St. John Chrysostom Homily XIII Jesus led into the Wilderness.

Homily XIII.

   Matt. IV. 1.

   "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted

   of the devil."

   Then. When? After the descent of the Spirit, after the voice that was
   borne from above, and said, "This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well
   pleased." And what was marvelous, it was of the Holy Spirit; for this,
   he here said, led Him up. For since with a view to our instruction He
   both did and underwent all things; He endures also to be led up
   there, and to wrestle against the devil: in order that each of those
   who are baptized, if after his baptism he have to endure greater
   temptations may not be troubled as if the result were unexpected, but
   may continue to endure all nobly, as though it were happening in the
   natural course of things.
 
   Yea, for therefore you did take up arms, not to be idle, but to
   fight. For this cause neither does God hinder the temptations as they
   come on, first to teach you that you are become much stronger; next,
   that you may continue modest neither be exalted even by the
   greatness of your gifts, the temptations having power to repress you;
   moreover, in order that that wicked demon, who is for a while doubtful
   about your desertion of him, by the touchstone of temptations may be
   well assured that you have utterly forsaken and fallen from him;
   fourthly, that you may in this way be made stronger, and better
   tempered than any steel; fifthly, that you may obtain a clear
   demonstration of the treasures entrusted to you.
 
   For the devil would not have assailed you, unless he had seen you
   brought to greater honor. Here, for example, from the beginning, he
   attacked Adam, because he saw him in the enjoyment of great dignity.
   For this reason he arrayed himself against Job, because he saw him
   crowned and proclaimed by the God of all.
 
   How then said He, "Pray that you enter not into temptation." [530] For
   this cause he does not show you Jesus simply going up, but "led up"
   according to the principle of the Economy; [531] signifying obscurely
   by this, that we ought not of ourselves to leap upon it, but being
   dragged thereto, to stand manfully.
 
   And see where the Spirit led Him up, when He had taken Him; not into
   a city and forum, but into a wilderness. That is, He being minded to
   attract the devil, gives him a handle not only by His hunger, but also
   by the place. For then most especially does the devil assail, when he
   sees men left alone, and by themselves. Thus did he also set upon the
   woman in the beginning, having caught her alone, and found her apart
   from her husband. Just as when he sees us with others and banded
   together, he is not equally confident, and makes no attack. Wherefore
   we have the greatest need on this very account to be flocking together
   continually, that we may not be open to the devil's attacks.


May you be greatly Blessed,


+William
Monk Michael



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