First Sunday in Lent. Lessons from the Gospel.
Matt. iv. And Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.
He was led. Here note—
1. That God is our leader into all good works.
2. That He leads, but does not constrain.
By the Spirit. Here note—
1. That in our Lent fast, we should follow the Spirit’s leading. Now the Spirit leads and guides—
α. By the voice of the Church.
β. By the voice of conscience.
2. That our works are alone acceptable to God, if done through the grace and impulsion of the Spirit.
Into the wilderness. Here note—
1. That Christ went into the wilderness to make expiation in His body for our excesses; to endure poverty for our luxury, want for our abundance.
2. That Christ went into the wilderness immediately after baptism, to teach us that, by baptism, we are called to renounce the world, and to lead a life of mortification.
3. That Christ sets us an example of retirement from the world and its turmoil, at seasons.
4. That Christ, by His example, has sanctioned and sanctified the life of the eremite.
To be tempted of the devil. Here note—
1. That, in order to be able to resist the devil, we must be furnished with the Holy Spirit.
