There are many lessons that we can learn from the temptations of Jesus. Perhaps the one that can help us the most is our ability to distinguish between temptation and sin. So often we get discouraged because of the many temptations that come our way. Jesus himself was tempted (tested), which means that every human being will be tempted. Temptation should not worry us, as long as we fight against it. Temptation in itself is not sinful, it can have two possible outcomes: holiness or sin (growth in holiness if we reject temptation, and sinfulness if we give into it). Christ teaches us to fight against temptation, for we are fighting for our lives. One of the greatest ways to fight against temptation is through prayer and fasting. This is what Jesus practiced in His life, and this is what the Church invites us to practice, especially during this season of Lent. There are many different ways of praying, just as there are different forms of fasting.
May this Season of Lent prove to be a time of profound growth in our love and devotion to the Lord, and strengthening of our wills to fight against temptation.
Fr. Wojtek Kuzma