At the beginning of Lent, we heard about Jesus fasting for forty days and overcoming three temptations from the devil (Mt 4:2ff). Traditionally, temptations have been ascribed to three sources: the world, the flesh, and the devil (see 1 Jn 2:16; cf Eph 2:1-3). In the book of Daniel, God’s people were attacked three times. First, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace (Dn 3:20). Second, Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den where he faced being devoured (Dn 6:17). Third, Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den again where he faced not only the lions but starvation (Dn 14:31).

These three attacks on God’s people can be analogous to the flesh, the devil, and the world. We Christians live in a fiery furnace of lust, addiction, and rage. Yet by living in the Holy Spirit we can be untouched by the flames of the flesh (see Dn 3:94). Second, the devil is described as a “roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Pt 5:8). But we can close “the lions’ mouths” (Dn 6:23) in the name of Jesus. Third, we Christians live in the lions’ den of our culture of death. The world hates the Word of God (Jn 17:14) and wants to starve us to death spiritually and make us spiritually anorexic. But the Lord will feed us miraculously and make us hungry for His prophetic Word (see Dn 14:33ff).

Holy Trinity, give us three victories this Lent.

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from February 1, 2024, through March 31, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 7, 2023"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.