First Sunday in Lent (Gn 2:7-3:7; Rom 5:12-19; Mt 4:1-11) At Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit came upon Him. Jesus then went into the desert to fast and pray for forty days and nights. Jesus did so, so that He could be alone with His Father. The period after receiving Sacraments (like the Holy Spirit coming down upon us and being poured into our hearts) is that of intense grace and for discernment. We too can learn from Jesus and allow God and His Holy Spirit to enter deep within our beings and God the Father to minister unto us. Even body builders and others (in the secular world) have realized this kind of requirement. When oil is poured on them, they lie still and place themselves in the hands of the people they trust, and allow themselves to be handled (massaged). In doing so, they find their pains disappear and their bodies strengthened. Unfortunately, in many cases, immediately after receiving the Holy Spirit many do not spend time in quiet reflection and contemplation, nor allow Holy Spirit to work. Rather, immediately after it, they throw huge parties, where unfortunately, “other spirits” flow, and enter our bodies in huge quantities. Then, unlike the apostles who spoke in tongues at Pentecost, people start speaking with “forked” tongues. The contrast between the first man and the new Adam (Jesus) is indeed very sharp. The first man was in the Garden of Eden with the best of things around him. Yet, he was disobedient. The New Adam, went out in the desert, in harsh conditions, yet Jesus remained obedient. Adam was the first prototype. New prototypes or models are immediately tested. When new computers or mobile phones come, hackers and others test it to check for vulnerabilities, and how to gain access. Satan did this very thing, first in the Garden of Eden. It is noteworthy, that satan never told them to do horrible things. Rather, he uses God’s very words, but then “twists” them around. As with Adam, and even with Jesus, satan does not show sin as something horrible. Rather, as Scripture says in Genesis, it seems “pleasing to the eye” (and desirable). We also note that satan enters the scene when we are most tired especially in doing good things, (just as Jesus was after the forty days and nights of fasting). Being a coward, he will never really come when we are strong. Perhaps after a hard, stressful day’s work, he might come and say, “You are tired, and stressed out. You need to relax. Here have this drink (or substance). It will take away your stress”. As in the Garden of Eden he pretends to be a well-wisher (there he said, if you eat the fruit, you will be like God). We then take those things, become addicted to it. In doing so, are ready to do anything for it and even fight and kill. Scripture today mentions Jesus was tempted three times. The word “thrice” in Jewish language signifies “again and again”. Indeed, Mark’s Gospel says that Jesus was tempted again and again in the desert. Of course, His temptations do not end here. Rather we read that after these temptations, satan retreated and waited for a more opportune time. Later we will see him perhaps using Peter (and Jesus telling Peter or rather satan who was using Peter – “get behind me satan”) We, who live in an “instant” world, perhaps understand Jesus’ temptations quite well. When hungry, we want food here and now. We are willing to do “anything” for certain things (including rob, kill at times, or even sell ourselves). Is it worth, just for a few moments of illusionary pleasure? Even, in the secular world, we realize that many of the things that are “instant food” are now called “junk food”. Every good thing requires time. Jesus’ first temptation, incidentally is about food. He was hungry. Satan tempts him to convert the stones into bread. Satan tells Jesus, “If you are the son of God, do this (in this case turning stones into bread)”. Satan also later uses this same language with Jesus (through the crowds), “if you are the Son of God, come down from the cross”. This first temptation is that of instant gratification and satiation of the senses wherein, “if you are hungry, you take whatever is in front of you (even if it does not belong to you)”. This temptation is not just about food, but also gratification of the senses and of the bodies. Hence, this temptation also wrongly suggests satisfying physical desires and relationships just because we “hunger and desire” for someone else. In today’s world “bread” is also slang for money, and for easy money, we are willing to try to convert “stone” (which is comparatively useless) into “bread” (money). Perhaps we even peddle useless things. Jesus’ reply to the temptation – “Man does not live on bread alone, but every word that comes from God’s mouth”. It means moving the focus away from things temporal towards things eternal. The next temptation (incidentally Gospel of Matthew and Luke reverse the order of this and following temptation) is where Satan takes Jesus to the top of the Temple and asks Him to jump off. Satan quotes scripture (paraphrased) – “if Jesus is really son of God, He will send His angels to take care, lest His (Jesus’) feet even strikes a stone”. If Jesus did so, surely the crowds at the Temple would have watched and many would have followed Jesus immediately. Many evangelists and others surely desire huge crowds. They say that they are doing it for God. That is nice. But if we really look at this temptation it is for “self glory”. Unfortunately, in our age and time, a so-called evangelist, allegedly was trying to “prove his faith”. Jesus had said, “You will handle venomous snakes, and they will not harm you”. This man took a viper in his hands to “show the world his faith”. In doing so, he died. Sadly, he fell to satan’s trap of having to “prove himself and his faith”. If only, he had really read Scripture (especially today’s), he would have read, where Jesus says, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test”, and would have given a befitting reply. Finally satan takes Jesus to the top of a high mountain and shows him kingdoms of the world past, present and future. He said, “I will give you all these if you but bow to me”. Satan knew that “every knee shall bow before Jesus”. However, satan is trying to dissuade Jesus from the cross. He is suggesting rather an “instant solution”. People want power, and they want it instantly, and to do so, they are willing to do anything. They are willing to bow down before anyone and everyone, just to achieve power, and have people bow to them. This instant power of the world (even all the kingdoms are meaningless). Later Jesus says, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, but to lose his soul”. Jesus tells the evil one, “You shall worship the Lord alone”. Let us ask ourselves whom we are serving – is it God, ourselves or the world. We note that after the temptation, the angels minister unto Jesus. After we have successfully overcome the temptation, God will surely give us some grace and ministration, to help us grow even further. Certain important points finally – Every one of us will be tempted. Satan does not exempt anyone. Rather those who are closer to God are tempted more. The temptations are of three types - instant gratification (on a physical level), instant spirituality and instant power. However, our reaction to temptation is our choice. We need not necessarily fall to temptation. We have a good weapon to deal with the adversary, through Word of God, as Jesus Himself did. This therefore requires us to know our Scriptures well, and use it admirably through God’s grace and His Holy Spirit.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 07:01:33 +0000
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