{"id":5544,"date":"2025-03-06T11:17:45","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T11:17:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=5544"},"modified":"2025-03-06T11:17:47","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T11:17:47","slug":"commentary-on-1st-sun-of-lent-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-1st-sun-of-lent-c\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on 1st Sun of Lent (C), 9.03.2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TEXT \u2013 <\/em>Luke 04: 01\u201313 \u2013 Three Temptations<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wilderness<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 And Jesus, full of the Holy \nSpirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit 2 for forty \ndays in the wilderness, tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing in \nthose days; and when they were ended, he was hungry.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Temptation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 The devil said to him, \u201cIf you are\n the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.\u201d 4 And Jesus \nanswered him, \u201cIt is written, \u2018Man shall not live by bread alone.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second Temptation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 And the devil took him up, and \nshowed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said\n to him, \u201cTo you I will give all this authority and their glory; for it \nhas been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, \nwill worship me, it shall all be yours.\u201d 8 And Jesus answered him, \u201cIt \nis written, \u2018You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you\n serve.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third Temptation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

9 And he took him to Jerusalem, and \nset him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, \u201cIf you are the \nSon of God, throw yourself down from here; 10 for it is written, \u2018He \nwill give his angels charge of you, to guard you,\u2019 11 and \u2018On their \nhands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a \nstone.\u2019\u201d 12 And Jesus answered him, \u201cIt is said, \u2018You shall not tempt \nthe Lord your God.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Devil Departed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EXPLANATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1 And Jesus, full of the \nHoly Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit 2 for \nforty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing \nin those days; and when they were ended, he was hungry.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 This phrase, special to Luke, is used by him to designate a prophet \n(Lk. 1: 15, 41, 67). He describes Jesus\u2019 mission to Galilee in similar \nterms (Lk. 4: 14) and Jesus applies Isaiah to himself, saying that the \nSpirit of the Lord is upon him (Lk. 4: 18\u201321).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this same verse 1 Luke will mention the \u201cHoly Spirit<\/em>\u201d leading Jesus during his sojourn in the wilderness. Luke\u2019s Gospel is sometimes called the \u201cGospel of the Holy Spirit\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201creturned from the Jordan<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \nLuke links the temptation with the baptism in the Jordan where the \nFather called him his Son and where the Holy Spirit came down upon him \n(Lk. 3: 21\u201322).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this passage there are several \nallusions to the Exodus. Here are five. The Israelites (i) crossed the \nRed Sea into the (ii) wilderness for (iii) forty years \u2014 Jesus crossed \nthe waters of (i) baptism and went into the (ii) wilderness for (iii) \nforty days. (iv) God was with the Israelites as a pillar of cloud by day\n and a pillar of fire by night; (iv) the Holy Spirit was with Jesus. The\n Israelites were (v) tempted; Jesus was (v) tempted. Here the parallels \ncease. The Israelites failed all their tests; Jesus was successful in \neach of his.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd was led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness<\/em>\u201d \u2014 By his own choice Jesus went into the wilderness. Luke does not say that the \u201cHoly Spirit<\/em>\u201d led Jesus into the wilderness but that while he was there he was \u201cled by the Holy Spirit<\/em>\u201d. In other words, the \u201cHoly Spirit<\/em>\u201d\n accompanied Jesus in his wanderings in the wilderness and sustained \nhim. The Holy Spirit did not lead him into temptation. It was the devil \nwho was totally responsible for the temptations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Jesus went into the wilderness for \nsuch a long time on his own free choice, he must have had a good reason.\n At his baptism he had been commissioned by the Holy Spirit\u2019s anointing \nand the proclamation of his Father to undertake his mission as Messiah. \nHe went into this desert of great danger to show his absolute trust in \nhis Father and in the power of the Spirit in undertaking hardship and \nsuffering in a spirit of obedience to his mission that would continue \nuntil his death on the cross. His ministry would not commence until he \nreturned to Galilee. This wilderness experience was his way of publicly \nshowing that he was accepting the ministry of John the Baptist, the \nwilderness prophet and bringing it to its culmination in the New \nCovenant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cfor forty days<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This is a \nvery common period of testing in the Bible: the flood lasted for forty \ndays (Gn. 7: 4, 17), Moses fasted for forty days on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 34: \n28), Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years (Dt. 8: 2), the \ntwelve spies spent this time inspecting Canaan (Nm. 14: 34), Israel was \noppressed by the Philistines (Jdg. 13: 1), Elijah fasted for forty days \non his journey to Mt. Horeb (I Kgs. 19: 8), Nineveh had the opportunity \nto repent for this period at the preaching of Jonah (Jonah 3: 4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cthe wildernes<\/em>s\u201d \u2014 The \nwilderness was known to be the abode of most ferocious wild beasts and \nthe devil (Lk. 8: 29; 11: 24\u201326). It is 35 by 15 miles in area and at \nthe Dead Sea was 1,200 feet high. It is extremely hot by day and \nexceedingly cold by night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, St. Ambrose has a very beautiful\n thought. God created our first parents and placed them in the paradise \nof the Garden of Eden. There the devil tempted and succeeded in \noverpowering them. They were driven out of the garden. Now Jesus the \nChrist, the Saviour\u2013Messiah, enters the world and at the beginning of \nhis mission he goes into the wilderness, the absolute opposite of the \nGarden of Eden, the abode of the devil who has such power over man the \nsinner and there, by his presence, he challenges and overcomes him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201ctempted by the devil<\/em>\u201d \u2014 During\n those forty days he was tempted by the devil but nothing like the final\n assault in three episodes at the end of the forty days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd he ate nothing in those days; and when they were ended, he was hungry<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 Jesus fasted and at the end of the forty days he was hungry and weak.\n The devil now felt that he could launch a blistering attack on him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 The devil said to him, \u201cIf\n you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.\u201d 4 And \nJesus answered him, \u201cIt is written, \u2018Man shall not live by bread \nalone.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe devil said to him, <\/em>\u2018If you are the Son of God<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 At his baptism, the Father declared from heaven to Jesus \u201cYou are my Son, the Beloved<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 3: 22). The final line in the genealogy that followed proclaimed that Jesus was descended from Adam who was \u201cthe son of God<\/em>\u201d\n (Lk. 3: 38). The devil tempts Jesus to prove to himself that he has the\n personal power to serve his needs. The devil says, \u2018You are hungry. Do \nsomething about it; after all you have the power and there is no harm in\n executing it for such a worthy cause\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018command this stone to become bread<\/em>\u2019\u201d\n \u2014 The devil tempts Jesus to satisfy his hunger, his material need. He \nis encouraging him to provide food for himself in his need as God \nprovided food for the Israelites in the wilderness in their need during \nthe Exodus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The devil refers to a single stone, implying that Jesus is not being asked to do anything too great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was the first great temptation the \nIsraelites underwent after crossing the Red Sea. They were hungry and \nprepared to return to Egypt to satisfy their needs. God listened to \ntheir complaints and fed them manna from heaven for forty years. They \nplaced their material needs before God\u2019s will for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd Jesus answered him, \u2018It is written, \u201cMan shall not live by bread alone<\/em>\u201d\u2019\u201d\n \u2014 Jesus replies by quoting the word of God (Deuteronomy 8: 3). He tells\n the devil (and us) that it is the word of God that sustains on every \noccasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This temptation may be summed up by \nsaying that this is the temptation to acquire possessions for oneself \nwhen this seems the most opportune thing to do. Jesus\u2019 reply tells the \ndevil that it is not for the individual to decide on his or her own \nneeds but to check on God\u2019s will as expressed by God\u2019s word. To trust \nand obey God in one\u2019s needs, not rely on oneself, is the all\u2013important \nattitude for each individual. Jesus had come on earth as the suffering, \nservant Messiah\u2013King to redeem mankind, not to use his power for himself\n and his well\u2013being. On the cross Jesus refused to use his power for his\n own need (Lk. 23: 35, 37), to save himself. He did use his power for \nothers in their needs (Lk. 4: 35; 5: 27; 6: 10; 7: 14, 50; 8: 54; 18: \n42).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 And the devil took him up,\n and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and\n said to him, \u201cTo you I will give all this authority and their glory; \nfor it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you,\n then, will worship me, it shall all be yours.\u201d 8 And Jesus answered \nhim, \u201cIt is written, \u2018You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only \nshall you serve.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd the devil took him up<\/em>\u201d \u2014 From the other Gospels we know that what the devil took him up was a high mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cand showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 This last phrase indicates that it was a vision of all the world\u2019s \nkingdoms the devil showed Jesus rather than carrying him physically \naround the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cand said to him, \u2018To you I will \ngive all this authority and their glory; for it has been delivered to \nme, and I give it to whom I will<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Jesus had not yet established \nhis Kingdom on earth. The devil is offering him a short\u2013cut. In one \nsimple act his mission can be fully accomplished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Jesus\u2019 final discourse to his apostles he declares \u201cAll authority in heaven and on earth<\/em> (not just earth alone) has been given to me<\/em>\u201d. That is the fullness of authority and power. He has been given it from the only true and reliable source, his Father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Has God delivered to the devil all \nauthority over and the glory of all kingdoms? We certainly cannot trust \nany saying of \u201cthe father of lies\u201d! Nevertheless John\u2019s Gospel does \nimply that the devil does have great power over the world. This is \nlimited and curtailed by the power and authority of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you, then, will worship me, it shall all be yours.<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 This is a reminder of the Israelites setting up the molten golden calf for their worship (Ex. 32).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd Jesus answered him, \u201cIt is written, \u2018You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve<\/em>.\u2019\u201d \u2014 Jesus rejected the devil\u2019s offer of a political kingdom which would indicate that he was a political Messiah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This temptation may be summed up by \nsaying that it is the temptation to power, including political power. \nJesus tells us that all power belongs to God. Power is not to be adored;\n \u2018adoring\u2019 power is to adore the devil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9 And he took him to \nJerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, \n\u201cIf you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here; 10 for it is \nwritten, \u2018He will give his angels charge of you, to guard you,\u2019 11 and \n\u2018On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against\n a stone.\u2019\u201d 12 And Jesus answered him, \u201cIt is said, \u2018You shall not tempt\n the Lord your God.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd he took him to Jerusalem<\/em>\u201d \u2014\n The three Synoptics record the temptations and Matthew and Luke list \nthree that Jesus underwent in the wilderness but they do not present \nthem in the same sequence. The reason for that is that each follows his \nown plan or theology. Luke narrates his Gospel as a journey of Jesus to \nJerusalem where his Gospel terminates with the passion, death and \nresurrection. He places the Jerusalem temptation last. The temptation in\n the wilderness will be continued there. Jesus wins this battle but the \nwar will continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cand set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The pinnacle was one of the highest points of the temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The temple was a theme in Luke\u2019s Gospel.\n The birth of John the Baptist was announced in the temple (Lk. 1: \n5\u201325). Jesus\u2019 first journey after birth was to the temple where he was \nrecognised by Simeon and Anna (Lk. 222\u201338). Once he came of age, he went\n to the temple where his knowledge and wisdom were admired (Lk. 2: \n41\u201350). On his final journey to Jerusalem he cleansed the temple and \ntaught there (Lk. 19: 45 \u2014 21: 38). At his death there is a reference to\n the veil of the temple being torn right down the middle (Lk. 23: 45).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018If you are the Son of God<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014\n This is the second time the devil has introduced a temptation with \nthese words (first temptation, verse 3). He hopes to sow doubt in Jesus\u2019\n mind about his sonship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This third temptation is very closely \nassociated with the first. The Israelites first complaint was for food; \ntheir second for water. They felt that they had a right to water from \nGod because they were his special people, his Chosen. They presumed on \nhis taking care of all their needs. See the similarity with the \npresumption in the third temptation of Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both begin with the words, \u201cIf you are the Son of God<\/em>\u201d.\n Jesus had overcome the devil in the first by telling him that he must \nnot put the Lord to the test. The devil is quick to say that he will \nquote from sacred scripture, the very word of God, where it states that \nGod will look after his own in a very special way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cthrow yourself down from here; for \nit is written, \u2018He will give his angels charge of you, to guard you,\u2019 \nand \u2018On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot \nagainst a stone.<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 The devil follows Jesus example and quotes \npsalm 91. If Jesus wishes to follow the sacred scriptures, here now is \nhis opportunity, the devil tempts!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This temptation will be repeated on the cross when the leaders will jeer him and challenge Jesus to \u201csave himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 23: 35). The soldiers will mock, \u201cIf you are the king of the Jews, save yourself<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 23: 37). One of the two thieves will abuse him, \u201cAre you not the Christ? Save yourself and us as well<\/em>\u201d. To the other he will promise salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd Jesus answered him, \u2018It is said, \u201cYou shall not tempt the Lord your God<\/em>\u201d\u2019\u201d\n \u2014 For the third time Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy (6: 16). He tells \nthe devil that what the devil is trying to do is test God. God had made \nthe promise to protect. If Jesus jumped it would mean that he was \nprovoking God to fulfil his promise or show his promise to be false. \nJesus had full faith in God\u2019s promise; he was not going to test God. He \nwas not going to exercise authority and power over God or manipulate \nhim; his only desire was to obey him and do his will as a faithful \nservant. Jesus was utterly dependent on God and on doing his will, \u201cFather, into your hands I commit my spirit<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 23: 46).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 While the devil ended the temptations in the wilderness, these were \nto continue until Jesus\u2019 death on the cross. When he meets a devil, he \nwill be recognised and he will overcome the devil (Lk. 4: 41; 8: 29\u201333).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of Luke\u2019s intentions in his Gospel is to present Jesus as \u201cthe mightier one<\/em>\u201d,\n as he was called by John the Baptist (Lk. 3: 16). He shows Jesus \novercoming the devil and evil spirits and saying that only one stronger \nthan the devil can overcome the devil (Lk. 11: 14\u201326). Jesus\u2019 final \nsuccess was on the cross, \u201cthe appointed time<\/em>\u201d when he completed God\u2019s will perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the crucifixion, Jesus did not address the devil but he prayed to his Father in the garden, \u201cYour will not mine be done<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 22: 42), for forgiveness for his executioners (Lk. 23: 34) and as he breathed forth his spirit, \u201cFather, into your hands I commend my spirit<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 23: 46). Jesus makes it so clear that obedience to his Father is the perfect answer to temptation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

APPLICATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Stational Churches<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Rome, during Lent, there are 45 \nchurches referred to as \u201cStational churches\u201d. These are churches \ndesignated for special devotions on days in Lent. Part of the \ncelebrations include Solemn Mass offered by the Pope or his legate, with\n other prayers and services included. The four Major Basilicas were \nincluded, St. John Latern (The Church  of our Saviour, the leading \nCatholic Church in the world). It comprises the Basilica (Church), the \nPontifical Palace where the Popes lived, and the Baptistry. In the fifth\n century the titles of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist \nwere added. This is why the title St. John Latern remained attached in \nthe popular mind,. The Papal altar contains the wooden altar on which \nSt. Peter is said to have celebrated Mass. This basilica is the mother \nof all churches and is the only church which has the title of \nArchbasilica. All of this adds to today\u2019s feast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other basilicas, major and Minor \nare: Mary Major, St. Peters, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and the three \nMinor Basilicas: Holy Cross in Jerusalem (very close to St. John \nLatern), St Lawrence and the Twelve Apostles. On the day of the station,\n the faithful gather in one church and in procession singing the Litany \nof the Saints or psalms, go to the church where the Mass is to be \ncelebrated. There, in previous centuries, they would meet the Pope and \nhis clergy, coming in state from his Patriarchal Palace of the Lateran. \nThis was called \u201cmaking the station.\u201d There is not always a Papal Mass \nin the stational church, but the stational procession and Mass have been\n restored at Rome, especially in Lent when each day has its proper \nStation and Mass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are 86 stations of the year (great\n feasts and during Lent), and on Christmas, three, and on Easter, two \n\u201cstational Masses\u201d are mentioned, bringing the number of these stations \nto 89. Most of the stations are named after saints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Temptations of Jesus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this Gospel passage on the temptations of Jesus three are mentioned. We will reflect on each of the three now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist \nin the Jordan River and at that time he spent forty days in the \nwilderness being tempted by the devil. He became very hungry as he had \neaten nothing. While the devil had been tempting him in the wilderness \nfor the forty days none of this was particularly intense. But now the \ndevil saw a wonderful opportunity to launch an especially severe \ntemptation on Jesus weak from lack of food. At his baptism the Father \nhad declared that Jesus was his Son. Now the devil slips in \u201cIf you are\n the Son of God\u201d. He tries to upset Jesus with a doubt before going \nfurther with the temptation. He links Sonship with divine power. He \nwants Jesus to doubt his Sonship and his power. But Jesus is still \nalert. He resists with the defence: \u201cMan does not live on bread alone<\/em>\u201d. God\u2019s word is what really sustains us. Incidentally \u201cbread<\/em>\u201d \n represents much more than food; it stands for all material needs. The \nword is used in slang in this sense of meaning money, e.g., Can you get \nme some \u2018bread\u2019, I need some \u2018bread\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This temptation may be summed up by \nsaying that this is the temptation to acquire possessions for oneself \nwhen this seems the most opportune thing to do. Jesus\u2019 reply tells the \ndevil that it is not for the individual to decide on his or her own \nneeds but to check on God\u2019s will as expressed by God\u2019s word. To trust \nand obey God in one\u2019s needs, not rely on oneself, is the all\u2013important \nattitude for each individual. Jesus had come on earth as the suffering, \nservant Messiah\u2013King to redeem mankind, not to use his power for himself\n and his well\u2013being. On the cross Jesus refused to use his power for his\n own need (Lk. 23: 35, 37), to save himself. He did use his power for \nothers in their needs (Lk. 4: 35; 5: 27; 6: 10; 7: 14, 50; 8: 54; 18: \n42).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the second temptation the devil \nshowed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, declared that they were his \nand that he would give them to Jesus, with their wealth and possessions \nif he would bow down and worship the devil. Jesus did not allow himself \nto fall for this temptation. He told the devil that his duty was to \nworship only his Father and to serve him alone. He did not adore power \nbut the God of truth, love and mercy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third and last temptation, like the \nfirst, is a temptation to make Jesus deny that he is the Son of God. The\n devil brings Jesus to sit on the pinnacle of the Temple in Jerusalem. \nHe encourages him to work a spectacular miracle to prove that he is the \nSon of God. He tells Jesus to throw himself off the pinnacle and have \nhis angels catch him and bring him down safely. When the people would \nsee this outstanding feat they would be overcome with awe and admiration\n and know that Jesus must be the Son of God. But, once again, Jesus does\n not give way to the devil. Jesus quotes Sacred Scripture, the book of \nDeuteronomy once again, chapter 6-8, and instructs the devil not to test\n God and have God do something to prove that he is God and working a \nspectacular miracle just for the sake of being spectacular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our personal temptations it is \nimportant to recall, first, that Jesus was baptised and at that time his\n Father spoke from heaven and declared that Jesus was his Son. The basic\n temptation was to have Jesus doubt that he was God\u2019s Son. When tempted \nwe should recall that by baptism we became the children of God and the \ndevil does not wish us to dwell on that but that we become independent \nof God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly recall also that Jesus was \ntempted for forty days in the wilderness but three major temptations \nwere set aside by the devil until Jesus would be at his weakest. Those \nthree temptations were; to possess things, especially for comfort and \nthe easy life, to have power for oneself and to indulge in pleasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, it is important in temptation \nto keep baptism before your mind and heart. Temptation strengthens our \nbaptism commitment and identity as children of God and members of the \nBody of Christ.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TEXT \u2013 Luke 04: 01\u201313 \u2013 Three Temptations Wilderness 1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit 2 for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing in those days; and when they were ended, he was hungry. First Temptation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2289,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5544","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5544","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5544"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5544\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8354,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5544\/revisions\/8354"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5544"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5544"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5544"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}