Understand How Adam and Jesus are both Tempted by Satan, and What It Means for Our Own Spiritual Life

Understand How Satan Tempts Adam and Jesus, and What It Means for Our Own Spiritual Life

In today’s reading (not included within this audio) and the Gospel there are several contrasts.

We hear about Adam and the new Adam, Jesus. The original Adam brought condemnation to the world, and the new Adam, brings salvation into the world. There is a deeper contrast in terms of the settings. Hear more within the Homily.

Adam was set up for success. Created by God, he lived in a paradise garden of abundance, surrounded by blessings. This is one of the remarkable things about the fall of man . . . it happened in a paradise garden.

The Gospel story is the temptation of Jesus . . . who spends 40 days in a dessert. Nothing grows in the dessert. It is anything but abundance. This is a story of obedience. The new Adam continues the contrast of the original Adam. Hear more within the Homily.

In the first reading, Adam has an abundance of food. In the dessert, there is no food. And in both cases, Satan tries to place a hunger before each Adam. It’s not about food, it’s a deeper issue. In the garden, Satan stokes the hunger for something Adam does not have . . . Adam can have more than he currently has in paradise. Satan, who also fell in paradise, tells Adam he can have more . . . he can be like God.

Hear how Satan tempts the Lord. Understand how Adam and Jesus are both tempted by Satan, and What It Means for Our Spiritual Life. Listen to this Meditation Media.