TRUST IN GOD'S PROTECTION

If Jesus the Son of God was tempted by Satan, we should certainly expect that Satan will not spare us either.  Through the ways and means Jesus was tempted (needs of the body, pride and power) we can easily recognise the temptations in our own life (Cf. Matthew 4:1-10).

The first piece of armour our Blessed Mother is recommending to us is "the shield of faith" (Ephesians 6:16), that deep, childlike trust in God our Father who protects His children in times of temptations and trials, who sent us His and our Mother to be with us and to assist us as Jesus was helped by angels in His hour of temptations and trials (Matthew 4:11, Luke 22:43).

"Do not be afraid" is our Blessed Mother's reassuring word to us as Jesus too had to assure his disciples so many times, restating God's encouraging words through the Prophet for all times:  "Do not be afraid for I have redeemed you..." (Isaiah 43:1).

Perhaps it should be noted at this point that we should avoid wrong attitudes and fears about Satan.  The word 'satan' means 'adversary' which may refer not only to the Evil One, the Devil (see Luke 10:18-19; Revelation 12:9), but also to the spirit of evil in us, our inclination to oppose God's will as when, for example, Jesus rebuked Peter:  "Get behind me, Satan!  You are thinking not as God thinks, but as human beings do" (Mark 8:33).