By Fr. Marcel Uzoigwe, C.S.Sp. | Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Psalm – Ps 51; Romans 5:12.17-19; Matthew 4:1-11
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
As we enter into the season of Lent, we are reminded of our human nature and the challenges we face in our spiritual journey. In both the first reading (Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7) and the Gospel (Matthew 4:1-11), we see the story of our first parents Adam and Eve, and the temptation of Jesus in the desert. These stories remind us of the fragility of human nature and the need for God’s grace to guide us through life.
In Genesis 2:7-9, we see God creating man from the dust of the earth and breathing life into him. God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to tend it and keep it. However, Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and they sinned against God. Their disobedience led to their expulsion from the Garden of Eden and the introduction of sin and death into biblical history.
Similarly, in the Gospel reading (Matthew 4:1-11), we see Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. For forty days and forty nights, Jesus fasted and prayed, preparing himself for the mission that lay ahead of him. It is in this vulnerable state that the devil approaches Jesus with three temptations. First, he tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread, appealing to his physical hunger. Next, he takes Jesus to the top of the temple in Jerusalem and challenges him to throw himself down, appealing to the human desire for public recognition and approval. Finally, he offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for his worship, appealing to the human desire for power and control.
In each of these temptations, the devil appeals to something deep within us as human beings – our physical needs, our desire for recognition and approval, and our thirst for power and control. These are natural human desires, but they can also be the very things that lead us away from God if we allow them to become the focus of our lives.
The temptations that Jesus underwent tested the very depth from which his life flows. Human hunger makes bread desirable. But living only on bread, on the natural appetites and instincts, impoverishes the very essence of life. It was at the very moment that his flesh craved bread that Jesus chose to live from every word that comes from his father. He made the will of God the compass for his life. His relationship with his Father was so intense that he would not place anything before it. His faithfulness to the will of his Father weakened the strength of those temptations. Why would he fall for human glorification when he was sure of his father’s glory? Why would he bow to another force just to become powerful when God has placed everything in his hands?
Jesus resists these temptations, quoting scripture and proclaiming his allegiance to God alone. In each of these responses, Jesus shows us the way to overcome temptation and remain faithful to God. He turns to scripture and relies on the Word of God to guide him in his decisions. He recognizes the power of the devil, but also knew that God is more powerful and has given authority over the devil to all who trust in him. And he reaffirms his commitment to God alone, rejecting the false promises of the devil.
As we reflect on this story during the season of Lent, we are reminded of the temptations that we face in our own lives. It gives us the opportunity to reflect on these stories and our own human nature; to resist temptation and to seek God’s forgiveness. We may not be tempted to turn stones into bread or to jump off a temple, but we are tempted in other ways – to put our trust in material possessions, to seek the approval of others, and to pursue power and success at all costs. These temptations can distract us from our relationship with God and lead us down the wrong path.
As we journey in this period of Lent, we have the example of Jesus himself to follow, as he showed us the way to resist the devil and remain faithful to God. The story of his temptation in the desert shows us that we have the power to resist these temptations. We have the Word of God to guide us and the Holy Spirit to strengthen us.
Besides, the three pillars of Lent – prayer, fasting, and almsgiving – are essential to helping us in this journey. Through prayer, we deepen our relationship with God and seek His guidance and strength. Prayer helps us to remain focused on God, to offer Him our worship, and to listen to Him speaking to us in the silence of our hearts. Through fasting, we discipline our bodies and focus our attention on the spiritual rather than the physical. Fasting helps us to detach ourselves from the pleasures of the world and to be more aware of the presence of God. Through almsgiving, we share our blessings with those in need and practice the virtue of charity. Almsgiving helps us to put our faith into action, care for the poor, to share our time and resources, and build up our community.
During this season of Lent, let us turn to God in prayer and ask for his guidance and strength. Let us examine our own lives and identify the temptations that we face. And let us rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome these temptations and to remain faithful to God in all that we do.
May the Lord bless us and guide us through this Lenten journey, and may we emerge from it as renewed and transformed people, ready to continue our journey of faith with confidence and joy. Amen.