Friday prior to Lent 1

 

[1]

Matthew 4:1-11—In the Gospel lesson temptation to sin can be conquered as Jesus overcomes temptation in the wilderness.  Jesus was “tempted by the devil.”  If Satan is the author of temptation, why do we pray, “Lead us not into temptation”? In this petition, we pray for strength to withstand temptation.

While trying to lose weight, someone who was well aware of their friend’s died waved a large piece of chocolate cake under their friend’s nose inviting them to eat it. That’s temptation! Daily Satan waves temptations under the nose of the Christian in an effort to persuade them to transgress their relationship with God.

Satan as the tempter is so bold that he even tempted Jesus. The Biblical account of Jesus’ temptation is recorded for our benefit to offer us both a pattern and the power that we need in answering the tempter. Based on Jesus’ own battle with temptation we will do well to consider how the Savior responded to his own temptation as well as our own.

Collect for Friday after Ash Wednesday: Lord, with your loving care guide the penance we have begun. Help us to persevere with love and sincerity. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen [2]

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[1]Woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, a nineteenth-century German artist known especially for

his book ‘The Book of Books in Pictures’ ©WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use. 

[2] Collect for Friday after Ash Wednesday, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For And By the Church, Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY