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, to obstruct or to 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 and 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 lengthen season that will be full of trials, tests and temptations from every corner and angle of Christian and human life. Comfortably, it is consoling to know there are 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 remain 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.
They do not only remind us of God’s unfailing covenant not to be destructive towards us. They also emphasize God redeeming grace through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice.
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 ever 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’s repentance, change of mind and heart from evil or sin that may lead to healing and wholeness.
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
Saint Peter connects perfectly the Genesis’ flood and the saving of Noah and 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 his actually coming.
As such, Christ’s life, proclamation, suffering, death and resurrection made him our divine mediator before God. Our deliverance form all kind 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 been 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 understanding he was tempted and tormented by Satan throughout his forty days in the wilderness. Equally, the angels did not come to his assistance at the end of his temptations like Luke and Matthew made us understand. No, he had the divine assistance of the angels all throughout his forty days 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.
Though Mark’s account was very brief, it leaves us with some key words worth examining and connecting to the season of Lent.
AND THE SPIRIT IMMEDIATELY DROVE HIM OUT INTO THE DESERT
It is evident that Jesus desert experience and temptations were not accidental. They were divine architected to prepare, test and prove him ready and willing for his salvific mission to save mankind. The same Spirit who came upon him at his baptism when heaven opened was the same Spirit who empowered and led him into the desert to be tested.
The desert was not only a place of solicitude or silence of deep loneliness and aloneness. It is also a place of wildlife and a possible domain of evil spirits. No wonder, not only that Satan confronted him with temptations. Many wild beasts were Jesus’ companions for forty days and forty nights.
HE WAS IN THE DESERT FORTY DAYS
The forty days implies forty nights as wells. However, Forty days is a phrase that is not to be taken literally. It is the regular Hebrew phrase for a considerable time. The number forty is a biblical significant of wholeness, perfection or completion too. It also means a period of trial, testing or probation. The number 40 were mentioned 159 times in the Holy Scripture (both Old and New testaments). Forty days and nights of the flood, (Gen. 7:12); forty years of wandering of Israel in the desert (Joshua 5:6); and Moses on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights, (Exodus 24:18, 34:1 – 28). As well as, Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness, (Mark1: 13) and Jesus’ appearances to his disciples for forty days after the resurrection, (Acts 1:3).
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 is really amazing and mistaken over the ages.
The word “Satan” from Greek “Satanas”, or from 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 text 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.
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.t 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 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 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 absolute everything happening in man’s life and world.
Prayer sessions, night vigils, and worships are channelled and oriented with heavy satanic consciousness than God’s consciousness. There are 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 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 time. All blame is shifted to others or imaginary being 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-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 tremendous powers the Father had confined 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 was 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 of power, authority, manipulations and control. Temptations to give up our Lenten observances, to give trying, to 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. That he is full of love, mercy, empathy towards that 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 to believe 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.
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, your temptations of lust for the flesh, power and material things are also our temptations in life and Christian struggle. Help us with your divine presence and assistance couple with our human efforts to overcome these temptations. Amen!
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 moment 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.
