Away with you Satan

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread." He said in reply, "It is written: One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: "He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone." Jesus answered him, "Again it is written, you shall not put the Lord, your God to the test." Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and said to him, "All these things I shall give you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me." At this, Jesus said to him, "Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve." 

Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

Lord Jesus, we too are tempted by the devil and his minions. Unfortunately, mankind has given way to sin. Grant us the grace of repentance; to be truly sorry for our transgressions, and to be reconciled to you. Then filled with thy grace we will be able to say to the devil, "Away with you Satan! We worship and serve our Lord and God alone!" Amen.

The Way of Truth

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me," And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have come not call the righteous to repentance but sinners." 

Lord Jesus, your words give hope to those who have fallen prey to the master of deception. Many have given up on them, but not you. They may have given up on themselves, but you have not given up on them. You have said, "I have come not to call the righteous to repentance but sinners." That is why you came into this world, because all of mankind, including the righteous, are in need of your divine healing and forgiveness. Bless us with the faith to seek out your mercy and move forward in the way of truth. Amen.

Trial and Tranquility

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast."

Consideration: As long as our lives are moving along at a steady pace and the road is smooth, we are comfortable. We do not feel the need to call upon the Lord because we feel in control. A bit further along a powerful storm moves in where peace was just present. Immediately we call upon the name of the Lord to save us from harm. The same is true with fasting, when we are satisfied and things are well, sacrifice is rarely thought of. But when there is an event that invades our tranquil lives and we suffer, prayer and fasting become necessary. In both circumstances, the Lord is with us; and the Lord loves us. 

Lord Jesus, may we always place you first in our lives and speak to you often, both in times of trial and times of tranquility. Amen.

The Things of Eternity

Saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself.?"

Lord Jesus, the world is on display for all to see. With all the lures and enticements, it has to offer us. Help us to be mindful of the passing things of this world, and to set our gaze upon the things of eternity that awaits all who love you. Amen.

"You are the Christ"

Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked the disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets." And he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Christ." Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and started to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

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Lord Jesus, as you rebuked Peter, so too, are we rebuked for our sinful pride. Help us, Lord, with Thy grace to ask for your loving mercy so we can continue on the mission that you are calling us to live out. Amen.

Bless Our Hearts Father

Jesus said to his disciples: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."

Lord Jesus, the hypocrites love to say and do things for others to see to win their praise and admiration. But the Father sees, not only the action, but into the depths of the heart where the sincerity of the action originated. 

May we always be sincere in our actions, so our Father in heaven will be pleased with us and will bless our hearts. Amen.

Do You not yet Understand

Now they had forgotten to bring bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And He cautioned them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." And they discussed it with one another, saying, “We have no bread." And being aware of it, Jesus said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve." And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven." And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

Lord Jesus, sometimes we see your works playing out before our eyes and do not understand from where they come. The disciples were with you all the time and saw you perform many miracles and did not grasp the magnitude of what they were witnessing. Help us Lord, with thy grace, to be witnesses of the many miracles in our lives that would not be possible if not for your grace, love, compassion and mercy. Amen.