Take some time at dinner one night this week to read this fun fact and then discuss some of the questions.
Did you know...
…that our desires are good and our wants are important? In the story from this week’s gospel we hear about Jesus having a conversation with a character called the devil. The devil is not necessarily an evil or bad character, but represents in the story the temptation to do things we want to do but in ways that will end up hurting us or hurting others. It's important to remember, though, that wanting things, or desiring things, is not bad. This story is simply showing us that we can want and desire things, and that the best way to act on those desires is in ways that help us to feel heathy and peaceful, and that help others feel loved and safe.
Over the course of his life Jesus miraculously produced bread, claimed his power and authority in the world, and sacrificed himself to show God's love. These are all similar to the things he is tempted to do in this story by the devil, but when he does them later in his ministry he does them to help, support, and heal others, not just to show how powerful he is.
Questions for Discussion:
1) When have you acted on a want or desire that ended up hurting someone else or yourself?
2) When have you acted want or desire that helped you feel more peaceful, calm, or healthy?
3) When have you acted on a want or desire that helped you feel closer to other people?
4) What was the difference between the way you acted in the story from question one and the stories from questions two and three?