Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’     and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matthew 4:5-7)

The trap into which fervent believers most easily fall is “spiritual pride”.

The devil quoted Psalm 91 and suggested that Jesus create a crisis to force God to intervene. This is equivalent to saying to God: “God, if You love me, then You must save me at the time I specify and in the way I prescribe.”

We not only live in an age that pursues “instant gratification,” but also in an era of “same-day delivery.” We are accustomed to having absolute control over our lives—tracking packages, forecasting the weather, planning retirement. When we face sudden and uncontrollable challenges in life, such as a cancer diagnosis, receiving a layoff notice, or a child’s rebellion, we panic. We try to control God in the same way: “I prayed a Novena, so You should heal this illness.”

Paragraph 2119 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly states that “tempting God” consists in putting God’s goodness or omnipotence to the test in one’s words or actions.

In reality, this is a form of doubt; we refuse to believe God loves us unless He proves it with a miracle.

Yesterday we reflected on how the devil challenges and attacks our identity, leading us to doubt our worth and driving us to prove our value through performance in order to affirm our identity. God, however, affirms our identity and thereby grants us our intrinsic worth.

Now the devil uses a similar tactic, urging us to question God and to command Him to intervene or perform miracles according to our demands, in order to confirm that He loves us and to validate our relationship with Him. This is what it means to put God to the test.

“Testing” demands that God prove Himself; “Trusting” believes even without evidence.

Imagine a child standing at a height while his father opens his arms and says, “Jump down. I will catch you.” That is trust. But if the child says, “Dad, I’m going to close my eyes and jump now—if you love me, you must catch me!” that is testing God.

Such behavior in effect demands that God obey us rather than we obey Him, forcing Him to carry out our will.

Our pride makes us think that our wisdom surpasses God’s, that we know and grasp the best possible solution to every situation, and that God must respond immediately according to our terms.

In doing so, we set ourselves up as the arbiters of what is good and bad, and the standard of right and wrong.

Jesus refused to jump. He chose the harder path: to walk down from the temple step by step, and ultimately to walk toward Calvary. In this Jubilee Year of St. Francis, we learn from St. Francis the virtue of obedience

—not asking God to change circumstances to suit us, but asking God to change our hearts to conform to His will.

When you stop trying to control the outcome, you can begin to hear God’s guidance in the process.

Let us once again meditate on what this Gospel passage reveals to us:

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’     and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matthew 4:5-7)

Reflection

Have you ever treated prayer as a transaction? In what ways have you tried to “instruct” God to intervene or help according to your will?

Do you have sufficient trust in God? Do you believe that in every circumstance He knows what is best for you and will care for your needs?

If God’s response to your present prayer is “wait” or “no,” can you still trust in His goodness?

Today’s Prayer

Merciful Father, in today’s reflection I have examined how I view my relationship with You. Forgive me for trying to be the director of my own life.

I recognize the hidden pride within me that has placed my will above Yours and failed to offer You the trust and obedience that I owe You. Help me to lay down my own timetable and expectations, to trust You wholeheartedly, and to believe deeply that in every circumstance You will make the best arrangement for me.

I repent for the moments when I have tested You. From now on, I desire to walk on the path You have prepared for me and to submit to Your holy will, even if it requires patient waiting.

Holy Spirit, help me to say sincerely to the Father: “May Your will be done in my life.”

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Writer: Paul Yeung
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