At noon today local time in Rome (6:00am EST), the First Sunday of Lent, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study inside the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
On this first Sunday of Lent, the Gospel (cf Mt 4: 1-11) tells us that Jesus, after being baptized in the Jordan River, was led by the Spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil (Mt 4: 1). There, he prepared to begin his mission as proclaimer of the Kingdom of heaven and, as Moses and Elijah had already done (cf Ex 24,18; 1 Kings 19,8) in the Old Testament, Jesus prepared by observing a forty-day fast. He entered into Lent.
At the end of this period of fasting, the tempter, the devil, broke in and tried three times to put Jesus in difficulty. The first temptation was inspired by the fact that Jesus was hungry; the devil suggested to him: If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread (Mt 4: 3). This was a challenge. But Jesus' answer was clear: It is written: 'Man will not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God' (Mt 4: 4). He was referring to Moses when he reminded the people of the long journey made in the desert, in which Moses learned that his life depended on the Word of God (cf Dt 8: 3).
Then the devil made a second attempt, (Mt 4: 5-6) he becomes more cunning, also citing Holy Scripture. The strategy is clear: if you have so much confidence in the power of God, then why not experience it? In fact the Scripture itself states that you will be helped by the angels (Mt 4: 6). But even in this case, Jesus did not allow himself to be confused, because whoever believes knows that God does not test him, but entrusts himself to his goodness. Therefore to the words of the Bible, instrumentally interpreted by satan, Jesus replies with another quote: It is also written: 'You will not put the Lord your God to the test' (Mt 4: 7).
Finally, the third attempt (Mt 4: 8-9) reveals the devil's true concern: since the coming of the Kingdom of heaven marks the beginning of his defeat, the evil one would like to divert Jesus from carrying out his mission, offering him a perspective of political messianism. But Jesus rejects the idolatry of power and human glory and, in the end, drives away the tempter by saying: Go away, Satan! It is written: 'The Lord, your God, you will worship: you will only worship him' (Mt 4: 10). And at this point, near Jesus, who was faithful to the handing over of the Father, angels came to serve him (cf Mt 4: 11).
This teaches us one thing: Jesus does not enter into a dialogue with the devil. Jesus responds to the devil with the Word of God, not with his own words. When we face temptation many times we begin to dialogue with the temptation, to dialogue with the devil: Yes, but I can do this ..., then I confess, then this, that other thing ... Never talk to the devil. Jesus does two things with the devil: he chases him away or, as in this case, he answers with the Word of God. Be careful: never dialogue with temptation, never dialogue with the devil.
Even today, Satan breaks into people's lives in order to tempt them with his tempting proposals; mixes his voice with the many voices that try to tame our conscience. Messages come from many quarters inviting us to be tempted, to experience the thrill of transgression. Jesus' experience teaches us that temptation is the attempt to take alternative paths to God's ways: But, do this, there is no problem, then God will forgive! But take a day of joy ... - but it's a sin! - No, it's nothing. Alternative ways, ways that give us the feeling of self-sufficiency, of the enjoyment of life as an end in itself. But all this is illusory: soon we realize that the more we distance ourselves from God, the more we feel defenceless and helpless in the face of the great problems of existence.
May the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Him who crushed the head of the serpent, help us in this time of Lent to be vigilant in the face of temptations, not to submit to any idol of this world, but to follow Jesus in the fight against evil; and we too - like Jesus - will win.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters!
I greet all of you, the faithful of Rom and pilgrims who have come from Italy and from other countries.
In particular, I greet the young people from Formentera, the faithful from Ostuni and those who have come from the parish of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina in Rome.
I hope that everyone during the Lenten journey which has just started, will be rich in fruits of the Spirit and rich in works of good.
I am a little saddened by the news that is arriving concerning many displaced people, many men, women and children who have been driven away due to war, many migrants who are seeking refuge and help in various parts of the world. These days, it has become very serious. Let us pray for them.
I also ask you to remember in your prayer the Spiritual Exercises of the Roman Curia, which will begin this evening in Ariccia. Unfortunately, the cold forces me not to participate this year: I will follow the meditations from here. I spiritually join the Curia and all the people who are experiencing moments of prayer, doing the Spiritual Exercises at home.
Have a good Sunday and enjoy your lunch!
Testo originale nella lingua italiana
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
On this first Sunday of Lent, the Gospel (cf Mt 4: 1-11) tells us that Jesus, after being baptized in the Jordan River, was led by the Spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil (Mt 4: 1). There, he prepared to begin his mission as proclaimer of the Kingdom of heaven and, as Moses and Elijah had already done (cf Ex 24,18; 1 Kings 19,8) in the Old Testament, Jesus prepared by observing a forty-day fast. He entered into Lent.
At the end of this period of fasting, the tempter, the devil, broke in and tried three times to put Jesus in difficulty. The first temptation was inspired by the fact that Jesus was hungry; the devil suggested to him: If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread (Mt 4: 3). This was a challenge. But Jesus' answer was clear: It is written: 'Man will not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God' (Mt 4: 4). He was referring to Moses when he reminded the people of the long journey made in the desert, in which Moses learned that his life depended on the Word of God (cf Dt 8: 3).
Then the devil made a second attempt, (Mt 4: 5-6) he becomes more cunning, also citing Holy Scripture. The strategy is clear: if you have so much confidence in the power of God, then why not experience it? In fact the Scripture itself states that you will be helped by the angels (Mt 4: 6). But even in this case, Jesus did not allow himself to be confused, because whoever believes knows that God does not test him, but entrusts himself to his goodness. Therefore to the words of the Bible, instrumentally interpreted by satan, Jesus replies with another quote: It is also written: 'You will not put the Lord your God to the test' (Mt 4: 7).
Finally, the third attempt (Mt 4: 8-9) reveals the devil's true concern: since the coming of the Kingdom of heaven marks the beginning of his defeat, the evil one would like to divert Jesus from carrying out his mission, offering him a perspective of political messianism. But Jesus rejects the idolatry of power and human glory and, in the end, drives away the tempter by saying: Go away, Satan! It is written: 'The Lord, your God, you will worship: you will only worship him' (Mt 4: 10). And at this point, near Jesus, who was faithful to the handing over of the Father, angels came to serve him (cf Mt 4: 11).
This teaches us one thing: Jesus does not enter into a dialogue with the devil. Jesus responds to the devil with the Word of God, not with his own words. When we face temptation many times we begin to dialogue with the temptation, to dialogue with the devil: Yes, but I can do this ..., then I confess, then this, that other thing ... Never talk to the devil. Jesus does two things with the devil: he chases him away or, as in this case, he answers with the Word of God. Be careful: never dialogue with temptation, never dialogue with the devil.
Even today, Satan breaks into people's lives in order to tempt them with his tempting proposals; mixes his voice with the many voices that try to tame our conscience. Messages come from many quarters inviting us to be tempted, to experience the thrill of transgression. Jesus' experience teaches us that temptation is the attempt to take alternative paths to God's ways: But, do this, there is no problem, then God will forgive! But take a day of joy ... - but it's a sin! - No, it's nothing. Alternative ways, ways that give us the feeling of self-sufficiency, of the enjoyment of life as an end in itself. But all this is illusory: soon we realize that the more we distance ourselves from God, the more we feel defenceless and helpless in the face of the great problems of existence.
May the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Him who crushed the head of the serpent, help us in this time of Lent to be vigilant in the face of temptations, not to submit to any idol of this world, but to follow Jesus in the fight against evil; and we too - like Jesus - will win.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters!
I greet all of you, the faithful of Rom and pilgrims who have come from Italy and from other countries.
In particular, I greet the young people from Formentera, the faithful from Ostuni and those who have come from the parish of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina in Rome.
I hope that everyone during the Lenten journey which has just started, will be rich in fruits of the Spirit and rich in works of good.
I am a little saddened by the news that is arriving concerning many displaced people, many men, women and children who have been driven away due to war, many migrants who are seeking refuge and help in various parts of the world. These days, it has become very serious. Let us pray for them.
I also ask you to remember in your prayer the Spiritual Exercises of the Roman Curia, which will begin this evening in Ariccia. Unfortunately, the cold forces me not to participate this year: I will follow the meditations from here. I spiritually join the Curia and all the people who are experiencing moments of prayer, doing the Spiritual Exercises at home.
Have a good Sunday and enjoy your lunch!
Testo originale nella lingua italiana
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