READING: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Having fasted for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “if you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “it is written: ‘man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the parapet of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” After that, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and him alone serve.” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” (Matthew 4:1-11)
REFLECTION: The above reading relates the account of the allurement of Jesus in the desert, where he spent forty days prior to the commencement of his public ministry. The Holy Spirit who came down upon him, following his Baptism by John, motivates him to resolutely defy Satan and to resist all his cunning efforts from accomplishing the plan set out for him by the Father. The devil tries his utmost to entice him to take a less demanding path, one promising triumph and superiority. In reality, this is a treacherous device employed by the evil one to perplex Jesus in the hope that he would be persuaded to abandon the way of the cross and be misled by deceitful aspirations such as: economic security shown by the power to reproduce bread from stone; having a theatrical and supernatural quality evidenced by the appearance of angels who came to his rescue after having thrown himself from the top of the temple in Jerusalem; and finally a rapid ascent to a position of authority and sovereignty on condition that he bows down and pays homage to Satan. These temptations are ones that we ourselves are all too familiar with.
Jesus firmly repudiates these sinister advances and makes known again and again his determination to adhere to his Father’s plan. He would not countenance yielding to evil or worldly thinking in any circumstance. It does well to ponder how Jesus acts. He refuses to converse with Satan, unlike Eve, who allowed herself to be convinced by him in the garden of Eden. Lent is a favorable time for us to embark upon the path to spiritual awakening, by being genuinely open to the challenges offered in this Gospel passage. Let us add new vigor to the undertakings given at our baptism. Let us reject the devil and all his evil doings and enticements. Pope Francis reminds: “Lent is a good time to make space for the Word of God. It is the time to turn off the television and open the Bible. It is a time to disconnect from your phones and connect to the Gospel. It is time to give up useless words, gossip, rumours and to speak intimately with the Lord. It is time to devote yourself to a healthy ecology of the heart, to clean it.”
We learned about ourselves as humans in the world as we make our Lenten pilgrimage. Jesus’ glorious victory in overcoming the temptations of the devil marks the beginning of his mission. It also acts as a reminder to us of our own frailties so that we may gratefully receive the grace that liberates us from sin, making us stronger in Christ. The devil is at work and never tires, even today, of tempting whoever wishes to draw close to the Lord. He is relentless in his efforts to entrap them, hoping that they will eventually succumb to his enticements and turn away from God. However the triumphant Christ offers us hope and leads us, strengthening our resolve to resist the temptations to commit sin.
PRAYER: Have mercy on me, O God, in your faithful love; in your great tenderness wipe away my offenses. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.
God, create in me a clean heart, renew within me a resolute spirit. Do not cast me from your presence, and do not take away from me your Holy Spirit. Give me back the joy of your salvation and sustain in me a generous spirit.
CONTEMPLATION: Take time to re-read and to reflect on the scriptural passage. Consider the following: What is the Lord saying to me? Did I find consolation in what I read? In what ways was I challenged? During this Lenten period what conversion of mind, heart, and life is the Lord asking of me?
The Lord will never disappoint me or lead me astray. In my heart do I sense that He is calling me? Am I brave enough to respond positively when the Lord says “follow me” or will I be like the rich young man who went away sad? Let his gaze rest on you, listen to his voice, trust him and follow him.
ACTION: Accomplish your Lenten observances through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
-fast from hurting words and say kind words
-fast from anger and be filled with patience
-fast from worries and have trust in God
-fast from complaints, contemplate simplicity
Sr. Dr. Bincy Thumpanathu CMC
