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. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

9. 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!

10. Acknowledgments
Mosaics artworks: © Fr Marko Rupnik and Centro Aletti
With gratitude to the Wednesday Word