cold at night, danger from wild animals and scorpions, plus the deprivation of food and the scarcity of water.
Why did the Holy Spirit lead Jesus into such a lonely place – right after Jesus was anointed and confirmed by the Father for his mission as Messiah and Savior? Jesus was following the pattern which God had set for Moses and for Elijah – both were led on a forty day journey of prayer and fasting to meet with God on his holy mountain (Exodus 24:18 and 1 Kings 19:8). God tested Moses and Elijah to prepare them for a prophetic mission – to speak God’s word (Exodus 33:11; Deuteronomy 18:15; 34:10) and to lead God’s people into the way of holiness and righteousness, a way marked by love of God and love of neighbor. While Moses and Elijah each prayed and fasted in the desert wilderness of Sinai, God fed them with his life-giving word. Their time of solitude with God enabled them to be renewed in faith, hope, and love for the call God had given them. Jesus likewise went into the wilderness to prepare himself for the mission entrusted to him by spending forty days and nights in solitude and prayer to his Father in heaven.
Jesus tempted by the devil
Luke tells us that at the end of Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness one visitor came out to tempt him. Luke describes this tempter as the devil (Luke 4:1), who is also called the father of lies (John 8:44), Satan (Luke 10:18), and the spiritual ruler and god of this world (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4). He is the same deceiver who tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Paradise (Genesis 3). Why did Satan tempt Jesus at the end of his lengthy period of fasting? Satan knew that Jesus was embarking on an important spiritual mission for the kingdom of God. Perhaps Satan saw an opportunity to strike while Jesus appeared more vulnerable in his physically and emotionally weakened condition due to his prolonged fasting and inner struggle over his particular call and mission. Satan undoubtedly thought he could persuade Jesus to choose his own path rather than the path his Father had chosen – a path that required self-renunciation, humility, and obedience to his Father’s will. Jesus had to struggle with temptation, especially the temptation to choose his own way and to push aside the way his Father wanted him to go. This is the fundamental temptation which confronts each one of us as well. My way or God’s way, my will or God’s will.
Satan’s first temptation appealed to Jesus’ physical desires and hunger. Jesus was very hungry and physically weak at the same time – he hadn’t eaten anything for forty days. Did the Spirit lead him into the wilderness to die? When the people of Israel were led into the wilderness for forty years without any natural source of food, they complained to Moses that he was punishing them with starvation – a very painful way to suffer and die. Moses took the matter to God in prayer. And God intervened by sending them manna ” bread from heaven ” for their daily provision. Should not Jesus do the same to revive his weakened condition?
Satan tried to get Jesus to turn stones into bread, both to prove his supernatural power over nature and to satisfy his own personal hunger. Jesus knew that he had been anointed with extraordinary power for performing great signs and wonders, just as Moses and Elijah had performed great signs and miracles in the name of God. But Jesus had chosen to fast from food and to pray for a lengthy period in order to prepare himself for the mission his Father was entrusting to him. Jesus wanted to do his Father’s will, even though it might cost him great sacrifice, suffering, and even the loss of his own life. He hungered for his Father’s word and made his life dependent on what the Father wanted him to do, rather than what he might have preferred for himself. Jesus chose to use his power and gifts to serve his Father rather than to serve himself. Jesus defeated Satan’s snare with the words of Scripture from the Book of Deuteronomy in which Moses warned the people of Israel to never forget God nor his word: “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4).
Jesus’ second temptation
Satan tempted Jesus a second time by presenting him with the best the world could offer – great riches, privileges, glory and fame, and the power to rule over all the kingdoms of the world – Jesus could claim title and possession to everything he desired. Jesus quickly saw through the trap of placing the world’s glory, wealth, and power above the honor, glory, and service that is due to God alone. Jesus saw how easily one’s heart can be swayed and even overpowered by what it most treasures. The heart cannot serve two masters – only one will prevail. Allowing fame, glory, and wealth to master one’s heart is a form of idolatry – the worship of false gods. Jesus chose to honor his Father and to serve his Father’s kingdom above all else. He chose to make his Father’s will alone as his personal treasure and delight. Jesus again defeated Satan with the words of Scripture which Moses wrote in the Book of Deuteronomy: “It is written, `You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve'” (Deuteronomy 6:13).
Jesus’ third temptation
Satan’s last temptation was to convince Jesus that he should position himself at the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem, the holiest place on earth where God dwelt in a special way with his people, and there perform a spectacular sign that would prove beyond a doubt that he was the Messiah, God’s anointed Son. Why would this be a real temptation for Jesus? It might be helpful to note that the devil is a Bible expert! He accurately quotes from Psalm 91:11-12, “He will give his angels charge of you, to guard you,” and “on their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” This psalm is connected with the temple which was regarded as a place of refuge and protection for those who put their trust in God and his dwelling place. The devil wanted Jesus to perform a death-defying sign by throwing himself off the tallest point of the temple to prove that he was who he claimed to be, the divinely appointed Messiah and Son of God. The temple pinnacle which Satan was referring to was very likely the highest structural corner in the construction of Herod’s great temple. This high corner of the temple served as the “king’s porch” on the edge of a precipice which dropped some 700 feet into the valley below.
Jesus refused to perform any sign that might put God to the test. When the people of Israel almost died of thirst in the wilderness, they rebelled against Moses and they put God to the test by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:7). Jesus refused Satan’s test to prove his divine claim as the Messiah. Jesus quoted once again from the words of Scripture in the Book of Deuteronomy: “It is said, `You shall not put the Lord your God to the test'”(Deuteronomy 6:16). Jesus knew that he would first have to cleanse the temple (John 2:13-22; Luke 19:45-46) and then offer his body as the atoning sacrifice for the sin of the world (John 1:29; Hebrews 10:5-14). Only after he would be lifted up on the cross and be raised from the tomb on the third day, would people recognize that the Father had sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:17).
Spiritual preparation in the forty days of lent
What lesson can we learn from Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness? How can we hope to fight temptation and overcome sin in our own personal lives? When Jesus went out into the wilderness to fight temptation by the devil, he was led by the Holy Spirit. Jesus did not rely on his own human strength and will-power for overcoming temptation. He relied on the Holy Spirit to give him strength, wisdom, courage, and self-control. The Lord Jesus knows that we cannot fight temptation on our own. We need the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit to help us. The Lord Jesus gives us his Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness (Romans 8:26) and to be our guide and strength in times of testing (1 Corinthians 10:13). The Lord gives grace to those who humbly acknowledge their dependence on him (James 4:6) and he helps us to stand firm against the attacks of Satan who seeks to destroy us (1 Peter 5:8-10; Ephesians 6:10-18). The Lord Jesus is ever ready to pour out his Spirit upon us that we may have the courage we need to repent of our sins and to turn away from them, and to reject the lies and deceits of Satan. God wants us to “fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12) with the strength and help which comes from the Holy Spirit. Do you seek God’s wisdom and guidance for overcoming sin and avoiding the near occasions of sin?
The forty days of Lent is the annual retreat of the people of God in imitation of Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness. We are called to journey with the Lord in a special season of prayer, fasting, almsgiving, repentance, and renewal as we prepare to celebrate the feast of Easter, the Christian Passover. The Lord gives us spiritual food and supernatural strength to seek his face and to prepare ourselves for spiritual combat and testing. We, too, must follow in the way of the cross in order to share in the victory of Christ’s death and resurrection. As we begin this holy season of preparation and renewal, let’s ask the Lord for a fresh outpouring of his Holy Spirit that we may grow in faith, hope, and love, and embrace his will more fully in our lives.
Lord Jesus, your word is life and joy for me. Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may have the strength and courage to embrace your will in all things and to renounce whatever is contrary to it.
Psalm 91:1-2,10-15
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”
10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
11 For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
14 Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Jesus defeats Satan with the word of God, by Ambrose of Milan (339-397 AD)
“So, look at the arms of Christ with which he conquered for you, not for himself. For he who showed that stones could, through his majesty, be changed into bread by the transformation into a different nature, teaches that you must do nothing at the devil’s behalf nor for the purpose of manifesting virtue. At the same time, learn from the temptation itself the ingenious cunning of the devil. The devil tempts that he may test. He tests that he may tempt. In contrast, the Lord deceives that he may conquer. He conquers that he may deceive. For if he had changed nature, he would have betrayed its Creator. Thus he responded neutrally, saying, ‘It is written, ‘That man lives not by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ You see what kind of arms he wields, to defend humanity, surrounded and protected against the inducements of appetite, against the assault of spiritual wickedness (Ephesians 6:12). For he does not wield power as God – for what good would that be to me? So, as man, he summons common help for himself, so that eager for the food of the divine Word, he neglects the body’s hunger and obtains the nourishment of the heavenly Word. Eager for this, Moses did not desire bread (Exodus 24:18). Eager for this, Elijah did not feel the hunger of a long fast (1 Kings 19:4.) For he who follows the Word cannot desire earthly bread when he receives the essence of the heavenly Bread (John 6:32,50). There is no doubt that the divine surpasses the human, as the spiritual the physical. Therefore he who desires true life awaits that Bread which through its intangible substance strengthens human hearts (Psalm 103:17). At the same time, when he says, ‘Man lives not by bread alone,’ he shows that the man is tempted, that is, his acceptance of our flesh, not his divinity.” (excerpt from the EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 4.19-20)
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