Today
is the first Sunday in our Lenten journey. Our reflection centers on the gospel
reading which narrates the threefold temptations of Jesus Christ (Matt. 4:1-11).
Temptation is not sin, but falling for temptation is sin. After fasting and
praying for forty days and forty nights, the devil, in a subtle way, presents
Christ with three most attractive and irresistible human wants: bread, power
and security. First, the devil, knowing that Jesus was hungry and that man can
do anything to eat when challenged with hunger, dares Him to turn stones into
bread to prove the claim that he is the son of God (as the voice from heaven
said during his baptism). Secondly, taking the advantage of man’s quest for
power and authority, the devil asks Jesus to bow down and worship him in
exchange for kingdoms of the world. Thirdly, the tempter asks Jesus to jump
down from the pinnacle of the temple, assuring him of angels’ protection. Jesus
did not fall for the devil in spite of every pressure.
We
have some lessons to draw from this temptation narrative from the bible. Christ
was tempted after an intensive preparation for his earthly ministry, at the
peak of his spiritual journey, even though he was filled with the Holy Spirit
(Lk. 4:1). Lent is a period of great spiritual advancement. Every Christian should
beware, knowing that toughest temptations in life come at the peak of our
spiritual progress. The bible says “stand up to him, strong in faith”.
Christ’s temptations are not different from
the ones we have today. The three temptations of Christ revolve around materialism.
The devil asked Jesus to turn stone into bread to satisfy his hunger. Today, in
a world charged with hunger and anxiety about our daily bread, the devil is
still asking us to commercialize our body, to rob others, to kill, to embezzle
public funds, to operate abortion clinics, to venture into human trafficking
and slavery, to sell substandard and fake goods in order to survive. However,
we should not yield to the devil because “man does not live by bread alone” (Lk
4:4). Remember that Jesus who was tempted for a piece of bread multiplied abundant
loaves for 5,000 people later. If we persevere today, Christ he as well
multiple the little we have tomorrow.
Power
and influence are baits by which the devil lures people into sin. The devil can
lure people to take over all the kingdoms of the world, control business
empires, command crowds, move from glory to glory in as much as they bow down
to worship him. Unfortunately, many have fallen prey to this by tying their
lives and destiny to various kingdoms of darkness in the world just for a
miniature earthly success. To such people, Christ reminds today, “you must do homage
to the Lord your God and him alone you must serve”. This biblical injunction
also forbids “hero worship” and obsession with celebrities. Today, many worship
movie, music and football stars. More still, many self acclaimed men of God are into this
net of the devil. By using religious-ideological blandishment and sophistry
they play on people’s irrational quest for miracles and healing. Some have gone as far as acquiring magical
powers from God knows where to pull crowds. Consequently, people have shifted their
attention from God to ‘men of God’ (who should be better described as pop stars
than as shepherds). To such people Christ reminds today, “Do not put the Lord your
God to the test”. We should be careful because the
devil does not take people to the pinnacle of success for any other reason
other than to land crash them (his assurance of safety notwithstanding). There
is no safe landing for a flight that has the devil as the pilot.
Finally,
the reading concludes “…and the devil left him”. The account of Luke reads, “Having
exhausted every way of putting him to the test, the devil left him, until the opportune moment”. This means that victory over one temptation
calls for readiness for the next because the devil is never tired of tempting
us. He keeps looking for better strategies to employ. So we ought to be
vigilant with prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Below are some tricks the devil
employ in seducing the children of God. I name them E-G-O because they emanate
from the self.
1)
“Everybody is
doing it”: when the devil wants to lure people to sin he tries to convince them
that everybody is doing it; everybody is stealing, fornicating, is cheating,
lying, etc. he reminds them that is what is en vogue and on point, the latest
civilization. On the contrary, everybody is not doing it! There are many who
making effort. Be on your guard.
2)
“God will
understand”: “Yes after all I am a human being, weak and frail. God knows that”.
That is what many say. It is the devils trick to make people believe that man
is so weak and incapable of attaining holiness of life and thereby remaining in
sin. On the contrary, Christ has died and carried our weakness and made it
strength. “By his wounds we are healed”. So we can conquer our human limitations
by conscious effort and by the grace of God.
3)
“One last time”: that
is always the language, excuse and logic of one who is under the grip of the
tempter. The truth is that there is no ‘one last time’ for anybody who has not
determined to stop.
As
we journey through lent, may God gives the grace to say no to the devil and
conquer every temptation that we may emerge victorious and glorious like
Christ. HAPPY SUNDAY.
