41. The temptation of Christ - 1. Christ wished to be tempted1° to strengthen us against temptations. St. Gregory: “It was not unworthy of our Redeemer to wish tobe tempted, He who had come to be put to death: in this way He conquered our temptations by Hisown, just as He triumphed over our death by His own death.”2° that we might be warned, so that no one, however holy, may consider himself safe and exempt fromevery temptation. That is why He wished to be tempted even after His baptism. St Hilary: “Theassaults of the devil are directed especially against the sanctified; indeed, it is over the saints that hemost desires to win the victory.” - Eccl. 2:1: “My son, if you undertake to serve God, stand firm injustice and fear, and prepare your soul for temptation.”3° to give us an example, to teach us how to overcome the temptations of the devil. St Augustine:“Christ offered Himself to the devil to be tempted, that He might be our Mediator, not only by Hishelp but also by His example, so that we might overcome the temptations of the devil.”4° to inspire in us confidence in His mercy. Heb 4:15: “We do not have a High Priest who cannotsympathize with our weaknesses; He was tempted in all things, to resemble us, except for sin.”2. Should Christ have been tempted in the desert?We said already that Christ of His own free will exposed Himself to be tempted, else the devil wouldnot have dared to approach Him. Now the devil prefers to assail a man who is alone.S. Ambrose: 1° Christ was led into the desert for the purpose of provoking the devil. Had he notfought, He would not have conquered. - 2° Christ in doing this set forth the mystery of Adam’sdelivery from exile, who had been expelled from paradise into the desert.P. Lagrange, Lk, 135: “Since the evangelists give no precise indication, the best is to hold to concretereality. It was quite real that after the fast the devil suggested to Jesus that He change a stone intobread, that He receive from him the kingdoms of the earth...