The first Sunday in Lent always focuses on the temptations of Jesus, with the gospel reading being the version of that story found in the Synoptic gospel for the year. Matthew’s account is almost identical to Luke’s, except for the order of the second and third temptations. Any difference in what they signify comes from themes they evoke from the wider narratives in each gospel. In every case the temptations are precursors to Jesus’ public mission that has just been launched by his baptism, and the battle lines are drawn for his confrontation with evil in Israel and in his disciples’ later mission in the wider world. In this sense, these temptations are our story as well, which is why we read them at the start of Lent when we review our ongoing struggle with “the world, the flesh and the devil”.
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Howard Pilgrim