FORMATION
FORMATION 1999
THEME NO. 6
‘Do not lead us into
temptation’
1. Opening Prayer
(To be introduced by the leader then
prayed by all present.)
Leader: My brothers in Christ, as the great
Jubilee draws near, let us prepare our minds and hearts and pray to the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ for the renewal of the Church and the salvation of the world.
All: Lord God, the creation of humanity was
a wonderful work and our redemption still more wonderful. May we persevere in right reason
against all that entices us to sin and so attain everlasting joy. We ask this through
Jesus who is Lord. Amen.
2. Scripture Reading – Luke 4:
1–13
(Read by the discussion leader or
member nominated by him.)
Pray you will not be tempted. Jesus, full
of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,
where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days,
and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son
of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It
is written, "One does not live by bread alone."’ Then the devil led him up
and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him,
‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to
me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be
yours.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, "Worship the Lord your God, and
serve only him."’ Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the
pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself
down from here, for it is written, "He will command his angels concerning you, to
protect you," and "On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not
dash your foot against a stone."’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, "Do
not put the Lord your God to the test."’ When the devil had finished every test,
he departed from him until an opportune time.
(The reading of scripture is followed
by several minutes silent reflection before the reading of the Message.)
3. The Message
(Read by the discussion leader or the
member nominated by him.)
God’s friends are tested by fire, like
gold in the crucible. Abraham, Jacob, Paul: their faith was tested and they remained
faithful. Jesus himself was tempted by the Devil, who vainly tried to break that communion
of love of the Son with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The temptations placed before
Jesus are very much those which are placed before us and our world today. The forces at
work in the world of the present continually call us to acquire material success and
wealth, to achieve power, to reject God and proclaim our own independence and control, no
matter the cost. We need to be continually alert to the motivation of governments,
community and national bodies, church organisations, world powers. Are the temptations to
acquisition, power, and independence realities in today’s world? Let us open our
hearts to God’s grace, so that we may be discerning as we play our part in building
the kingdom and in times of trial not fall into temptation, but stay faithful to the God
who calls us his own.
4. The Exercise
(Five minutes of reflection by all
members.)
Where in my life is the weakness that could
parallel the temptations of Jesus?
What is the predominant temptation at work
in our society today?
As men committed to the message of Jesus,
what response can we make to a world which is often governed by anti-Christian forces?
5. The Sharing
(Members share aspects of their
personal faith and its place in their lives that have come to them through the Exercise.)
6. The Word
(The basis of meditation and reflection
for the ensuing month given by the discussion leader.)
1. ‘God is faithful, and he will not
let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way
out so that you may be able to endure it.’ (1 Corinthians 10:13)
2. From the Catechism of the Catholic
Church # 2846 – 2849.
7. Closing Prayer
(Prayed by all members.)
Father, you call your people to walk in the
light of Christ. Free us from darkness, enlighten our minds and keep us in the radiance of
your truth. We ask this through Jesus your Son. Amen.
