Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "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 placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'" Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

When I read this passage I am always struck by two things: the powers of the devil and the way Jesus responds with God's Word. In our everyday lives we are often tempted in ways both direct and indirect. The persuasions of advertising or the impulses of our human nature lure us away from what we know as truth and moral values. In the media we see all manner of behaviors from the "rich and famous" that give tacit permission for us to indulge in those same behaviors. The promises given are exciting and too good to be true.

Jesus calls upon Scripture, the assurance of God's Word, to counter the false promises of the devil. We too, when we have his Word in our hearts and on our lips, can trust in him to guide our path. A favorite passage, a trusted psalm or prayer from the heart comes from within when we have implanted that Word through study, reflection and prayer. Then we are equipped to respond to the evil one with confidence and trust.