Blocking as soon as possible

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through the wilderness, being tempted there by the devil for forty days. During that time he ate nothing and at the end he was hungry. Then the devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to turn into a loaf.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Scripture says: Man does not live on bread alone.’ Then leading him to a height, the devil showed him in a moment of time all the kingdoms of the world and said to him, ‘I will give you all this power and the glory of these kingdoms, for it has been committed to me and I give it to anyone I choose. Worship me, then, and it shall all be yours.’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Scripture says: You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.’ Then he led him to Jerusalem and made him stand on the parapet of the Temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said to him ‘throw yourself down from here, for scripture says: He will put his angels in charge of you to guard you, and again: They will hold you up on their hands in case you hurt your foot against a stone.’ But Jesus answered him, ‘It has been said: You must not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Having exhausted all these ways of tempting him, the devil left him, to return at the appointed time. (Luke 4, 1-13)

Not being able to evangelize and instruct the devil, who has separated himself from God definitively, Jesus does not perform any of the gestures and miracles he requests because they would not have served to convert him. Jesus’ refusal should be a lesson to us to learn not to dialogue with temptations, as Eve did in the garden of Eden with the serpent. It is important we stop them as quickly as possible so there is no time for us to be beguiled. Think of the most recurring temptation you have to deal with and decide to nip it in the bud. Then keep your resolution.