FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

[cappie]

It is the first Sunday in Lent and it seems as if Christmas was just a few weeks ago. During Christmas, we were confronted with the incarnation: God entered our humanity in a specific place, at a designated time, in the form of a particular man – Jesus of Nazareth. Then Epiphany arrived and we watched the reality of Incarnation acknowledged by the wise of this world, the magi. We stood in as Jesus emerged from the waters of the river to hear the words that would set him apart while at the same time plunging him into the sufferings and joys of daily living: the words uttered at his baptism, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Now, we enter Lent with a strong awareness of the incarnation, of the full humanity of Jesus, He goes to the wilderness to think upon these words and their meaning, as they would affect the rest of his life.

So, like Israel Jesus has passed through water, been called God’s beloved Son (see Luke 3:22; Exodus 4:22). Now, as Israel was tested for forty years in the wilderness, Jesus is led into the desert to be tested for forty days and nights (see Exodus 15:25).
  We don’t know exactly what span of time forty days actually means because this number is so common in the writings of the times and so imbedded in the Hebrew stories. Obviously, it was a considerable span of fasting and of profound thinking and wrestling. The evangelist tells us that at the end of the fasting period he was “hungry.” 

In that weakened state the devil first tempts Jesus to prove himself by performing a miracle to satisfy his own needs. In response Jesus, says that "It is written: One does not live on bread alone." Jesus teaches us that the gnawing hunger within us cannot be satisfied by any physical thing. We have a deeper hunger within us that yearns for a loving relationship with God, with the God who created us for himself.
 
In the second temptation, the devil tempts Jesus by promising him worldly power and glory if only Jesus would put the devil before his relationship with God. In response Jesus says "It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve." Jesus proclaims that a relationship with God is of greater value than all the power and glory this passing world can offer. Having a place in God's heart outweighs any position or status in society.
 
Finally, in the third temptation, the devil challenges Jesus to demonstrate his special relationship as the Son of God by hurling himself down from the wall of the Temple. Jesus answers the devil by replying that scripture says, "You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test." Jesus shows us that we are to live with trust in God's loving care. Such trust does not demand that God pass any tests that we creatures might require before we love him in return.

Both Matthew and Luke agree that when, finally, the terrible temptations were finished and the tempter left him alone he did so only for a while. “to return at the appointed time.,” Luke writes. Because of the incarnation, Jesus would be tempted again. There is that heart-breaking time when Peter tries to dissuade him from following the road that would lead to his death. After all, the tradition did not say anything about Messiah suffering and dying! But Jesus hears in Peter’s rebuke, the echo of Satan’s temptation: “I have the authority, I will give it to you.” Once again Jesus turns away from the temptation, and from his good friend, knowing that his own way of obedience to God would lead to his early death.

This is how the season of Lent begins, with the victory of Jesus over temptation. The knowledge that he belongs to God and to God alone keeps him from succumbing to any thought that he has that he might rely on his own powers alone. The knowledge of Scriptures, of the words of the Lord, as Jesus describes them, becomes a shield to protect him from the meddling of the tempter. Jesus’ connection is never torn because, in prayer, he always turns to God. 

Lent is to teach us what we hear over and over in today’s readings. “Call upon me, and I will answer,” the Lord promises in today’s Psalm. Paul promises the same thing in today’s Epistle (quoting Deuteronomy 30:14; Isaiah 28:16; Joel 2:32).

This was Israel’s experience, as Moses reminds his people in today’s First Reading: “We cried to the Lord...and He heard.”

We’re going to receive Jesus in the Eucharist in a few moments. Comfort and esteem and success can never fill our hearts. Only God can. Let’s ask Jesus to help us to choose God above anything else.  

Let us bring our whole selves and deepen our trusting relationship with God this Lenten season.