The Tempter vs the Savior

By Fr. Christopher Kubat, M.D.

God is the creator of things visible and invisible. What is visible is obvious to our eyes such as the celestial bodies in the sky, plants and animals and so on. The most precious thing in the visible word is human life. Why? Because we were created by God in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:27) and that the Son of God became one of us to save us from our sins.

Created things in the invisible realm are the angels, which are made up of nine choirs: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels. Angels are mentioned in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Like humans, they were created in God’s image and likeness. Like our first parents, Adam and Eve, many rebelled by disobeying God. Notice that God did not become an angel to save the fallen angels but became man to save humans.

Before starting His public life, Jesus was, “led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil” (Luke 4:1-2). Unlike the first Adam, the New Adam defeated the devil by resisting his temptations. We can learn a lot from what Jesus did before He allowed Himself to be tempted. Think of it, God, in His human nature, allowed one of His creatures to tempt Him.

The temptations of Satan were threefold: First, to change stones into bread, second, to seek power and glory by committing idolatry and third, to put God to the test. To resist in His human nature, Jesus fortified Himself by prayer and fasting. This is a powerful means of obtaining strength to resist. Remember that after the Transfiguration, Jesus said there are certain demons that can only be cast out with prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:20). Remember Jesus also said that after His ascension into heaven, His disciples would fast (Luke 5:35).

It is impossible to grow in virtue without cultivating an adult spiritual life. It is a fact that prayer plus penance is more powerful than prayer alone. Fasting is just one form of penance. This is truly powerful medicine prescribed by the Divine Physician.

Lent is the perfect time to look inward. We can all ask ourselves these questions. In what areas am I tempted most? What am I doing to combat these temptations? St. Paul wrote, “Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens” (Ephesians 6:11-12).

This is why we imitate Jesus by spending time with God in prayer, reading Scripture daily, receiving the sacraments frequently and yes, fasting, refraining from something that we are attached to. This is how we grow in virtue. This is how we put on the Armor of God. Let us follow the lead of our Savior who defeated the devil in the desert to show us the way.