Saturday 21 February 2026
St Peter Damian
Isaiah 58:9-14. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may be faithful in your sight – Ps 85(86):1-6. Luke 5:27-32.
Jesus was put to the test
I once had the comforting awareness that the evil spirit is not creative. If something has worked once, evil will try to use it again. Tracking the beginning and course of temptation or desolation can help identify the tactics of the evil one. Identifying patterns has saved me from a downward spiral more than once. The tempter also has a loose association with the truth and makes use of any weakness or vulnerability.
In tempting Jesus, the devil exploited his hunger and weakness after a 40-day fast. Jesus rejected temptations to power, to presumption and finally riches. I guess the evil one thought these had worked with so many other people that it was worth trying them on Jesus. The fact that the kingdoms of the world did not belong to the devil, and were not his to give away, was beside the point. It was worth a try.
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