I. Scripture Reading — Matthew 4:1–4 (RSV-CE)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry.
And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But he answered, “It is written,
‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”II. Meditation — The Empty Stomach That Reveals the Full Heart
A man once decided to fast for a medical test. By mid-morning he felt irritated. By noon, impatient. By afternoon, nearly angry.
He realized something surprising: it wasn’t hunger creating those emotions — it was revealing what was already there.
When Jesus entered the wilderness, He fasted forty days. The Gospel tells us plainly: “Afterward he was hungry.” That small sentence holds enormous weight. The Son of God embraced physical hunger.
Why?
Because hunger exposes dependence.
The devil tempts Him at that vulnerable moment: “Turn stones into bread.”
In other words: Satisfy yourself. Prove yourself. Take control.But Jesus responds with Scripture:
“Man shall not live by bread alone…”Physical hunger reminds us of a deeper hunger — the hunger for meaning, for love, for peace, for God.
We try to fill that hunger with entertainment, comfort, success, food, scrolling, noise. But nothing fully satisfies.
Only the Word of God nourishes the soul.
III. Reflection — What Are You Really Hungry For?
Lent invites us to rediscover holy hunger.
When we fast, we are not punishing ourselves. We are training our hearts. Each growl of the stomach becomes a whisper:
“I need You, Lord.”
There are two kinds of hunger:
Surface hunger — for food, comfort, approval.
Soul hunger — for truth, holiness, communion with God.
The devil tempts us to feed the surface and ignore the soul.
But Jesus shows us another way:
In weakness, cling to Scripture.
In hunger, trust the Father.
In temptation, stand on truth.
When you feel discomfort this Lent, don’t rush to silence it. Let it teach you.
Let hunger become prayer.
IV. Prayer — A Prayer for Holy Hunger
Lord Jesus,
You entered the wilderness for me. You embraced hunger, solitude, and temptation. You did not escape discomfort — You redeemed it.
I confess that I often run from hunger. I reach for quick comfort. I fill silence with noise. I distract myself instead of seeking You.
Teach me to hunger rightly.
When I fast, remind me that my soul longs for more than food.
When I feel emptiness, draw me toward Your Word.
When I am tempted to satisfy myself outside Your will, strengthen me with Scripture.You are the Bread of Life.
You are the Word made flesh.
You are the only One who truly satisfies.Create in me a deeper desire for prayer.
Create in me a thirst for righteousness.
Create in me a longing for holiness.May every sacrifice this Lent point me back to You.
If I must feel hunger, let it be hunger for God.
Amen.
V. Action for Today
Practice a small fast (from food or from something you enjoy).
Each time you feel the absence, pray: “Lord, I hunger for You.”
Read a short passage of Scripture instead of scrolling on your phone.
Reflect tonight: What do I turn to when I feel empty?
