Living This Week’s Gospel:

Matthew 4:1–11

In last Sunday’s Gospel, we met Jesus in a time of desperation; he had been fasting for 40 days in the desert. Much like Jesus at the time of this temptation, residents of the developing world are desperate to fulfill their basic needs.

In Kariobangi, a densely populated slum in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, many residents struggle: There are no salaried, formal jobs; food prices are skyrocketing; basic sanitation services are nonexistent; and nearly every resident faces disease and hunger at some point during his or her life.

In the last few decades, many young people in Kariobangi have turned to lives of violence, theft and drugs to put bread on the table. Often, they feel as if this is their only option to survive.

This week, pray that residents of Kariobangi can be lifted out of this state of desperation and have the strength to reject the temptation to take on desperate and harmful measures. Pray that people like Michael, a young father who is part of one of CRS’ working groups, continue to find work so that they can provide for their families.