You shall not fall for I am with
You
Dt 26:4-10; Rom10:8-13; Lk 4:1-13 (C Lent/1)
“The cross of the Lord is become
the tree of life for us” (Divine Office)
The three Synoptic Gospels report that Jesus was led by
the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, right after he
was baptized and confirmed by the Father for his mission as Savior of the world.
This is the pattern God had set for Moses (Ex 24:18) and for Elijah (1 Kings
19:8). Both were led on a forty-day journey of prayer and fasting to meet God.
God tested Moses and Elijah to proclaim God’s word (Ex 33:11; Dt 18:15; 34:10)
and lead people into holiness and righteousness. Moses and Elijah prayed and
fasted in the desert, and God fed them with his life-giving word. They were renewed
in faith, hope, and love.
Luke writes that at the end of Jesus’ forty days in the
desert, the Satan tempted him. This deceiver is the devil (Lk 4:1), the father
of lies (Jn 8:44) and ruler of this world (Jn 12:31; 2 Cor 4:4). He is the same
deceiver who tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Paradise (Gn 3). Why did
Satan tempt Jesus? Satan knew that Jesus was embarking on an important
spiritual mission for the kingdom of God. Satan got an opportunity to strike
while Jesus appeared to be more vulnerable in his physical and emotional
weakened condition. He was weak due to his prolonged fasting. Satan undoubtedly
thought he could persuade Jesus to choose his path rather than the path his
Father
Satan’s first temptation appealed to Jesus’ physical
hunger. He hungered for his Father's word, even though it might cost him great
sacrifice even unto death. Jesus
defeated Satan’s snare with the words of Scripture, “Man does not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Dt 8:3; Mt 4:4).
Satan tempted Jesus a second time by presenting him with the best the world
could offer. But he chose to make his Father’s will alone as his treasure and
delight by quoting, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall
you serve” (Dt 6:13). Satan’s last temptation was to convince Jesus that he
should position himself at the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem and perform
a sign that would prove that he was the Messiah, God’s anointed Son quoting, “He
will give his angels charge of you, to guard you, and on their hands they will
bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone” (Ps 91:11-12). Satan is
aware of the Scripture! Jesus refused Satan’s test to prove his divine claim as
the Messiah. quoting, “It is said, `You shall not put the Lord your God to the
test” (Dt 6:16).
How can we hope to fight temptation and overcome sin in
our own lives? Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit. God tests genuine faith to set
it as an example. He will not leave us alone nor will he suffer us to be
tempted beyond that which we can bear” (1Cor. 10:13). And “your ears shall hear
a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it’, when you turn to the
right or when you turn to the left” (Is 30:21). Jesus did not rely on his human
strength. He teaches that we need the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit
to help us in our weakness (Rom 8:26). He will be with us when we acknowledge our
dependence on him (Js 4:6) and he helps us to stand firm against the attacks of
Satan (1 Pt 5:8-10; Ep 6:10-18). Do we seek God’s wisdom and guidance for
overcoming sin and avoiding the near occasions of sin? In the forty days of Lent,
we are called to journey with the Lord in the wilderness of our spiritual
renewal towards the feast of Easter. We, too, must follow the way of the cross to
share in the victory of Christ’s death and resurrection. As we begin this holy
season of preparation and renewal, let's ask the Lord for a fresh outpouring of
his Holy Spirit that we may grow in faith, hope, and love.
“You shall not fall a victim to the sword: your life
shall be safe,* for I am with you” (Divine Office)
A thought: how would Satan tempt Jesus to sin, if Jesus were incapable of sinning? Personally, I've always read this gospel in a different light, where the temptation is to be a different kind of Messiah. To be a mere miracle worker who transforms stone to bread or performs death defying leaps. Or to be a ruler. In many ways, these temptations also mirror what Herod and Pilate say to Jesus during his trial. Herod wants a sign and offers freedom in return, and Pilate cannot fathom the idea the Jesus is a king. Jesus even mentions to Pilate (if I recall) that he could have angels rescue him if he wished it. But he rejects Herod and Pilates questions for the same reason he rejects Satan's temptations- he isn't a worldly Messiah. Rather he is a savior first and foremost-and it is from this that all his...call it *auctoritas* flows. He is the greatest because he suffered the most, and led by example.
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