1st SUNDAY OF LENT
Romans 10:8-13
Luke 4:1-13
into the desert
for forty days, to be tempted by the devil.”
Man
is gifted with free choice. This makes him superior than animals and puts him
just a little less than the angels. Because of this, the reality of temptation
comes in. Man’s free will enables him to choose between good and evil (the
evil, of course, as appearing good). And this is but the big irony in man’s
life. The greatest and sweetest, which man closest to God, is accompanied with
a tragic risk of being separated from him. To this irony, nobody can perhaps
ever offer an absolute satisfying answer. Nonetheless, we believe that this is
part of the whole economy of salvation to which St. Augustine could only sigh: “Felix
Culpa!”
As we begin with the season of lent, our gospel of today invites us to meditate on the reality of temptation. As narrated, the Lord is tempted for three times, and for three times he also conquers them. Our reflections shall follow the flow of the Gospel.
1. “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” This first temptation comes just in a most opportune time. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, Jesus must have been starving to death. Thus, the most expected thing of a hungry person is to eat or to utilize even the least opportunity to have food. This temptation is instinctual for the response of man may simply be spontaneous especially when the opportunity is right then and there.
The temptation to turn the stone into bread seems to represent other forms of “instinctual temptations” that ordinarily come to our way. Think of the countless times when we spontaneously grab things and opportunities without any second thoughts. Good if they really answer to our needs, but most often, we take them simply because they attract our wants and likes. In situations like this, we are not just turning stones into bread, but friends into enemies.
Not only that. This first temptation stands more profoundly in behalf of the temptation that besets a poverty-stricken people. Good for Christ, his hunger comes as a consequence of his pious intention to fast for forty days and forty nights. The case of today’s poorest of the poor is quite a different story. They are hungry because they are poor. And if ever they grab the scraps that fall from their master’s table, it is not necessarily because of their irreligiosity but because of their dire need for food. So, in case they don’t want anymore to be hungry, it is all because they are already tired of being hungry. If only they could turn the stones into bread! --- Is this not a temptation?
“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Even Christ himself must have surely been aware that his answer is of another level. The “bread” of Satan is physical while the “word” of Christ is spiritual. Both of course can satisfy hunger but in their respective levels. However, he picks these words of scripture precisely to raise our consciousness to something more profound. To answer the call of hunger and to labor for food when there is nearly nothing of it, could be most human. But to abstain from it even before its abundance for the sake of some nobler intentions, is indeed divine. This is how the hermits of old have made themselves spiritual champions.
Christ knows so well how the poor can become so vulnerable to succumb into this fundamental temptation. Thus, he expects that the cries of the hungry poor must not fall into deaf ears especially in a society where almost everybody professes to be a Christian. However, Christ is not that stupid as to teach the poor to fill his hungry stomach literally with the word of God. (There is just no way of chewing it.) Food though basic and most important, is not the all in all of life:
2. “I shall give to you all this power and their glory…if you worship me.” This temptation to power and glory may attract all men, but it is most inducing to people who already have them. This is the modern for of idolatry. People who lust for power and glory makes god out of them. No wonder, they are willing to sacrifice even human lives just to grab the seat of power. And once they are already there, to give it up would be the last thing in their minds if ever they get to think of surrendering it at all. Power and glory are truly sweet. But Satan poses them as temptations against the first commandment.
Jesus’ answer shows the clarity of his priorities and directions. His purpose of coming here is clear to him right from the very start. He becomes one like us in order to do the Father’s will. This is his whole business. And he is just obedient even up to death. Now, to give in to the devil’s treachery means putting things upside down. Thus, from the scripture he quotes: “You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.” Besides, Jesus already has power and glory. But this does make him crave for more. As he proves he is no glutton over a piece of bread, he shows too that much less is he over whatever for of earthly grandeur.
3. “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here…He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you.” Satan’s inducement for Jesus to make a showdown is a temptation to self-image. This type of Satan’s trick attracts those who have in born cravings to be “superstars.” Sad to say, we can notice this as something common even among church people including priests. Perhaps known to be “sons of God,” they could not afford not to throw themselves down just to male a show. Worse, they who are supposed to be curtain raisers become now the stars of the show, and the poor Christ who is supposed to be the real actor is left forgotten at the back stage. Is this not putting God to the test?
The account of the temptations of Christ is all embracing. It ranges from mere hunger for food to hunger for power, from mere self-image to idolatry. But what makes these temptations more dangerous is the fact that they are indeed so subtle as to use even the word of God. The devil has many ways of inducing man to sin. He knows how to hide his evil designs by covering them with things appearing as good. These devilous tricks are still at work today, and they seem to be even more effective. Look at those who are fond of using the sweet language of the Bible. Are they not the opportunists, the swindlers and the oppressors?