Jesus Fasts, And Overcome Satan.

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At the age of thirty Jesus manifested his Divinity, which was hidden in his infancy and youth. He manifested himself first to the Jews because the promise of the Messiah was first made to them amd forefathers. He therefore presented himself to receive publicly the baptism of St. John, upon which occasion the heaven we're opened, and the Holy Ghost was seen to descend upon him, in the form of a dove, and a voice was heard from heaven : " This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased " immediately after his baptism, he retired into the desert, where he fasted forty days and forty nights, and then was tempted by the devil.
He who was God, who could not sin, yet he permitted himself to be tempted, that by his complete victory over the tempter of mankind he might merit for us that grace by which all temptations are overcome.

PART ONE. That Jesus fasts forty days and forth nights;
when Jesus had fasted forth days and forty nights he was afterwards hungry.

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A. Jesus fasted : Why?

• First, in order to atone for the sin of our first parents : They had ina most sinful manner gratified their desire of eating, by tasting the forbidden fruit. By this sin they lost for themselves and their posterity the love of God and his grace, and plunged themselves into the greatest misery. Jesus repaired this sin by his fasting.
  St. Augustine says.

" As the first Adam had forfeited the prerogative of immortality by the intemperance of the palate, so the second Adam should recover immortality by abstinence. "

• Secondly, to teach us that we should make use of fasting as a means of penance : Fasting is a means of penance in a double relation : First, it stays the anger of God and averts the chastisements which otherwise should fall upon us. A good example is the Ninevites (Jonah 3: 5) ,etc.
  More so, fasting is accepted vicariously ( in substitute) by Almighty God in place of and in satisfaction for the temporal punishments due to us for venial sins or the temporal punishment due to moral sins even when remitted as to its guilt. Like all other good works, fasting with prayer and almsgiving quenches for us the fires of purgatory or shortens our stay in its flames. Furthermore, Christ fasted to show us by his example that fasting is a principal means of guarding against sin. Fasting wonderfully aids the soul to establish her rightful mastery over the flesh. As the horse rider guides his horse by means of bridle, so the Christian guards his sensuality by fasting, and subjects it to the law of God. Hence, St. Cyprian says:

Fasting tames all rebellion of the flesh, breaks the tyranny of the palate, and adorns man. It confines the inordinate motions in a grave, binds down extravagant desires, and united with humanity, teaches the servant of God to despise all worldly goods. "

B. Jesus fasted in the desert.

He might have fasted at Bethlehem, at Nazareth, at Jerusalem. Why did he fast in the desert?
First, to teach us that we should do our good works as much as possible in secret, for he who in them seeks human praise, has already received his reward. hence Jesus says:

Take heed that you do not do your justice before man, that you may be seen by them, otherwise you shall not have a reward from your Father who is in heaven
" Matt. 6:1. Of fasting he saysvin particular : When you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face, that you appear not fasting to men, but to the Father, who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

The Bottom line is this, fasting is a key to open so many closed doors for mercy, happiness and kindness.

Happy Sunday.

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