Christs Victory over the Devil
As we enter Lent, a time of self-examination, I think the words of St Augustine are worth reflecting on. “Our pilgrimage on earth cannot be exempt from trial. We progress by means of trial. No one knows themselves except through trial, or receives a crown except after victory, or strives except against an enemy or temptations. The one who cries from the ends of the earth is in anguish, but is not left on his own. Christ chose to foreshadow us, who are his body, by means of his body, in which he has died, risen and ascended into heaven, so that the members of his body may hope to follow where their head has gone before. He made us one with him when he chose to be tempted by Satan. We have heard in the gospel how the Lord Jesus Christ was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Certainly, Christ was tempted by the devil.
In Christ you were tempted, for Christ received his flesh from your nature, but by his own power gained salvation for you; he suffered death in your nature, but by his own power gained life for you; he suffered insults in your nature, but by his own power gained glory for you; therefore, he suffered temptation in your nature, but by his own power gained victory for you. If in Christ we have been tempted, in him we overcome the devil. Do you think only of Christ's temptations and fail to think of his victory? See yourself as tempted in him, and see yourself as victorious in him. He could have kept the devil from himself; but if he were not tempted, he could not teach you how to triumph over temptation.” Tempted we are, but not alone as we are united to Christ. In union with Christ, we face temptation and receive salvation.
God Bless
Parish Officers
Parish Governance
Parish Groups
