LENT IS A DESERT EXPERIENCE:
Lent is a desert experience of a long retreat of silence, reflection, meditation, and prayer. We all need this desert experience. Every Lenten season is a journey of grace into the desert. There are fewer distractions. It is quieter and clearer in the desert.
It implies a place of detachment, sacrifice, reflection, prayer, solitude, encounter and battle to be freed from worries, anxieties, cares, trials, temptations, and entanglements to things or persons.
It is a place of truth-seeking and confrontations with oneself in his or her inner being. However, it must be an experience that is Spirit-driven and Spirit-filled, if not it becomes a burden and miserable experience.
The Gospel of this First Sunday of Lent is always the Gospel of Christ in the Desert. His alone experience with God in seeking, praying, and fasting in silence. The temptations of Christ after fasting and praying for forty days was a desert experience of confronting himself and the world.
TEMPTATIONS ARE ALWAYS BOUND
In our human life or existence, temptations are always bound to come our way. Interestingly, these temptations are not meant to ruin, obstruct, or destroy us. They are tests or trials meant to strengthen us, to empower us as winners, not losers in Christendom.
In fact, in this life, it is impossible to escape the assault of temptation. However, one thing is sure–temptations are not sent to us to make us fall; they are sent to strengthen the nerve and the sinew of our minds hearts, and souls. They are meant to be tests from which we emerge better warriors and athletes of God.
The season of Lent is a moment of God’s grace. It is a moment of conscious effort to overcome self, others, and the world. It is a season of repentance of one’s sins; reconciliation with God, others, and oneself; and renewal in spirit, soul, mind, and body to celebrate the joyful and liberating feast of Paschal.
Undoubtedly, it is a lengthened season full of trials, tests, and temptations from every corner and angle of Christian and human life. Comfortably, it is consoling to know there is a divine presence and assistance of God over us and in us through our human efforts of penance, prayer, fasting, and almsgivings.
OUR THEME
The readings of this first Sunday of Lent invite us to find our strength in God. They assure us too, that though we live amidst trials and temptations there is divine reinforcement or divine assistance that always remains with us.
They also stress the eternal covenant, desire, and wish of God for humanity to live as overcomers of adversaries of life. Either destruction by natural disasters or danger from malignant and evil forces.
Hence, the psalmist through Psalm 26 reminds us that God’s ways are love and truth, to those who keep his covenant. They lead to fulfilment, salvation, goodness, and mercy upon the upright, humble, and poor.
This Jesus’ desert experience prepared him for his mission and that is why, when he left the desert, he began His ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing. He preached repentance and belief in the Good News of God.
FIRST READING GENESIS 9:8-15
God after the flood that cleanses the earth of its evil: a prefiguration of the baptismal water that washes us of our sins. He made an eternal, everlasting, and unfailing covenant through the sign and symbol of the rainbow never to destroy humanity and creation.
It is a covenant of God’s grace, goodness, and mercy. One that does not take pleasure or delight in human suffering, destruction, or death. One that hopes in human repentance, change of mind, and heart from evil or sin that may lead to healing and wholeness.
Part of Lent is deepening our awareness that we people who have a Covenant with the Living God. The first reading today is from the Book of Genesis 9:8-15 and it recounts the establishment of the Covenant with Noah and his descendants. A faithful Covenant where God invites us and changes our faithlessness to faithfulness with the everlasting sign of the rainbow.
Hence, the psalmist through Psalm 26 reminds us that God’s ways are love and truth, to those who keep his covenant. They lead to fulfilment, salvation, goodness, and mercy upon the upright, humble, and poor.
SECOND READING 1 PETER 3:18-22
The second reading today is from the First Letter of Peter 3:18-22. This portion of the letter refers us once again to the Covenant with Noah and explains even more clearly that we must return to faithfulness.
Saint Peter connects perfectly the Genesis flood and the saving of Noah and a few people as a prefiguration of the baptismal water. For Peter, Christ’s sacrifice which gives baptism its cleansing power was extended to all even those before he came.
As such, Christ’s life, proclamation, suffering, death, and resurrection made him our divine mediator before God. Our deliverance forms all kinds of powers, authorities, and angels especially the fallen ones prowling and roaring like a Lion to devour souls (1 Peter 5:8).
THE GOSPEL MARK 1:12-15
The Evangelist Mark gives us the account of Jesus’ baptism, the desert experience, and temptations from the evil one. Unlike the other synoptic gospels Luke and Matthew, Mark did not give a detailed account of the temptation. He only mentioned that Jesus led by the Spirit went to the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan, living among wild beasts and being attended to by angels.
Something worth noting in Mark’s brief account is that Jesus’ temptations did not happen at the end of his forty days of fasting and praying like Luke’s or Matthew’s. Mark makes us understand he was tempted and tormented by Satan throughout his forty days in the wilderness. Equally, the angels did not assist him at the end of his temptations like Luke and Matthew made us understand. No, he had the divine assistance of the angels throughout his forty-day and forty-night desert experience.
Remarkably, we cannot limit Christ’s victory over his temptations to the divine presence and assistance. It was a combination of his human effort or willed power to do penance, pray, and fast and the divine reinforcement from God.
TEMPTED BY SATAN
The temptation is a human trial or testing that proves his or her worth spiritually. Hence, to be tempted is nothing extraordinary, it is a common and daily something in the life of a man. Temptations can come from anyone and anything. Though, we are never tempted beyond our strength and capability. It is a test examination for promotion, recognition, strength as well as growth and development personally, humanly, and spiritually.
CONCEPT OF SATAN OR DEVIL
The concept and existence of Satan in Judeo-Christian experience, tradition, and spirituality are amazing and mistaken over the ages.
The word “Satan” from Greek “Satanas”, or Hebrew “Satan” means “adversary: one who plots against another”. Hence, Satan when used in the ancient or Judeo-Christian culture, tradition, or era means “to show enmity to, oppose, plot against,” or “one who opposes, obstructs, or acts as an adversary.”
Another name or title of Satan is the devil which is seen in Greek as “diabolos” which means “slanderer”. In this context, Satan is viewed as one who deliberately and maliciously slanders man in the presence of God. Though, in the Old Testament Satan is still an emissary of God and not yet the malignant, supreme enemy of God. He is the adversary of man.
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
In the Old Testament, the concept of Satan is used as ordinary human adversaries and opponents. This is seen in some Old Testament texts like the angel of the Lord is the satan who stands in Balaam’s way (Numbers 22:22); the Philistines fear that David may turn out to be their satan (1 Samuel 29:4); David regards Abishai as his satan (2 Samuel 19:22); Solomon declares that God has given him such peace and prosperity that he has no satan left to oppose him (1 Kings 5:4). The word began by meaning an adversary in the widest sense of the term.
Later, it begins to mean one who pleads a case against a person. It is in this sense that it is used in the first chapter of Job. In that chapter, Satan is no less than one of the sons of God (Job 1:6), but his particular task was to consider men (Job 1:7) and to search for some case that could be pleaded against them in the presence of God.
Therefore, he was the accuser or slanderer of men before God. The word is so used in Job 2:2 and Zechariah 3:2. The task of Satan was to say everything that could be said against a man. This is the notion of the devil in the Book of Job as well as the Book of Revelation. 12:10.
THE INFLUENCE OF ANCIENT THOUGHT OR THINKING
Much later, during their captivity, the Jews learned something of Persian thought. Persian thought is based on the conception that in this universe there are two powers, a power of the light and a power of the dark: Ormuzd and Ahriman respectively.
Consequently, the whole universe is a battle-ground between these two forces and man must choose his side in that cosmic conflict. That is, in this world, there is God and God’s Adversary. Hence, in the Jewish mind, Satan should come to be regarded as The Adversary par excellence. This implies that to man; Satan becomes the essence of everything that is against God.
THE NEW TESTAMENT ERA
In the New Testament, we find that the Devil or Satan is the antithesis of goodness and godliness. He is seen as the one who is behind human disease and suffering (Luke 13:16). It is Satan who seduces Judas (Luke 22:3). It is the devil whom we must fight (1 Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7). It is the devil whose power is being broken by the work of Christ (Luke 10:1-19). Equally, it is the devil who is destined for final destruction (Matthew 25:41) and the power which is against God.
SATAN AND EVIL IN MODERN CHRISTIAN THOUGHT
Today, within Protestantism and Pentecostalism and especially in the Neo-Pentecostalism era Satan or the devil is not only a malignant force against God and man. He is quite seen as even more powerful than God with a deep consciousness that he is the determinant or responsible force in everything absolutely everything happening in man’s life and world.
Prayer sessions, night vigils, and worship are channelled and oriented with heavy satanic consciousness rather than God’s consciousness. There is a lot of binding and casting with HOLY GHOST FIRE and the BLOOD OF JESUS against the perceived or imaginary enemy of man and God. Sometimes, these are enemies are fellow brothers and sisters. Thereby, turning Christianity into a religion of hate, evil consciousness, and back-to-senders rather than a spirituality of love, God’s consciousness, and peaceful relationship with others.
Consequently, no one takes blame or responsibility for failure or wrongdoing in Christianity in recent times. All blame is shifted to others or imaginary beings that cause evil and sins in the world. Therefore, all that is, is escapism, immaturity, and stunted growth and development in Christians and Christianity.
THE NATURE AND ESSENCE OF JESUS’ TEMPTATIONS AND ITS LESSONS FOR LENT
Here, we have the whole essence of the Temptation story. Jesus was tempted three times. The temptations were hedonism (hunger/satisfaction), egoism (spectacular throw/might/power), and materialism (kingdoms/wealth).
John the Evangelist in his epistle calls these temptations “in-the-world” as “lust of eyes” (materialism), “lust of body” (hedonism), and “pride of life” (egoism).
Jesus had to decide how he was to do his work or mission. He was conscious of a tremendous task ahead of him. And he was also conscious of the tremendous powers the Father had confided in him. “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt. 28:18).
Possibly throughout the moment of preparation to begin his mission in the desert, it seems God was saying to him. “Take my love to men; love them till you die for them; conquer them by this unconquerable love even if you finish up upon a cross.” While Satan was saying to Jesus, “Use your power to blast men; obliterate your enemies; win the world by might and power and bloodshed.”
Similarly, God said to Jesus, “Set up a reign of love”, but Satan said to Jesus, “Set up a dictatorship of force.” Hence, the temptations of Jesus Christ real or imaginary were a moment of decision. Jesus had to choose that day between the way of God and the way of the Adversary of God.
This season of Lent there would be many temptations within, from, and around us. Temptations of the flesh and desire, of ego, pride, fame or relevance, and power, authority, manipulations, and control. Temptations to give up our Lenten observances, try, blame others, and not take responsibility for our lives and mistakes. Temptations to rely on ourselves, to rationalize our thoughts, words, and actions.
AND THE ANGELS WAITED ON HIM.
We must and should always remember that amidst our temptations and trials this lent and always that the divine presence and assistance of God will abide with us and collaborate with our human effort of Lenten observance of penance, prayer, fasting, and almsgivings to overcome.
It also tells us how Jesus started preaching his Messianic mission with the Good News: “The time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent. Believe in the Gospel.”
A. He announces the good news of truth, hope, peace God’s promise, immortality, and salvation
B. He calls all to repentance which in Greek means metanoia: a radical and complete change of mind.
C. He invites us to believe in the gospel message that God is who Jesus tells us he is. He is full of love, mercy, and empathy he is willing to sacrifice all including his only beloved son to save us.
The Lenten season is a moment of embracing the good news, repentance sincerely for our sins, and believing that God is love and goodness. By doing so in the spirit of prayer, fasting, almsgivings, and penance we may experience spiritual growth and come to the fullness of Christian maturity.
LET US CONVERT LENT INTO A TIME FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND CHRISTIAN MATURITY BY:
a) Participating in the Mass each day, or at least a few days in the week;
b) Setting aside some part of our day for personal prayer and quiet moments with God;
c) Reading some Scripture, alone or, better still, with others, especially our family members or even friends.
d) Setting aside some money we might spend on ourselves for meals, entertainment, or clothes and giving it to an organization that takes care of the less fortunate in our society; or even using it ourselves in the works of mercy (spiritual or corporal).
e) Abstaining from smoking, alcohol, and other evil addictions;
f) Receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Lent and participating in the “Stations of the Cross” on Fridays personally or communally.
g) Visiting the sick and those in nursing homes and doing some acts of charity, kindness, and mercy every day in Lent.
OUR PRAYER IN THIS FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
Lord Jesus Christ, your temptations of lust for the flesh, power, and material things are also our temptations in life and Christian struggle. Lenten’s journey is very important for faith experience: a journey of struggles and failures that leads to the glorious Resurrection of Easter.
Help me to take advantage of the season, to become freer, closer, and nearer to you by practising Lenten observances of almsgiving of my time, talent, kind words, smiles, and resources with the less privileged, sacrifice of fasting not from only food and drinks, but also from habitual sins of hating, lying, backbiting, etc.
As well, as a spirit of prayer with the strength to overcome trials and temptations. Thank you, Lord, for giving us this period of grace. Help us with your divine presence and assistance coupled with our human efforts to overcome these temptations. Amen
One Comment