Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday’s Gospel account of Jesus in the wilderness resonates deeply to our Lenten journey and to the concrete realities of our lives in Nigeria today. Jesus is led by the Spirit into a place of trial, where He fasts for forty days and nights and confronts the devil’s temptations. This shows us that temptation is not a sign of failure; rather, it is part of the human condition and a pathway to spiritual growth when faced with faith.
The first temptation is about bread. In a country like ours, where many struggle daily with hunger, unemployment and rising cost of living, the devil’s words sound very familiar: “Turn these stones into bread.” Yet, Jesus reminds us that life is more than material survival. While we must work for food, jobs and development, Lent calls us not to lose our souls in the process. We are invited to place God first, even amid economic hardship, and to trust that His word gives meaning and hope beyond material possession. The second temptation urges Jesus to seek cheap miracles and test God.
This reflects a society increasingly drawn to quick solutions, sensational religion, and manipulation of faith for personal gain. Lent invites us to a mature faith—one rooted in prayer, patience and integrity, not in shortcuts or spiritual dramatics. The third temptation offers power and glory. This is perhaps the most relevant for our nation. The thirst for power, corruption, greed and abuse of office continue to wound our society. Jesus’ firm response—“You shall worship the Lord your God and Him alone shall you serve” – is a direct challenge to all leaders and citizens. Power must be exercised as service, not as domination. Finally, angels minister to Jesus after His victory.
This assures us that when we resist evil, God’s grace sustains us. Lent is therefore a season of conversion: a call for personal renewal and national healing. By walking with Christ in the wilderness, Nigeria too can journey from temptation to transformation, from despair to hope, and from darkness to the light of Easter.
• Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos.
