The Temptation on the Mountain

Pope Shenouda III discusses in this sermon the temptation of the Lord Jesus Christ on the mountain, explaining its spiritual dimensions and its relationship to the salvation of humanity. He explains that Satan tried to persuade the Lord Jesus to use His divinity for the comfort of His humanity, but He refused, affirming the fullness of His humanity and accepting hunger, fatigue, and suffering.
The Pope points out that the first temptation was related to food, just as it happened with the first Adam, but Christ, the Second Adam, declared that human life does not depend on bread alone, but on the word of God.

Spiritual Message

The sermon explains that being a child of God does not mean that a person must always live in comfort and ease, because the narrow gate, the difficult path, the cross, and tribulations are not contrary to God’s love. Rather, the Lord Jesus connects sonship with the cross and with enduring suffering for God’s sake.
The Pope also teaches that Satan may try to make a person doubt his love for God and his sonship to Him when he passes through tribulations, making him think that suffering is evidence that God has abandoned him.
But the believer is called to remain steadfast in God’s love even when he does not see a miracle or an easy path.

Educational Lesson

The sermon emphasizes that the word of God is nourishment for the spirit, and that feeding the spirit helps a person endure the hardships of the body and tribulations. Prayer, readings, meditation, and spiritual life give the soul strength to endure difficulties.
One of the most important principles presented by the Pope is that we should face the devil’s spiritual attacks with the verses of the Holy Scripture, placing a word from God before every temptation. According to the sermon, the word of God is powerful and effective and can strengthen a person during temptation.
The Pope also warns against using Scripture verses incorrectly or in a distorted way, because merely memorizing verses is not enough; they must be understood and used correctly in a spiritual way.

Practical Application

The believer should care for feeding his spirit through prayer, the word of God, and meditation, especially during times of fasting and temptation. When a sin or temptation comes, he can remember an appropriate commandment or biblical verse and use it to confront the wrong thought.
The sermon also emphasizes that true faith should not depend on miracles and spectacular signs, because the effect of a miracle may be temporary, while faith founded on the love of God remains firm in the heart.
The goal is for a person to learn to love God and believe in Him even when the path is difficult and full of tribulations, and to walk with Christ on the way of the cross rather than seeking comfort alone.

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