Sunday, 17 February 2013 : 1st Sunday of Lent (Gospel Reading)

Luke 4 : 1-13

Jesus was now full of Holy Spirit. As He returned from the Jordan, the Spirit led Him into the desert, where He was tempted by the devil for forty days. He did not eat anything during that time, and at the end He was hungry. The devil then said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to turn into bread.” But Jesus answered, “Scripture says : People cannot live on bread alone.”

Then the devil took Him up to a high place, and showed Him in a flash all the nations of the world. And He said to Jesus, “I can give You power over all the nations, and their wealth will be Yours; for power and wealth have been delivered to me, and I give them to whom I wish. All this will be Yours, provided You worship me.” But Jesus replied, “Scripture says : You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him alone.”

Then the devil took Him up to Jerusalem, and set Him on the highest wall of the Temple; and He said, “If You are God’s Son, throw Yourself down from here, for it is written : God will order His angels to take care of you; and again : They will hold you in their hands, lest you hurt your foot on the stones.” But Jesus replied, “It is written : You shall not challenge the Lord your God.”

When the devil had exhausted every way of tempting Jesus, he left Him, to return another time.

Happy St. Anthony’s Day! (17 January 2013)

http://www.romereports.com/palio/animals-pay-a-visit-to-st-peters-square-for-celebration-of-their-patron-saint-anthony-english-8769.html

Today is the celebration day of St. Anthony the abbot, celebrated in Rome with the blessing of animals. St. Anthony the abbot or St. Anthony the Great is a third century AD monk who was noted for his great holiness and perseverance through numerous attacks and temptations by the devil.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_the_Great

St. Anthony, pray for us!