Sunday 09 March 2025 – I Sunday of Lent (C)
Lent symbolizes our entire baptized life as a journey of struggle against temptation. We recall that after His baptism by John in the Jordan, Christ spent forty days in the desert, where He was subjected to temptation. Each year, on the first Sunday of Lent, we hear a temptation narrative from one of the three Synoptic Gospels (Mt 4:1-11; Mk 1:12-13; Lk 4:1-13). This year, following Cycle C, the Gospel of Luke presents the temptation of Jesus in the desert in vivid detail, emphasizing that even Jesus was tempted in the same way we are-yet remained without sin (Heb 4:15).
Jesus goes into the wilderness to discern the will of the Father as He is about to begin His public ministry. During these forty days, Jesus fasted, prayed, meditated, and confronted the struggles within His heart as He prepared for His public ministry. He must say ‘yes’ to the Father’s will and ‘no’ to the devil and the world. Lent is a time to learn to say ‘no.’ The ability to postpone immediate gratification is the key to true spirituality.For Jesus, God always came first; He did not come as a superhero but as a humble servant, relying entirely on the Father’s will.
In this temptation of Jesus in the desert, he was tempted to turn stones to bread, to perform an action filled suicide leap off the pinnacle of the Temple and to change the world through political supremacy. Jesus responded to the temptation by quoting the Scripture: ‘It is written, “man does not live by bread alone” (Lk 4:4; Deut 8:3). Man is not meant to live enslaved to mere material needs, but becomes truly alive when he is nurtured on the words of God. Christ Jesus Himself is the Word of God, the true manna, the bread from heaven (Jn 6:51).
First
Reading -First Fruits and Tithes
The
first reading from Deuteronomy highlights the practice of offering first fruits
and tithes as an expression of gratitude to God. Even today, during Sunday
liturgy, the faithful bring gifts to the altar, symbolizing their thanksgiving
for God’s blessings. In village parishes, this tradition is deeply moving as
people bring the literal first fruits of their harvest. Moses instructed the
Israelites that this offering should be a Profession of Faith, acknowledging
God's providence. The reading also connects creation with history, recalling
Israel’s past as slaves in Egypt.
The
Second Reading -The Word of Faith
St.
Paul, in today’s second reading, quotes Deuteronomy 30:14, emphasizing that
God’s command is not distant or unattainable but written in the heart: “The
word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (Rom 10:8). While
Deuteronomy refers to God's law, Paul reinterprets it as the word of Christ,
showing the continuity between the law and faith. Just as Moses urged obedience
to God's commandments, Paul calls Christians to live by the word of faith,
which fulfils the law. True salvation comes when believers profess with their
mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from
the dead (Rom 10:9). This profession of faith echoes the first reading-affirming
that Christ, the Word, is near to all who seek Him.
The
Gospel Reading: Jesus in the Desert
The
First Sunday of Lent presents for our meditation the Gospel account of Jesus’
temptation in the desert from the Gospel of Luke. He was led into the desert by
the Spirit. The desert is an inhospitable place-a realm of wild beasts and
desolation, not meant for human habitation. Yet, this very wilderness, with its
overwhelming silence and isolation, became the sacred space where Jesus was led
by the Spirit. It was there that He encountered both the trials of temptation
and the strengthening presence of the Father.
Our
own journey into the wilderness can be daunting. It may feel lonely,
unsettling, and even painful, but it is an essential step in confronting our
true selves. To enter the desert is to embark on an inward journey, where we
allow the Spirit to lead us toward transformation. As the Gospel states:
"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by
the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days He was tempted by the
devil" (Lk 4:1-2).
Just
as in His baptism, the Father’s presence is evident in the temptation of Jesus.
The path before Him was not easy-He would preach, heal, and proclaim the
Kingdom of God, yet He would also face rejection and suffering. His mission was
not about self-glorification but about glorifying the Father. Thus, Jesus
needed time to prepare Himself spiritually, to be strengthened by the Spirit,
and to deepen His union with the Father. He embraced profound solitude and
silence in the desert, allowing Himself to be fortified for the challenges
ahead.
The
Synoptic Gospels on the Temptation of Jesus
While
the Evangelist Mark provides only a brief mention of Jesus’ temptation, Matthew
(4:1-11) and Luke (4:1-13) present a more detailed account. Interestingly,
Mark, who frequently narrates Jesus’ encounters with demonic forces, highlights
how Satan continually sought to separate Jesus from His relationship with the
Father. This struggle is echoed throughout the Gospels—even through His own
disciples, as seen in Peter’s resistance to the path of the Cross. The ultimate
aim of temptation is always to sever one’s connection with God, to lead one
away from divine sonship. Yet, as St. Paul writes: "Though He was in the
form of God, He did not count equality with God as something to be grasped, but
emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in human
likeness" (Phil 2:6-7).
Jesus
and Temptation
The
Savior took on human nature, and in doing so, he was not spared from the
experience of temptation. In his humanity, he fully understood what it means to
resist Satan and remain faithful to the divine will. In the wilderness, he
experienced God's presence profoundly. At the end of his forty days of fasting
and prayer, he emerged strengthened, ready to begin his public ministry.
The
other Gospels (Mt 4:1-11; Lk 4:1-13) provide further details about Jesus’
temptations, which Mark does not enumerate. Satan tested Jesus on three
fundamental levels:
Trust
in one's own power – “Turn these stones into bread” (Self-reliance).
Trust
in material wealth and worldly success – “Bow down and worship me, and I will
give you the kingdoms of the world” (Materialism).
Trust
in external religious signs rather than true faith – “Throw yourself down from
the Temple; God will send His angels to save you” (Presumption).
Jesus
did not succumb to any of these temptations. He did not rely on his own
strength or abilities; he did not seek worldly possessions or glory; he did not
demand signs from God. His heart remained steadfast in obedience to the Father.
The
Biblical Significance of Forty Days
The
number forty holds profound significance in the Bible. It represents the forty
years the Israelites wandered in the desert after leaving Egypt before reaching
the Promised Land. In Jewish tradition, forty years was considered the span of
a generation—a period marked by trials, testing, and divine encounters. The
wilderness became a place where Israel experienced both God’s guiding presence
and the challenges of faith. Those who left Egypt were born into slavery, but
those born in the wilderness were raised in freedom, prepared to enter Canaan.
Scripture
repeatedly references the period of forty days as a time of preparation, trial,
and transformation. For example:
In
Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6, there is a direct correlation between forty days
and forty years.
In
1 Samuel 17:16, Acts 4:22, and Acts 7:23, forty days signify a complete and
significant period.
The
Israelites wandered for forty years in the wilderness (Ex 16:35; Num 14:33;
Deut 8:2,4; Josh 5:6).
Moses
fasted for forty days on Mount Sinai before receiving the Law (Ex 34:28).
Elijah
journeyed forty days to Mount Horeb (1 Kgs 19:8).
Jesus,
after His resurrection, remained on earth for forty days before His ascension
(Acts 1:3).
For the Israelites, the wilderness was always a time of testing: "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you … He humbled you, causing you to hunger" (Deut 8:2-3).
The
Biblical Significance of the Desert: In the Bible, the
desert occupies an important place. It was a place of trial and education.
There, the Israelites doubted God's guiding hand when they faced shortages of
food and water. When they realized they could not survive by their own
strength, they spoke against God and His servant Moses. They became disobedient
to Yahweh’s promises. Throughout their journey in the desert, the Israelites
repeatedly succumbed to the voice of Satan and complained about their trials.
Thus, Satan’s appearance in the desert aimed to instill doubt in Christ’s heart
regarding the presence, protection, and care of God the Father. However, Jesus
did not yield to Satan's temptation, as seen in the other Gospel accounts.
Jesus' forty days in the wilderness are deeply connected to salvation history.
Jesus and the Israelites: Like the Israelites-who were called God’s son (Ex 4:22–23; Jer 31:9; Hos 11:1) and wandered in the desert for forty years (Deut 8:2)-Jesus, the Son of God, was led into the desert for forty days. The Israelites faced great temptation, torn between serving God and turning to idols. Often, they failed Yahweh and were unfaithful to Him. In contrast, Jesus, the Son of God, remained ever faithful and chose to fulfil the will of the Father in His life.
Discords of Unity and Satan: Jesus' submission to temptation in the desert underscores his humanity, through which he redeems the human race created by God. What fosters unity does not fit into Satan's scheme; what unites is not part of his mindset. Anything that keeps people united among themselves and with God is the primary target of the tempter's attack. These attempts at disunion, disintegration, division, and separation represent, for Jesus, an element to be resisted without reservation throughout his "forty days in the desert"-a symbol, as previously mentioned, of the entire journey of life. Wherever there are discord and division, there we find the imprints of the evil one.
To Be Humble: From Jesus' temptation in the desert, we learn that He did not desire to be a messiah bound to earthly ambitions-to power, success, possession, glory, and dominion over the earth. Instead, Jesus chose humility, obscurity, poverty, suffering, and ultimately, death on the Cross. His sole aim was to place Himself in complete obedience to the will of the Father.
The Journey of Humbling Oneself: "I live for God"-this is the message Jesus imparts to the tempter. Commitment to God’s will was His true sustenance and the source of genuine freedom. That is why, when speaking with the Samaritan woman, He declared, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work” (Jn 4:34). Jesus began a journey of humility, allowing Himself to be tested in the desert, a journey that would culminate on the Cross of Good Friday. Learning to abandon oneself into the hands of the Father is the profound lesson we must take from Jesus' temptation.
At the Hour of Our Temptations: We all face temptations in our daily lives. We do not know when the tempter will strike, as today's Gospel reveals: “When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time” (Lk 4:13). If Jesus Himself was tempted, then we too will surely be tempted. St. Paul reinforces this point: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15).
However, we will never be tempted beyond our capacity if we surrender ourselves to God: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Cor 10:13). Temptation is an inescapable aspect of our humanity, but each time we must choose-will we serve God or follow the ways of the evil one? As Joshua declared, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Jos 24:15), so too must we choose the Lord over all our temptations.
God’s Project vs. Personal Project: Jesus consecrated Himself, His mission, and everything He had to the Father. The ultimate temptation is whether to embrace God’s plan or pursue one’s own desires. Jesus chose the Father’s plan-what about you? Lent is a time of grace, lasting forty days. To experience new life and inner conversion, we must undergo a desert experience, just as Jesus did willingly. The New Testament uses the Greek term metanoia to signify a change of heart. This is precisely why Holy Mother Church grants us forty days, sanctified by the three spiritual treasures—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Lent is a time to “stretch out” and become whole. It is the longing to return home to our heavenly Father, leaving behind the empty husks of worldly attachments, just as the prodigal son did when he came to his senses (Lk 15:17).
The Dialogue with the Devil
One
striking aspect of the temptation narrative is that the devil seeks to engage
Jesus in a dialogue. The lesson here is clear: when the tempter comes, do not
entertain dialogue with him, for doing so may lead to defeat. This is what
happened to Eve when the serpent engaged her in cunning dialogue (Gen 3:1-5). The
only weapon that Jesus proposes for resisting temptation is the Word of God.
Whenever temptation, sin, or spiritual darkness arise, the direct action of
Satan is often at work (Lk 8:12; 22:3, 31; Acts 5:5; 26:18; cf. 13:10).
In
the temptation to turn stones into bread, Jesus is enticed to rely on his own
power and satisfy his needs rather than remain dependent on God’s providence.
But Jesus responds: "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord'" (Deut 8:3b; Lk
4:4).
God
Will Provide
In
Deuteronomy 8:3a, we read that God provided manna to sustain the Israelites in
the wilderness. Similarly, we must never forget that true nourishment comes
from God, not merely from earthly sustenance. When the devil tempts Jesus to
worship him in exchange for power, Jesus firmly replies: "You shall
worship the Lord your God and serve Him alone" (Deut 6:13).
Finally,
when the devil urges Jesus to throw himself from the pinnacle of the Temple,
testing God’s protection, Jesus rebukes him once more: "It is said: 'You
shall not put the Lord your God to the test'" (Lk 4:12, quoting Deut
6:16). The Book of Sirach reminds us: "The Word of God from on high is the
source of wisdom" (Sir 1:5). Jesus exemplifies this wisdom by standing
firm on God’s word.
Jesus
and the Power of God's Word
One
of the most striking aspects of this temptation episode is Jesus’ unwavering
reliance on the Word of God. Each of his responses to Satan is drawn from the
Book of Deuteronomy (Deut 8:3; 6:13; 6:16). Because of this, Jesus emerged
victorious, having deepened his trust in the Father.
His
mission was not built on personal power, material wealth, or religious
spectacle. Instead, it was founded on absolute trust in God and faithfulness to
His Word. As followers of Christ, we are called to do the same. Our Lenten
journey should focus on God's Word and on Christ himself. The Word of God is a
powerful instrument that can transform our hearts and draw us closer to Him.
Jesus wielded "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God"
(Eph 6:17) to defeat temptation, and we must do likewise.
Points
for Personal Reflection
We
are all tempted. We all go through similar trials. Through His temptations in
the desert, Jesus shows us how to overcome them. So, what can we learn from
Jesus?
First,
spiritual preparation is the key. In our spiritual combat, like Jesus, we need
to learn the art of saying ‘No.’ Jesus said ‘No’ to the devil three times
because His heart was set on the spiritual. Above all, Jesus did not focus on
any of these temptations; instead, His heart hungered for God and His word. His
thoughts reflected His intimate relationship with the Father: “I am in the
Father, and the Father is in me” (Jn 14:11).
Secondly,
Jesus was guided by the Spirit, for He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon
me” (Lk 4:18). He was led by the Spirit and was “full of the Holy Spirit” (Lk
4:1). He returned from the desert “in the power of the Spirit” (Lk 4:14).
Thirdly,
Jesus was guided by the will of the Father: “My food is to do the will of Him
who sent me and to complete His work” (Jn 4:34). The real temptation for Jesus
was to anticipate things and go against the will of God. Instead of listening
to the “father of lies” (Jn 8:44), Jesus took time to listen to the voice of
the Father.
Just
as Jesus went into the desert for forty days and was tempted, the season of
Lent becomes a time set aside for us to reorient ourselves, gain the proper
perspective on life, and set our priorities right. St. James says that each one
of us is tempted by our own desires (Jas 1:13-14). Sometimes, temptations of
various kinds come our way as instruments of God to test whether we are true
and faithful to our baptismal commitment and our status as God’s own children.
To
sum up, prayer and fasting, reflection, avoiding the devil’s influence, keeping
the words of Scripture on our lips, and trusting in God’s providence are the
tools that Jesus demonstrates for overcoming temptation.
Lent
is a time of conversion. May we take this sacred season as an opportunity to
withdraw into the inner desert of our hearts, rediscovering a deeper and more
committed Christian life by embracing the Good News.
Can
I set aside time to be alone with God during these forty days?
What
concrete steps am I taking to combat my regular temptations and weaknesses?
Am
I making an effort to grow in my knowledge of Scripture and its power in my
life?
Can
I commit to reading and meditating on God’s Word daily throughout Lent?
Have
I learned to resist temptation as Jesus did?
As
we begin this Lenten journey, let us embrace the spirit of the desert. May we
enter into deeper prayer, fasting, and reflection, allowing ourselves to be led
by the Holy Spirit. Like Jesus, may we resist the temptations that seek to draw
us away from God, and may we emerge strengthened in faith, prepared to live as
true disciples of Christ.
May
this season of Lent be for us a time of renewal, repentance, and rediscovery of
God’s boundless mercy and love. Let us take refuge in His Word, knowing that
"Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the
mouth of God" (Deut 8:3) - Amen.
So profound thoughts on the Temptation of Jesus to rediscover our own image
ReplyDeleteThank You Dear Fr. Edwin. May our attachment to Christ the Lord help us detach ourselves from all earthly temptations.
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