1. Wednesday Gospel Webinar
Portsmouth Diocese – Formation for Mission

2. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

3. Sunday 5th March 2017 1st Sunday of Lent (A) Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which he was very hungry, and the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves.’ But he replied, ‘Scripture says: Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Then the devil took him to the holy city and made him stand on the parapet of the Temple. ‘If you are the Son of God’ he said ‘throw yourself down; for Scripture says: He will put you in his angels’ charge, and they will support you on their hands in case you hurt your foot against a stone.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Scripture also says: You must not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Next, taking him to a very high mountain, the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. ‘I will give you all these’ he said, ‘if you fall at my feet and worship me.’ Then Jesus replied, ‘Be off, Satan! For Scripture says: You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.’ Then the devil left him, and angels appeared and looked after him.

4. Literal meaning
Where? Matthew 4 – the wilderness – not far from the Jordan?
When? After the baptism of Jesus (Mt. 3: 13-17)
What? Jesus led by the Spirit is tempted by the devil
Who? Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the devil, then angels
How? 3 temptations, after 40 days and 40 nights of fasting
Why? Jesus the new Adam freely obeys God’s plan of love

5. Revisiting the history of Israel
The garden vs the wilderness
40 days for 40 years
Manna: does God provide?
Temple: putting God to the test
Worship: covenant and promise Land

6. Are these temptations real?
Finding God
Are these temptations real?
Attraction?
Within reach?
Harmless looking?
A test of faithfulness to his assumed humanity and to the Father’s plan: they reveal Jesus.

7. Finding the human person
Temptations against:
Faith: making oneself, rather than God, the finality of faith
Hope: falling into despair or presumption
Charity: fighting evil not with love, but with evil

8. The 3 temptations and their remedies in the Church, the new Israel:
Finding the Church
The 3 temptations and their remedies in the Church, the new Israel:
Material goods: fasting
Presumption / despair: prayer
Worshipping idols: almsgiving

10. Mary, Virgin and Mother,
you who, moved by the Holy Spirit,
welcomed the word of life
in the depths of your humble faith:
as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One,
help us to say our own “yes”
to the urgent call, as pressing as ever,
to proclaim the good news of Jesus.
Mother of the living Gospel,
wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones,
pray for us.
Amen. Alleluia!

11. Acknowledgments
Mosaics artworks: © Fr Marko Rupnik and Centro Aletti
Scripture: The CTS New Catholic Bible, Copyright © 2007 The Incorporated Catholic Truth Society
With gratitude to the Wednesday Word