In the Holy Land, the Judean desert, which lies to the west of the River Jordan and the Oasis of Jericho, rises over stony valleys to reach an altitude of about one thousand meters at Jerusalem. After receiving baptism from John, Jesus entered that lonely place, led by the Holy Spirit himself who had settled upon him, consecrating him and revealing him as the Son of God. In the desert, a place of trial as the experience of the people of Israel shows, the dramatic reality of the self-emptying of Christ who had stripped himself of the form of God (Phil 2:6-7) appears most vividly. He who never sinned and cannot sin submits to being tested and can therefore sympathize with our weaknesses (Heb 4:15). He lets himself be tempted by Satan, the enemy, who has been opposed to God's saving plan for humankind from the outset. ...even in the situation of extreme poverty and humility, when he is tempted by Satan he remains the Son of God, the Messiah, the Lord.
POPE BENEDICT XVI
