Find strength in Jesus always, who was tested.
In the Old Testament, 40 days was often seen as a significant period of testing and preparation for entering into a covenant relationship with God. Today is the First Sunday of Lent. Lent is a 40-day period which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends before the celebration of the Paschal Triduum excluding Sundays. ‘Forty’ is a number often associated with intense spiritual experiences. God caused it to rain for forty days and forty nights to cleanse the earth. The Israelites were in the wilderness for forty years. Moses spent forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai and Elijah journeyed forty days and forty nights to Mount Horeb. Jesus was anointed by the Spirit in the waters of the Jordan River, he journeyed to the wilderness for 40 days to prepare himself for the mission which the Father sent him to accomplish—to offer His life as the perfect Sacrifice for our sins.

Mark states it most emphatically: “The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert…tempted by Satan.” The word tempt in English usually means to tempt or attract to sin. The scriptural word here means test in the sense of proving and purifying someone to see if they are ready for the task at hand. God tests his servants to see if they are fit to be used by him. God tested Abraham to prove his faith. The Israelites were sorely tested in Egypt. Jesus was no exception to this testing. Satan, in turn, did his best to entice Jesus to choose his own will over the will of his Father in heaven. Despite his weakened condition, Jesus rejected Satan’s temptations. Jesus found his strength in his Father’s word and found strength in doing his will. Satan will surely tempt us and will try his best to get us to choose our will over God’s will. If he can’t make us renounce our faith or sin mortally, he will then try to get us to make choices that will lead us, little by little, away from what God wants for us.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, we shall always try to stay with Jesus and especially at the times of temptations in our daily life. He is the greatest Help and model in our life to follow. Wish you all great Holy Season of Lent and prepare ourselves to take up our daily crosses without any complaint and with great love. And able to pray “Let God’s will be done in our life.”

Love and prayers,

Fr. Charley