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1st Sunday of Lent

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Cycle C

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Q256: Our gospel today says that Jesus faced "every temptation" (Luke 4:13, RSV). What does that really mean for me today?

Keep in mind the important context of salvation history. The "desert journey" away from Egypt is where the Hebrews had to learn obedience to God's will, and faithfulness to the Covenant. It was a difficult journey, taking forty years of "learning by failure" because of stubborn hearts. The beginning or "exodus" was a powerful experience, permanently embedding the Passover into the minds and hearts of the people. But the rest of the journey towards the promised land was a series of fallings and risings, of breaking and restoring the covenant relationship with God.

There were temptations to take the easy way out - - to return to a life in Egypt as they had known it, rather than make sacrifices and face the unknown demands of the desert. There was the temptation to doubt that God would provide for their basic needs of food and water. There were struggles over leadership roles, only grudgingly accepting Moses and his decisions. There was always the temptation to worship other gods, created out of their own desires.

Jesus faced these same temptations in his lifetime, and overcame them. He accepted his cross and trusted in his Father. We also face these same temptations every day, and we have to choose: do we overcome them, or do we let them overcome us? This is the first Sunday of Lent, a special time to refocus on our own temptations, our own fallings and failings, and what to do about them.

Know Your Catechism! Temptations of power, popularity, possessions, and pleasure assail us every single day. Lent is the time when we remember our salvation history (CCC #1095), and how Jesus vanquished the tempter (CCC #540). We learn to make self-sacrifices, to do penance for our failings in the time-honored (and scriptural) ways of prayer, fasting and almsgiving (CCC #1438), and in renewing our commitment to chastity (CCC #2340). For a Lenten family project, pick out one cardinal virtue (CCC #1805), and learn all you can about how to acquire it. Finally, make a good Confession to renew your Covenant with God, including a firm purpose of amendment.

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The Devil Awaited Another Opportunity

Unless we realize that Christ was truly man, as well as truly God, we cannot understand how Satan could tempt him. Unless we constantly recall that Satan, rejected once, will try again and again on "another opportunity, we cannot appreciate what a persistent nuisance he is.

All human beings are subjected to temptations. St. Anthony of Egypt is the saint best equipped to be a patron of those tested by Satan. St. Jerome tells us his story.

Anthony, who flourished in the third century, had left his Egyptian village to escape the temptations that arise in civil society. But when he went off to the inhabited desert to live as a hermit, Satan and Co. followed him. To prevent him from becoming holier, they attacked him in every possible way with all sorts of wild visions and even physical violence. When he fasted or prayed more vigorously, they tried to persuade him he was not fasting and praying enough. If he could not be tricked into presumption, they thought they might trick him into despair. Anthony resisted, but it was a lonely fight.

One day, however, when the hordes of hell had beaten him up within an inch of his life, a ray of light suddenly fell on him from heaven, and the devils took flight.

Panting, but now at peace, Anthony addressed God, whose presence he sensed in the light. "Where were you my Lord and Master?" he asked, a bit impatiently. "Why didn't you appear at the beginning to stop my pain?"

God answered "Anthony, I was right here, but I wanted to see you in action. And now, because you held out and did not surrender, I will ever be your helper, and I will make you renowned everywhere."

St. Paul has given us the same assistance of God's presence: "He will not let you be tested beyond your strength." (I Cor. 10:13). We must be on guard against Satan, but not afraid of him. God is on our side so long as we are on His. The devil will always prove to be what he really is - a sissy.

-Father Robert F. McNamara

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Q412: Jesus is out in the dry desert, fasting for 40 days (Luke 4:1-13). Surely we are not expected to do that, as followers of Jesus?

In Luke’s gospel, Jesus is on the threshold of his “public ministry.” Because of that significant stage of his journey, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the “desert” to confront the temptations that all of us face at one time or another. Basically, as the noted author Brett Blair would say, it always boils down to trying to ‘take the crown without the cross.’

We want the easy way out, and we don’t particularly want to face the reality that sacrifice will be necessary to attain eternal life. For example, in our American culture of death, it is easy to head for the divorce court, rather than really work at solving marital problems. Or, it seems to be easier to contemplate an abortion, rather than face the ‘inconvenience’ of more financial and time management stresses. We would rather not make sacrifices, when a worldly course of action that “seems” like an easier “solution” is at hand.

It is clear how Jesus is so strong in resisting temptation. He always replies to Satan’s offers of ‘the easy way’ by quoting from Holy Scripture. That tells us where his strength comes from: he has been nurtured by the word of God all through his lifetime (thanks to his upbringing by Mary and Joseph). I suspect that if one were to ask those people who are having difficulties making sacrifices about their prayer life – meaning, about the amount of time they spend reading and praying over Holy Scripture – this element of ‘nurturing’ would probably be missing.

Those who seek God’s truth and God’s wisdom can only find it in Holy Scripture. If we don’t prayerfully avail ourselves of this resource, then we will be prone to accept the ‘wisdom’ of the world – the ‘wisdom’ of a culture of death.

Know Your Catechism! When does ‘sacrifice’ end? We have to face the reality that it may never end in this world! Focus on Jesus: his life of sacrifice took him all the way to a painful death on the cross – all for us and for our salvation (CCC #616-7). This is always the hard part: not taking the ‘easy,’ worldly way but joining our personal sacrifices to those of Jesus on the cross (CCC #618). LENT is the time to reflect on your willingness to sacrifice!

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Q568: What is the basic lesson in those desert temptations of Jesus by the devil?

There is a profound lesson for us contained within the experience and example of Jesus, as described by Luke in today’s gospel (Luke 4:1-13). He is teaching us about prayer, fasting, temptation, and above all obedience to God.

First, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to a place where he could become quiet for prayer and focus on his heavenly Father. Jesus fasted for forty days—which in biblical language simply means a long time. The primary purpose of fasting is to free ourselves from the tyranny of material possessions (i.e., food), so that we can recognize and acknowledge our total reliance on God. It also helps us to turn our focus away from Self, and recognize the needs of our fellow human beings.

Jesus was tempted three times. The action involving Jesus just prior to today’s episode was his baptism—at which time he was indentified by his Father’s heavenly voice as the Beloved Son who pleased Him (Luke 3:22, RSV). Immediately thereafter came the triple temptation by the evil one—an obvious attempt to shift Jesus’ attention and desires to the passing delights of worldly values (especially power). The evil spirit wanted to turn Jesus into a “displeasing son” (as John Pilch, Ph.D. describes the scene).

Jesus’ response provides us with our fourth example to guide us today: always be obedient to the word of God. He quotes from Deuteronomy 8 three times, showing us his total dependence on his Father’s word—the word of Holy Scripture, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is his guide.

This becomes the lifeline of each one of us. Every time we enter a Catholic Church we pause at the baptismal font and remember our baptismal promises to reject Satan and all his temptations. We fast to put us in touch with God and the needs of others. And we pray in total humility and dependence upon our God.

KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! Satan will tempt each of us to doubt God’s love, providence, and power. Follow Jesus’ example and respond to temptation like he did (CCC #2119).

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