Today, we begin our journey through Lent. It is the first Sunday of Lent where we take advantage of this opportunity to keep the discipline of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. This is a moment of grace inviting everyone to focus on God’s loving presence as we journey together along the path of personal soul searching, renewal of mind and heart and genuine conversion in this season of Lent. We are being prepared to have this solemn event to attentively listen and ponder the Word of God in the Scriptures and unceasingly pray to heed the call of true repentance.
In the first epistle, taken from the 2nd letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul says, “Brethren, we exhort you that you receive not the grace of God in vain.” These inspiring words from St. Paul make us remember Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection, which is extended to us as the greatest grace from our loving God. Paul quotes the Prophet Isaiah that he announced to them that God was bringing His people out of exile, and yet the people in Corinth were passive and not reacting to it. Therefore, on our part, how can we receive God’s grace in a fruitful way? This is the challenge that we need to know. On our part we need to repent of our sins, turning away from sins, acknowledging our sins thru confession and entering into this new relationship with God. Unfortunately, many people receive God’s grace in vain. They read the bible and think that what Jesus did was great, and yet it makes not much difference in their life. They haven’t actually surrendered to God despite the freely given gift of transformation because our spiritual life is flat and lifeless. It is obvious that we are not acting on what we have received.
Is there something to rejoice in? To pray about? To believe? There is always a specific way to respond to God’s Word and invitation to eternal salvation. We now enjoy a day of grace; then let’s all be careful not to neglect it. St Paul, the apostle of the Gentile did so, by much patience in afflictions, by acting from good principles, and by due temper and behavior. We need to diligently employ our time to useful purposes.
The gospel, taken from St. Matthew, narrates to us about Jesus being tempted by the devil. What do you think is Satan’s goal in coming to tempt Jesus? How did Jesus respond?
The Spirit led Jesus to the wilderness. It was part of the sovereign plan to allow Satan to tempt Jesus. This encounter happened in order to serve as an example for us of how to face temptation and which shows how victorious Jesus was over Satan as evidence of His faithfulness to His Father and to show as evidence of Jesus’ sinlessness.
In moments of temptations, the Lord is our model that we should pray and ask God for greater strength in order not to fall into temptations and to rely on God more. In the book of Job, God allows Satan to tempt Job severely. At the same time, He uses it as an opportunity to teach Job and his friends more things about God. Temptations come and we should do our best to avoid them because it is possible that we can overcome them, not trusting ourselves, but trusting solely on God’s intervention.
The first temptation, Satan asked Jesus, “If you are the Son of God command that these stones be made bead.” Jesus responded, “It is written, not in bread alone that man live but in every word that proceeded from the mouth of God.” Satan wanted Jesus to use His power for selfish reasons, that is to go outside of God’s desire for man to focus on spiritual satisfaction rather than bodily satisfactions. Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights to prepare Himself for this rigorous mission to begin His three-year public ministry which would change the world. He put aside worldly distractions and desires so that He can rely on the strength from God and His Word to defeat those temptations.
The second temptation, Satan brought Him to the top of the temple saying, “If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down.” Jesus replied, “Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God.” I believe that through His own conviction, He would not ask His Father to send angels to catch Him because Jesus doesn’t want to test the power of His almighty Father. Throwing Himself off the temple is actually demonstrating a lack of faith and the power of His Father’s promise as revealed in the Scriptures. Now, we do understand that the real faith doesn’t need any proof or signs.
The third temptation, Satan took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world. Then Satan told Him, “All these will I give Thee, if falling down Thou wilt adore me”. Jesus said, “Begone Satan, for it is written, The Lord Thy God shalt thou adore, and Him only shalt thou serve”. We see Satan’s true heart of pride for he wants to be worshipped. However, at the end of the story Jesus showed His true power and authority. He commands Satan to obey because Jesus is stronger, and Satan cannot stand up to Him. Jesus again is giving us an example that we should always respond to lies and temptation with truth.
Today, we make the decision to meditate on the truth of God’s Word and use it to defend yourself against all temptations and evil attacks. We should spend lots of time in prayer, meditation and focusing on God’s Word. Not only to think how long we could fast and abstain from food or from other things such as internet, movies, alcohol, sexual excess, or social media, but instead, during this season, we intensify improving on building good and loving relationships with God and others. Whatever help or any charitable contribution for those who are in dire need, we do them not only for our needy neighbors, but for God. Whoever you do to the least of your brothers, you do it unto me.
All those temptations that come along our way would surely be conquered when we focus on Jesus, who is victorious and walks with us along the path to holiness.
God bless you.
Fr. Arlon, osa
