First Sunday of Lent (Year C)

Deut 26.4-10;
Ps 90;
Rom 10.8-13;
Lk 4.1-13

IN HIS PROFOUND LOVE FOR HUMANITY CHRIST WAS TEMPTED AND SUFFERED FOR US

In this liturgical season of Lent, the Church emphasizes the gospel account of Christ’s temptations in the desert. Pope John Paul II has articulated the significance of this period: “…Christ instituted the forty-day fast in the Church’s liturgical calendar because He Himself underwent forty days and nights of fasting prior to initiating His ministry. Through the Lenten fast, the Church is summoned annually to emulate her Master, thereby enhancing her capacity to effectively proclaim His Gospel.” This invitation calls us to retreat into the metaphorical desert with Christ, engaging in prayer and penitential practices to prepare for the celebration of Easter.

The rationale behind the Lord’s allowing these temptations is rooted in His profound love for humanity and His intent to instruct us. The significance of Christ’s temptations aligns with the overarching narrative of salvation history, as prominent figures from the Old Testament, including Adam and Eve, Abraham, and Moses, also faced temptation. By resisting the devil’s enticements, Christ not only redeems the transgressions of those preceding Him but also absorbs the weight of sin for all generations to come. Later, He teaches us to pray for spiritual resilience through the ‘Our Father,’ enabling us to sidestep temptations.

In the first temptation, Christ, having fasted for forty days, experiences acute hunger, prompting the devil to tempt Him with the prospect of a miraculous act for immediate gratification. Nevertheless, miracles serve a deeper purpose—facilitating the understanding of God’s messages and intentions. Christ’s response exemplifies the appropriate stance toward such temptations: reliance on divine providence is paramount.

Subsequently, the adversary presents another temptation—rapid acquisition of dominion over the world’s kingdoms—representing a profound distortion of the Redeemer’s intended mission. This temptation seemingly aligns with Christ’s goals, yet by repudiating Satan’s offer, He counteracts the prevalent worldly aspirations among the people of Israel and cautions the Church, now the new Israel, to adhere steadfastly to its divine mandate of global salvation.

The final temptation involves a challenge to Christ’s divinity, urging Him to demonstrate His power by throwing Himself from the temple’s summit, presuming God’s protective intervention. Jesus counters this provocation by citing Deuteronomy: “You must not put the Lord your God to the test.” This act of testing God signifies a lack of faith, as it involves placing oneself in peril while presuming upon divine mercy for protection.

After these confrontations, the devil momentarily withdraws from Christ, with the Gospel noting that he will return at an appointed time. This serves as a stark reminder: Satan is an opportunist and one does not receive the victor’s crown without first contending with Satan. The book of Revelation proclaims, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Thus, during Lent, if we genuinely embrace the call to accompany Christ into the wilderness, we can anticipate the presence of temptation, validating our journey on the path of spiritual warfare. For those aligned with Christ’s mission, engaging in spiritual combat becomes the sole avenue to attain the joys of Easter and the enduring crown of glory.

Fr Joseph Osho