Sunday, February 25, 2007

Reflection on the First Sunday of Lent

This weekend, our Gospel reading was the Temptation of Jesus Christ according to Luke. Following His baptism by John the Baptist, Jesus went into the desert, a biblical place of discovery and challenge, and fasts for forty days. In spending these days in the desert, Jesus identifies Himself with the people of Israel, who themselves wandered forty years in the desert as they received God’s Law (as found in Leviticus and Deuteronomy) and grew in their relationship to God.

After His stay, Luke records Jesus is hungry. The devil, the one who literally ‘throws' temptation 'in the way of' Jesus, taunts Jesus – turn this stone into bread. The temptation, though external to His person, might be understood to take care of his own needs, to reject the hunger pains and provide for himself. Jesus, quoting Deuteronomy, responds that man does not live by bread alone.

Satan is not so easily discouraged, and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world. He calims that he has been given the power over all the kingdoms of the world. (Note, he has no lasting power, but that does not prevent him for claiming it!) All Jesus has to do, the devil states, is to bow in worship to him. He, again quoting Deuteronomy, reminds the devil that God alone is worthy of worship. Unlimited power was not enough to tempt Jesus.

The third temptation is the most interesting. Satan, knowing that he is failing, takes Jesus to the parapet of the Temple in Jerusalem. (Note that Luke’s Gospel begins with Zachariah in the Temple, and ends with the Apostles in prayer in the Temple, so this is a apt location.) This time, Satan quotes Scripture to Jesus (Psalm 91 to be exact) that God will protect His servant. (Note that even Satan can know Scripture, though he twists it into his own designs.) Satan tempts Jesus to make a name for himself and cast himself down in front of everyone. One can only imagine the prestige that he would have gained from taking a such a fall and survive! Jesus dismisses the tempter with yet another quote from Deuteronomy – not to test God.

Yes, Jesus rejects all grasping for his personal pleasure, power, and prestige. But he is the Son of God; he has all three. Philippians 2 states that Jesus did not grasp equality with God, but ‘emptied’ himself. He let it go – and in the end, all of Creation will proclaim Him Lord.

So often, we might have internal temptations that Jesus experienced externally. Often, we might even fall and claim things for ourselves. Perhaps the greatest reason that many do not respond to God’s call is the quest for pleasure, power, or prestige. While it is good to desire good things, in the end everything good only comes from God, not from our own grasping. Through our own desert experience, through our own study of scripture, we can grow in grace and receive strength to resist the temptations. Perhaps if relinquish our sinful desires, God will provide much more than we can even imagine. We should not be afraid to let go, and God, who is good, will provide lasting happiness.

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