03.24.25 | Ash Wednesday Fasting | Jesus Meets Satan in the Desert |

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House rules/notes…

1. Our meetings/classes are on ZOOM every Tuesday, 7-8 PM. Sign up forZoom notifications and to receive meeting reminders at www.meetup.com/catholicbiblestudy. Zoom ID: 861 1782 2081  Password: 406952.

2. RSVP Reminder:  Please RSVP whether you are attending the meeting or just reading the Recaps afterwards. The more RSVPs, the more Meetup will give exposure to “Catholic Bible Study” – a good thing!

3. Recaps. Within a day or two after each meeting, we will post the edited meeting notes of our discussions on our website, www.catholiccatacombs.org. Taylor will notify everyone when this is posted and also provide you with a link.

4. Questions. We encourage questions although we ask that you keep them on topic and brief. You can ask during the meeting, or in the chat box, or if you prefer you can email us through Meetup.com, or Ron directly: ron@hallagan.net.

5. Respectfulness. We will be discussing differences between Christian denominations and religions in general, and we seek to be respectful at all times. Protestants especially are our friends and brothers-in-Christ; in fact, I personally owe much of my return to the faith to them!

6. No politics.  It would be easy for us to self-destruct, but that’s not our goal :). Our goal is to learn, understand, and apply the Bible and our Catholic faith to our everyday lives.

7. “The Chosen” TV series.  All of us seek a relationship with Jesus Christ, which is not always easy. It can help if we have seen and heard Him. The Chosen series captures Jesus better than any show I have ever seen. Highly recommended.  

8. Catholic Prayer & Fellowship. Are you interested in praying the rosary, etc. with other Catholics during the week?  Follow fellow member Jason Goldberg at https://www.meetup.com/online-catholic-prayer-fellowship-and-spirituality/. Daily/weekly prayer is saintly!

Our Bible Study is a combination of Exegesis and Apologetics.

                          Study and interpretation of Scripture        A reasoned defense of the faith

Format:  Each week of the month has a repeating theme, as noted below.

  Wk 1:    Gospel Week – we study several Gospel stories, especially the tough ones!   

  Wk 2:    Bible Week – we are working our way through the Bible. We are studying the prophets!

  Wk 3:    Survey Topics Voted on by Members:      

x 1) Jesus’ Greatest Parables, x 2) Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, x 3) World Religions, x 4) Great Women in the Bible​       x 5) Book of Revelation  6) The Sacraments  7) Fathers of the Church, Heresies, Church Councils.

      Wk 4:    Member Questions/Apologetics:

1. Adam & Eve, the Fall of Man, The Meaning of the Trees in the Garden of Eden

2. What happens to animals after they die. Will we see our pets?

3. Could you review of Plenary and Partial Indulgences again?

4. Prison ministry/inmate discussions

Each meeting is (roughly) as follows:

- 15 min​Catholic topic/catechesis

- 15 min ​Upcoming Gospel reading

- 30 min ​Weekly topic/theme

          1 hour

Reader for the day… (if one is needed, Taylor will select)

Opening Prayer​​​​​​    

Most Holy Trinity, Godhead indivisible, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

You showed up at Jesus’ baptism and today you show up at his Transfiguration.

As you did with Peter, Andrew and James

Enlighten us with your presence and wisdom so that we may be

Conformed and transformed by Your holy, perfect, and loving will.

And as you taught us to pray together…

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Upcoming major holy days:   Lent begins Ash Wednesday, March 5; Solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19.

Quote of the Week:

Jesus was the most balanced and perhaps the most beloved being ever to enter human society. Not only was he gentle and tender and true, but also righteous, stern as steel, and terribly tough on phony people. He was magnificent in his magnanimous spirit of forgiveness for all but he was a terror to those who indulged in false pretenses. He came to set men free from their own sins, their own selves, and their own fears. Those so liberated have loved him with fierce loyalty, even unto death. – “A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23,” by W. Phillip Keller

Today’s Agenda

1. Lent reflection – it starts tomorrow!  www.masstimes.org

2. Gospel Reading for Ash Wednesday (Mar 5): Concerning Almsgiving and Fasting, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

3. Gospel Reading for the 1st Sun in Lent (March 9):  The Temptation of Jesus, Luke 4:1-13

LENT

St. Benedict in the 5th century said that since Jesus commanded us to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily, Lent shouldn’t be necessary! I used to think, “That’s easy for him to say, he was in a monastery!” But his point was that the cross Jesus is talking about means prioritizing our life around Christ every day, instead of “self.” Benedict did actually acknowledge that due to our human condition (weakness), we indeed could use a time of renewal each year to take up the Cross anew. He said if we don’t make deliberate space in the calendar each year, it might fall out of our minds completely. He’s right!

Today is called Shrove Tuesday. What is the meaning?

        Shrove comes from the Old English word, “shrive,” meaning to confessone’s sins. Almost getting a head start on Lent!

Why does the Church use purple during Lent?

Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. And the soldiers weaved a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe; they came up to him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! and struck him with their hands – John 19:1-3.   Purple is the color of royalty, so for Jesus it’s a paradox and a perfect storm – the greatest violence and condemnation of the world meets the greatest, perfect love offering of God.

Why do we get ashes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday?

Recall that in Gen 2:7 it says humans were first formed out of the dust/dirt of the earth, which tells us our physical natures are of this earth. (That part even fits with secular science.) Then, it says God breathed his spirit (the translation of the Hebrew נִשְׁמַ֣ת (niš·maṯ) is “spirit” or “divine inspiration”) into man, which gave humans a higher, spiritual nature. This spiritual nature is what makes us in the image and likeness of God. However, our humbler beginnings before this was our earthly nature – “of the earth/dust.” After the Fall, God described man’s new prescription: “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return” (Gen 3:19). This is the same language the priest uses when he put a cross of ashes on our foreheads. It is an act of humility to remind us that without God, we are nothing but ashes.

Fortunately, this was not the end as God promised humans a way out, saying in Gen 3:15 that the seed of the woman (Messiah or Savior) will one day crush the head of the serpent. In other words, humanity will be given another chance toreject pride and materialism and choose to return to God.

In the meantime, our lower, animal natures now have increased sway over us and we must learn how to assert our control over it. This must always begin by reversing the fallen decision to go it alone and by keeping God close to us.

Regardless of whatever Fasting, Prayer, and Almsgiving you choose to do for Lent, I assure you that after 40 days you will be a much better, stronger, and happier person for it.

If you’re not sure what to do, you might try signing up for the Hallow app at hallow.com.

Also, here are 40 suggestions for Lent. They aren’t from me personally, I just pulled them off the internet.

1. Pray and fast for one particular person every day of Lent. Sometime in the Easter season, send them a message telling them what you did and why.

2. If you struggle with identity or self-worth, then write down something nice about yourself every day.

3. Only buy things you absolutely need to have

4. Pray the rosary daily for someone that has caused you harm. Meditate on how much Jesus loves that person.

5. Work out every day.

6. Intentionally give sincere compliments to everyone you have a conversation with.

7. Prepare all your own food instead of eating out.

8. Only use screens for work / school.

9. Turn off all noise and distractions for extended periods of time (hours at a time).

10. Write a letter to 40 different people every day of Lent telling them what they mean to you.

11. Call someone you don’t talk to regularly every day. 

12. Daily Mass every weekday.

13. 30 minutes (or 1 hour) of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every day.

14. Pray morning, evening, and night prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours.

15. Volunteer weekly at a shelter, soup kitchen, retirement community, etc. 

16. Host a donation drive for a local charity.

17. Coordinate a day of service for a local charity

18. Go on a retreat, whether for multiple days or just one.

19. Let God choose your cross. In the morning, pray about what cross God has given you, then embrace it in faith as the will of God - to the best of your ability.

20. Go to Confession every week.

21. Gain an indulgence every week.

22. Start a new monthly donation to a great ministry/apostolate that you have never donated to before.

23. Offer daily prayers for your pastor and/or Bishop. Let them know what you did at Easter.

24. Give up speeding for all of Lent.

25. Fast from your favorite meal every day.

26. Spend an hour a day reading Catholic books.

27. Invite someone who has few friends to lunch or coffee. Do this every week.

28. Surprise someone in your neighborhood with a gift of flowers, a meal, basket of goodies, etc.

29. Make bags of food, water, socks, etc. for others and hand them out whenever you see a person in need.

30. Get 8 hours of sleep every night.

31. If you have a long commute, then do it in silence and prayer.

32. Daily games with family.

33. Every time you go to Mass - find someone you don’t know and introduce yourself.

34. Increase your charitable giving or start tithing.

35. Cut salt from all your food

36. Pray in front of an abortion clinic for an hour a week.

37. Resolve to ask more questions of others than they do of you.

38. Choose something meaningful to donate daily.

39. Go knock on the door of a neighbor every day. Introduce yourself. Before you leave their house, ask them for prayer requests.

40. Have your family / friends come up with 3 suggestions and choose from the list.

Gospel Reading #1 – Ash Wednesday, Concerning Almsgiving and Fasting, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Context:

Last week we were finished the Sermon on the Plain in Luke’s Gospel. Now that we are entering the Lenten Season, Luke will mostly be put on hold as the Church’s readings are selected specifically for the Lent and Easter seasons.

As for Ash Wednesday tomorrow, the reading it taken from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6, since Jesus talks about how to conduct oneself during times like fasting, etc.

Matthew 6:1-7, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.

When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streetsto win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret.And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street cornersso that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

And in praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think they will be heard for their many words.

When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."

Why does Jesus say that our acts of charity (righteous deeds) should not be overtly shared with friends and acquaintances?

Because their admiration will be your reward. But if you act in secret, your heavenly Father will reward you with a much greater blessing than mere temporal (worldly) acknowledgement and praise.

Jesus is addressing the necessity of seeking an interior desire to please God rather than the exterior desire of gaining the attention and approval of others. Jesus often uses the Greek word "hypocrite," which he uses 12 times in Matthew's Gospel. Six of those times are in Mt 23:13-29, which he applies directly to the scribes and Pharisees.

As you know, hypocrisy is when we say we stand for one thing but in reality our own behavior doesn’t reflect the same thing. In other words, our hearts and words/actions are like two different people – the one we show the world, and the one we hide. Jesus wants to unify ourselves in him, because without him there is no single standard or identity to move towards.

Several other times, Jesus says we should be like children. What does he mean?

​As usual, Jesus is speaking on two levels. Exterior and interior.

1) Externally… Children aren’t filled with possessions that block out God. As Augustine liked to say, God wants to give us many things, but He has nowhere to put them because our hands are full.

2) Interiorly… Children haven’t developed the “second self,” yet. The second self begins when we realize that people see us differently than we see ourselves. Suddenly, we want to manage that perception, our exterior image that they see. For many, this “second self” gets so carried away that it’s all we worry about. Think about social media today. Do we truly even know ourselves? God wants our two selves to reunite into one, with Him. Jesus uses children in his example because they are living in this place of innocence before they have created their second self.

How does Jesus recommend that the Christian disciple pray?

Communal prayer of course, but this should not be the only form of prayer. Jesus stresses the necessity for private prayer alone with God. The more often, the better, whether 60 second here and there throughout the day or hourly meditationsweekly or daily.

Jesus lived this example himself. How many times did he go off alone to pray? He came here to be an example to us!

What did Jesus mean when He said go your inner room, close the door and pray to your Father in secret? 

When not praying as a faith community, Jesus seems to be suggesting two ideas:  

o literally – that we pray in an isolated space to avoid earthly distractions

o figuratively – the "inner room" of our inner-most hearts and minds when we shut out the distractions of the world in the presence of God and focus entirely on listening or speaking with God.

Whether literally or figuratively, the goal is to be able to pray in a way that we can turn our fullest attention to God.

The following verse (v.7) is not included in this Sunday’s reading, but I included it for apologetic reasons. You’ll see why:

And in praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think they will be heard for their many words (some translations say, “do not babble meaninglessly like the pagans…”).  

There are some non-Catholics who say that this verse is a warning not to speak repetitious prayers, like the Hail Mary!    Is Jesus forbidding repetitive prayer like the rosary? 

Jesus is not forbidding repetitive prayer because in the very next passage (v.9-13), he gives His disciples the most often repeated prayer in the history of the world – the Lord’s Prayer! In Luke 11:2, he even tells His disciples to repeat this prayer as an introduction to all our prayers: "When you pray say:..."! 

Then what does Jesus mean by “do not babble meaninglessly like the gentiles/pagans”?

Jesus is referring to the heart of the person praying. Do the words mean something while we are reciting them, or is our minds wandering far away from God?

Gospel #2 for the 1st Sunday of Lent: The Temptation of Jesus, Luke 4:1-13

Context: What are the two events that happen just before Jesus begins his ministry?

1. Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.

2. 40 days fasting in the desert where Jesus encounters Satan.

Why was Jesus baptized if he was sinless?

1. Jesus was baptized to demonstrate his solidarity with sinners and his obedience to God's will to save humanity.

2. Recall what John said when Jesus approached: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!”    

The lamb was the Passover sacrifice that triggered the Jews’ Exodus from Egypt, and it was the blood of that lamb that enabled death to “pass over” them. Thus, Jesus’ baptism was part of his redemptive mission pointing to his sacrificial death as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” It wasn’t his sins, but our sins in the water he was immersing in.

​

Why was 40 days in the desert significant?

The biblical number “40” represents Purification, Testing, and Preparation.

​The Exodus was the Israelites’ freedom from slavery and lasted 40 years in the desert preparing for a new beginning. It rained on Noah for 40 days/nights as a purification and preparation for a new beginning. Jesus’ 40 days in the desert was to complete all new beginnings since he was reversing the Fall of Man, and thereafter all humans are given the opportunity at new beginning. Remember, the root of “Lent” means new beginnings, and that’s also why Lent is “40” days.  

Luke 4:1-13

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry.

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”

Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him,“I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish.All this will be yours, if you worship me.”

Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.”

Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said 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 guard you, and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”

Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, you shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”

When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

Exegesis (Study & Interpretation)

Jesus came to undo the Fall of Man. To accomplish this, he had to take on the devil who won the first war over humans. Fortunately, that wasn’t the final war, as God intended to give humans another chance. Because that isn’t just (justice would have been to let us remain in our fallen state, like the fallen angels), Jesus comes to pay the cost for this 2nd chance, to “justify” us. To reverse the Fall, one of the things Jesus has to do is pass through the same temptations that Adam & Eve failed to resist.

To understand the devil’s 3 temptations of Jesus, we first have to review Adam & Eve’s three temptations in Gen 3:6:

Passage​​​​​​​​​​Meaning

1) Eve saw the tree of good and evil was good for food.  ​​​Bodilygratification/pleasure

2) Eve saw the fruit was a delight to the eyes.​​​​​Material possessions

3) Eve saw the tree was good for making one wise (w/o God). ​​Pride/self-glorification

The Jews knew these were the three key sins/violations that led the Fall. John(apostle) also writes about these same three human tendencies to sin. In theological circles, they are called the Triple Concupiscence:

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. – 1 John 2:16  

What is concupiscence?

​From the Latin cupere – to desire greatly. It’s where we get Cupid from, crazy in love (or lust). The issue here in “desiring greatly” is that greatly means too great, disordered, or uncontrollable.    

Let’s return to Jesus in the desert.

The devil also presented Jesus with three temptations. Although the temptations were elevated and more dramatic, they were the same temptations, just in different disguises, which the devil is an expert at. Notice the encounter with the devil is when Jesus has completed 40 days of fasting. He is starving and at his weakest.

Did Jesus have it easy (fasting, etc.) because of who he was?

​No. For him to stand in for us on the cross, he had to be human and experience his humanity in every way we did, otherwise, this substitutional justice would be false. That’s why he had to be born of a woman as a baby, live the same as we do, and experience every joy, sadness, and pain we do. It’s why he had to die – to complete the human experience. Even going to the abode of the dead (hell) on Good Saturday was part of the human experience. So then, his fasting experience of 40 days in the hot desert was for real.

Let’s compare the Devil’s three temptations of Jesus to Adam & Eve and 1 John 2:16.

Jesus’s Temptation​​​​​​Adam &Eve​​​​1 John 2:16

Command these stones to become loaves of bread.  ​​​Bodily gratification/pleasure​Lust of the flesh

I will give you all the kingdoms of the world.​​​​​Material possessions ​​Desires of the eyes

Throw yourself down, let your angels save you (prove yourself). ​Pride/self-glorification​​Pride of life

This is Matthew’s version. Luke uses slightly different language on Satan offering Jesus all the kingdoms of the earth:  

Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory, for it has been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. – Luke 4:5-6

Who handed these kingdoms over to Satan?

​Adam. God gave Adam the world to be his steward over it. He forfeited his stewardship to Satan. Note also that when Adam & Eve were banished from Eden, evil followed them into the world. Remove humans from the earth and there is no evil.

Now you know why Jesus gave the devil the title, “prince/ruler of this world.”Near the end of John’s gospel at the Last Supper, Jesus tells his apostles the end is coming, for the “prince of this world” is coming:

I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, but he has no claim on me” – John 14:30.

What does Jesus mean?

​The devil’s strategy is to get the Pharisees and Romans to put Jesus to death. As Jesus was saying “the prince of this world is coming,” Judas was collecting his 30 pieces of silver from the Sanhedrin for disclosing Jesus’ location.

​However, notice Satan doesn’t realize that he isn’t going to win in the end. “… but he has no claim on me.” The cross will not put a stop to God’s plan for our salvation; it will ensure it!

Last point. What do you think about the Devil quoting Scripture?

​The devil quoting Scripture goes to show you who we are up against. The devil knows Scripture, but he take passages out of context and bends them to his own meaning. That’s called cherry-picking Scripture to suit your own goals, and many people do this. Of course, the devil can’t out-quote Scripture to Jesus, so in the end he gives up, but this just shows us the many disguises of the devil.

​So then, if someone likes to quote the Bible to suit their own purpose and not God’s truth, their hero and super-model is none other than the Devil, himself!

LENT – New Beginnings

Lent is living out Jesus 40 days in our own lives.

Our mantra for Lent is Pray, Fast, and Give. How do these line up with the three temptations of Adam/Eve and Jesus?

• Fast – the antidote for lust of the flesh

• Give alms – the antidote for lust for possessions

• Pray – the antidote for pride, since prayer is dependence on God, not self.

Once again, regardless what Fasting, Prayer, and Almsgiving you choose to do for Lent, I assure you that after 40 days you will be a much better, happier, newerperson for it.  

Closing Prayer

From Psalm 91:9-13

If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and make the Most High your stronghold,

No harm shall overtake you; no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.

They will lift you up with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You can tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

​Saint Michael the Archangel

      Defend us in battle!

Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray;

And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan

And all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen.