First Week of Lent: Words of Life on the Margin of the Missal by Dom Marmion

To fully understand the mystery of the temptation of Jesus (1), we must remember that Christ is like us in all things except sin: Debuit per omnia fratribus similari, absque peccato.

Imagine to what a state of weakness a man would be reduced if, for forty days, he allowed himself no food. Jesus did not want to perform a miracle to prevent the effects of fasting in Him; also the Gospel tells us that after this period, Jesus felt hunger: Postea esuriit; and the demon took the opportunity of his state of fatigue to tempt him.

If Christ, Son of God, wanted to enter into a struggle with the evil spirit, should we be surprised that the members of His mystical body must follow the same path?

So many people, even pious ones, believe that temptation is a sign of reprobation. But, more often than not, it's the opposite! Having become disciples of Jesus through baptism, we cannot “be above our divine Master.” It is God Himself who tells us: “Because you were pleasing to Me, temptation had to prove you.”

Let us therefore not be surprised at temptation: let us never forget that Christ, our model in all things, was tempted before us, and even touched by the Spirit of darkness.

Above all, let us not forget that it is not only as the Son of God that Jesus defeated the devil, but also as the head of the Church; in Him and through Him we have triumphed and are still triumphing over the suggestions of the rebellious spirit. It is, in fact, the grace won for us by our divine Savior through this mystery; therein lies the source of our confidence in trials and temptations.

Christ in His Mysteries, pp. 207 and 211.

(1) Cf. Gospel of the Mass of the first Sunday of Lent