February 21, 2021
First Sunday for Lent (Year B)
Readings for Today
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Di Spirit lead Jesus go inside desert, and E stay for di desert for forty days, as Satan dey tempt Am. E dey among wild animals, and di angels dey serve Am. Mark 1:12–13
Di Gospel from Mark for today give us short account of how dem tempt Jesus for desert. Matthew and Luke give plenty more details, like di three temptations wey satan bring to Jesus. But Mark only talk say di Spirit lead Jesus go inside desert for forty days and say dem tempt Am.
Wetin draw our attention na say na “Di Spirit” lead Jesus go inside desert. Jesus no go there against His own will; E go there freely, according to wetin di Father want and as di Holy Spirit direct Am. Why di Spirit go lead Jesus go inside desert for dis time of fasting, prayer and temptation?
First of all, dis time of temptation happen just after John baptize Jesus. And even though Jesus Himself no need dat baptism for His spiritual life, these two events teach us plenty things. Di truth be say when we choose to follow Christ and live according to our baptism, we receive new strength to fight evil. Di grace dey there. As new creation for Christ, you get all di grace wey you need to overcome di evil one, sin and temptation. So Jesus show us example to teach us dis truth. E receive baptism, and after dat di Spirit lead Am go inside desert to face di evil one, to show us say we too fit overcome am and im evil lies.
As Jesus dey for desert dey endure these temptations, “di angels dey serve Am.” Na so e still be for us. Our Lord no dey leave us alone inside di temptations wey we dey face every day. Instead, E dey always send His angels to serve us and help us defeat dis wicked enemy.
Which temptation big pass for your life? Maybe you dey struggle with one habit of sin wey you dey fall into again and again. Maybe na temptation of di flesh, or struggle with anger, to dey see only yourself as righteous, dishonesty or another thing. No matter wetin your temptation be, know say you get everything wey you need to overcome am because of di grace wey you receive through your Baptism, wey your Confirmation strengthen, and wey your participation for di Most Holy Eucharist dey nourish regularly.
Today, think deeply about any temptations wey you dey face. See Christ Himself as E dey face those temptations with you and inside you. Know say E dey give you His strength if you just trust Am with confidence wey no dey shake.
My Lord wey face temptation, You allow Yourself to endure di humiliation of satan himself tempting You. You do so to show me and all Your children say we fit overcome our own temptations through You and by Your strength. Help me, dear Lord, make I turn to You every day with my struggles, so dat You go win victory inside me. Jesus, na You I trust.
40 Days for the Foot of the Cross: Reflection Four – Friendship for the Spiritual Life
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Scripture Meditation Dem for Lent
Saint for Today – Saint Peter Damian, Bishop wey be Doctor of the Church
Dem no dey celebrate am as liturgical memorial dis year because e fall on Sunday
Di main picture wey dey above: Christ for Wilderness, As Angels Dey Serve Am, by Ludovico Carracci
