Photo: Joey Kyber

How long did Jesus fast for?

He fasted for forty days and forty nights and afterwards was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.

marquette.edu - The First Sunday of Lent: Jesus is tempted in the desert

What to do if hemoglobin keeps dropping?

Not getting enough iron in your diet is the most common cause of low hemoglobin. Symptoms of low hemoglobin include headaches, fatigue, and pale...

Last updated Jan 13, 2019

Can you regain eyesight naturally?

We can't correct our vision without professional help, and there's no quick-and-easy fix for eyesight problems. But with tools such as good...

Last updated Sep 10, 2019

Weird “juice ritual” removes 65lbs in weeks

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

The First Sunday of Lent: Jesus is tempted in the desert

One commentator on the Scriptures suggested that this experience of Jesus being tempted would not have been included in the accounts of his life and ministry unless Jesus revealed this to some of his followers. He is portrayed as vulnerable to the deceits of Satan. Why would Jesus go into the desert for a forty day retreat after his baptism? It is the same reason why people go on retreat: to refocus on who they are, where they are going and how to get there. One’s perspective about life gets blurred by all the noise and hyperactivity of life. Jesus needed time to understand the revelation of his identity given by the voices of his Father at his baptism: “You are my beloved Son, my favor rests on you.”

Matthew 4:1-11

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights and afterwards was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread. He said in reply, “It is written: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city and made him stand on the parapet of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, you shall not put the Lord, your God to the test.” Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain and he showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” Then the devil left him, and behold angels came and ministered to him.

Reflection from the Preface of the Mass:

His fast of forty days makes this a holy season of self-denial. By rejecting the devil’s temptations he has taught us to rid ourselves of the hidden corruption of evil, and so to share his paschal meal in purity of heart, until we come to its fulfillment in the promised land of heaven.

Suggestions for Reflection

What foods decrease collagen?

Crackers, cookies, cereal, pasta, bread and baked goods contain sugar and chemicals that are damaging to collagen molecules, thereby diminishing...

Last updated Mar 20, 2022

Why does BP go up at night?

Night-time BP surge is triggered by specific triggers (OSA episode, arousal, rapid-eye-movement sleep, and nocturia) and is augmented by the...

Last updated Aug 18, 2019

Purple mojito “devours” 57lbs of flab?

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

How long can you fast according to the Bible?

Fasting in the Bible Jesus also fasted for 40 days and nights (Matthew 4:2). If 40 days seems like an impossible amount of time to survive without sustenance, that's because without divine intervention, it is. (Humans can only last about three days without water.)

faithward.org - Fasting and Prayer Guide | Faithward.org

What is fasting?

Fasting is a powerful spiritual discipline. Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life. And the practice of fasting has strong roots in the Bible. Jesus himself spent time in fasting and prayer during his life on earth, and he expected his followers to fast as well. Most commonly, fasting is when you abstain from food or a certain type of food for a period of time. However, there are multiple ways to fast, all with the potential to help you grow spiritually. It’s important to ensure you’re listening to both the Holy Spirit and your own body in the way you fast. Instead of abstaining from food altogether, you may fast from a particular type of food or even something other than food, such as social media. You might decide to fast until a certain time in the day or skip a certain meal. There are many ways to ensure you’re getting the physical nourishment you need while still enjoying the spiritual nourishment fasting and prayer offer. Fasting and prayer can also bring about more than just personal transformation. When God’s people practice fasting and prayer, God hears from heaven and can heal our lives, our churches, our communities, our nations, and our world. Fasting and prayer can even bring about revival—a change in direction.

What's the longest you can go without drinking water?

Unlike food, the maximum time an individual can go without water seems to be a week. But that estimate is even shorter in difficult conditions,...

Last updated Apr 25, 2019

What was Coca-Cola's biggest mistake?

Coca-Cola announced on April 23, 1985 that it would discontinue its beloved Coca-Cola in favor of a new product that millions derisively called...

Last updated Feb 28, 2022

Fizzy juice “chews through” 63lbs of fat

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

What happens when you drink celery juice on an empty stomach?

Drinking celery juice, even on an empty stomach, does not guarantee any additional health benefits. The nutritional value of celery does not change...

Last updated Aug 20, 2022

Tasty juice “eats through” 54lbs of thick flab

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

What is the best drink to clean out your system?

Drinking water is one of the best and fastest ways to flush out toxins from your system. Water transports toxins through your system via your...

Last updated Jan 3, 2022