1st Sunday of
Lent (C)
(Deuteronomy 26:4-10; Romans 10:8-13; Luke 4:1-13)
Since the
Lord Jesus came to lead us in the fight against sin and death, against the
devil panoplied in power and pride, it was fitting that He be tempted for our
sake and on our behalf. And so, after
receiving John’s baptism and immediately before starting upon His public
ministry Jesus was – as our emerging champion – led by the Spirit to be tempted
in the desert by Satan, and there the divine integrity of His being as the
incarnate Son of God was manifested to His adversary in divine wisdom and
filial obedience.
Later,
having jealously observed his hated and feared opponent in order to finally
succeed against Him, Satan’s opined ‘weak link’ in Jesus’ incarnate being was
its physicality which, though beautiful in its perfection, Satan thought he
might profitably put to the test: first of all by infiltrating His Mystical
Body, the Church (Lk. 22:3,31-32) as
best he could, before finally committing himself to a definitive paroxysm of
rage against Divine Goodness --
manifesting Itself most sublimely in the Father’s gift of His incarnate
Son as Son of Man and Lamb of God -- in the crucifixion and death of the only
Sinless One on Calvary. And thus it was
that Jesus, overcoming satanic pride by His own inconceivable humility before
God and love for mankind, won for us the grace that would enable us to work
with Him and by His Spirit, for our own salvation and the glory of the Father
Who originally created us and eternally loves us as His adopted children in
Jesus, His most beloved Son.
Now, if
we look carefully at Our Blessed Lord’s temptations in the desert in today’s
Gospel reading, we can recognize the broad outlines of temptation faced by
humankind everywhere; for the devil tempts men, women, yes, and even children,
first of all, through their earthly appetites, just as he did with Jesus when
he said:
If You are the Son of God, command this stone
to become bread.
They are
very many who succumb to this first sort of temptation by repeatedly pandering
to their appetites for food, alcohol, sex, and earthly pleasures and
satisfactions of all sorts. Yet, there are many who will overcome, or at least
resist for a time, this “common” sort of weakness, until the next big hurdle --
the temptation to personal pride by the indulgence of self-will, above all in
the exercise of power and authority -- brings them crashing to the ground:
Then the
devil took Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a single
instant. And he said to Him, “I shall give to You all this power and their
glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish.
Some few,
however, might not readily succumb to even such temptations; and, being neither
overwhelmed by sensual pleasures, nor proudly eager to exercise power or
authority over others, they may not even strive to be seen by others as most
talented, acknowledged as most capable, or admired as most popular. Nevertheless, because all human beings are,
in one way or another, sinful, these remaining few will ultimately succumb to
the last temptation experienced by Jesus in the desert:
(The
devil) led Him to Jerusalem, made Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and
said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.
There we
have the temptation most closely corresponding with the devil’s own character,
hatred for God in his spiritual pride and self-proclaiming holiness, and
disdain and supreme contempt for humankind when ultimately inducing them to
suicide.
But what
about those human weaknesses of fear and despondency which inhibit so many by
persuading them to hide, or even shut themselves away, so that nothing can either be expected from them or asked of
them?
In one
sense this last failing is the worst of all; for, what can be done with one who
refuses to move? Someone going in the
wrong direction can be redirected; anyone who is faltering on the way can be
encouraged and strengthened; and those who are seeking but confess themselves
to be puzzled and uncertain can be enlightened; but what can be done for
someone who has no desire to do anything other than to hold tight?
The sins
of pleasure are a perverted acknowledgement of the divine truth that creation
is truly beautiful and we are not self-sufficient; for, without repeated
injections of contrived and distorted satisfactions of whatever sort, such
sinners find themselves deeply unhappy and unfulfilled. Likewise, the sins of pride are a testimony
to our God-given human potential for advancement and improvement of all sorts:
and indeed, at times, sinners of that sort show great human ingenuity and
skill, expend enormous energy and make great endeavours, in order to satisfy
that most insatiable of all passions: self-aggrandizement. On the other hand, however, the despondency
and fear which can paralyze a human being gives no witness to our human dignity
or divine calling; indeed, it tends to rob us of our authentic human character,
since it is of the essence of human kind that, being made in the image and
likeness of God, they are destined for fulfilment and, indeed, called to seek
and to find it eternally with Him.
Our
readings today have shown us something of humanity’s sins and failings, and perhaps
that has already helped to set us on the way to health by spurring us to hate
our lustfulness and pride and to despise our despondency and fear. Can they help us further in our needs? Do they hold yet further guidance and grace
for us?
Let us
think back to our first reading and, learning from it, begin to appreciate more
and give greater expression to that most beautiful and praiseworthy virtue,
gratitude, which springs up so naturally in the human heart, unless that heart
has been rendered insensitive by the cares and concerns of deep-rooted
selfishness.
Gratitude
is a most beautiful virtue: its “innocence” gladdens both the recipient and the
giver, for true gratitude is not, and cannot be, concocted; neither is it a
virtue only for those who are specially talented, since it wells up freely and
spontaneously from the depths of our common humanity.
The Lord
brought us out of Egypt with strong hand and outstretched arm, with terrifying
power, with signs and wonders; and bringing us into this country, He gave us
this land flowing with milk and honey.
Therefore I have now brought you the first-fruits of the land which you,
Lord, have given me.
The
easiest and surest way to find joy in the Lord is, indeed, to become aware of
and grateful for all the blessings of your life be they big or small. Above all, try to offer your Communion at
Mass with gratitude to God in your heart.
Next, we
can learn something from St. Paul’s teaching in the second reading, for so
often people make relations with God difficult for themselves. They imagine God is demanding this and that
from them when really He is not demanding anything but simply seeking to lead
them, gradually, along the way towards the fullness of happiness and eternal life.
Now, you
in Church today have come here believing
– mind and heart – in Jesus; and hopefully you have learned to appreciate and
want to express gratitude for the
salvation He opens up before you. Learn
then, from St. Paul, and undertake to confess with your mouth that gratitude you acknowledge as due from
you:
For, one
believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth
and so is saved.
People of
God, this is a teaching you can and should begin to put into action here at
Mass! Don’t just stand or sit with your
mouth closed and your heart dull; if you do not confess God here you will never confess Him outside
before others who do not believe. If you
put your heart into the Creed, the hymns, the responses at Mass, if you confess
with your mouth in that way, you will show yourselves as worthy to be gradually
led to speak up, when it is necessary so to do, before those who do not
believe, or even mock. Don’t imagine for
yourself seemingly impossible acts of public witness being demanded of you on
leaving Church this day; try to praise God wholeheartedly here and now, and He
may gradually lead you -- if you are worthy -- to confess with your mouth
before others when the Spirit wants such witness of you. He will never demand what you cannot give: He
will – if you are willing and worthy -- lead and encourage you first, and then,
only ask you when you are able.
Indeed, you will probably not even be aware that you are being asked, it
will seem so natural for you to respond to the Spirit’s call when you have
become accustomed to confessing gratitude with your mouth here at Mass.
Finally,
we should have boundless confidence in God.
St. Paul reminded us:
Scripture
says, "No one who believes in Him will be put to shame."
The
Israelites, slaves though they were, were led out of Egypt, despite the power
of Pharaoh’s army, because they trusted in the Lord who had spoken to Moses;
they endured the desert privations because they trusted in the Lord speaking to
them through Moses, who though born a Hebrew had been brought up as an
Egyptian; the Lord had called and inspired him to lead Israel into freedom;
and, because Moses knew the Egyptians, under his leadership the Hebrew slaves
learned confidence to trust their God and face up to the Egyptians.
Now,
surely we can trust Jesus! He is, indeed,
the Son of God and, since He is also most truly one of us, His Spirit knows how
to guide us along ways that -- in Him and with Him -- are no longer impossible
for us. That is why He is always wanting
and seeking to lead us onward and upward to ever better and greater things; and
that is also why the idleness that aspires only to sit cosy and hold tight is
so unacceptable to Him. God has made us
for Himself and in Jesus He has overcome for us all the trials and temptations
that can come our way. Take confidence,
therefore, and trust in the Lord and the Spirit He has bestowed on us: sing
psalms and offer prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving in your life, and you
will find them developing quickly into a joyful paean of witness and praise
springing spontaneously to your lips as you find yourself being led along ways
that delight and fulfil you beyond all your dreams. Then you will indeed thank God for your
Catholic Faith which has helped you to believe in Jesus, our Lord and Saviour;
to trust in His Spirit, our Advocate and Comforter; and to look forward in hope
to the vision and the presence of Him Who is our God and, indeed, our most
loving Father.
