The gospel of the day of Jesus’ temptations in the desert, on this first Sunday of Lent, led Pope Francis to reflect on the address that preceded the Angelian Marian prayer. The pontiff reminded us that the symbolic atmosphere of the desert is where “God speaks to the heart of man”, an existential dimension “to shut up and listen to God’s words”. However, it is “also a place.” “Without fear, but with attention, we should prepare ourselves to fight him like Jesus, the pontiff said,” There was never any dialogue with Satan, never. “When the seducer approaches,” no dialogue is possible. . Word of God only ”.
Andres Collett – Vatican News
On this first Sunday of Lent, in an address that preceded the Marian Prayer of Angus, Pope Francis reflected on the gospel of the day that highlights themes of temptation and conversion through the “natural and symbolic environment” of the desert . In fact, with the divine rites last Wednesday (17th), we started the way to Lent. And on this first Sunday of that litigation, the Word of God is what leads us to live better “40 days leading up to the annual celebration of Easter”.
Symbolic atmosphere of the desert
Thus, the Pope, through the evangelist Marcos (cf. 1,12–15), comments on the passage taken by Jesus when “the Spirit took him into the desert” (v. 12), there for 40 days. Left, “where he was tempted by the devil”. Desert, encouraged to reflect Francis, an environment “natural and symbolic, so important in the Bible”:
In fact, Francis continued, during the 40 days in the desert of Jesus, a ‘duel’ between Jesus and Satan began, which would end with Passion and the Cross. The entire ministry of Christ in its many manifestations is a struggle against the Evil One: healing of diseases, forgiveness of sins committed in the present, “. Jesus, acting with the power of God,” seems to benefit Satan. , When the Son of God is disowned, abandoned and, ultimately, captured and condemned to death “. But, no, the pontiff said, because” surely defeating Satan. Crossing for and freeing all of us from his power “was the final death ‘desert”.
We all triumph over evil
Every year, at the beginning of Lent, Francis recalled, “This temptation of Jesus in the desert reminds us that a Christian’s life, at the feet of the Lord, is a fight against the spirit of evil”. But, what should we do like Jesus, who faced the Temptor and prevailed: “We must be aware of the presence of this cunning enemy, who is interested in our eternal condemnation, in our failure, and ourselves. Is ready to defend and fight against it “. Thus, the pontiff asserted that, “in temptations, Jesus never communicated with the devil, never”:
Never communicate with the devil
The Pope ended his reflection, encouraging all of us, in this time of Lent, to follow the Holy Spirit like Jesus, and enter the desert, “without fear”:
