First Sunday of Lent Deuteronomy 26:4-10 Romans 10:8-13 Luke 4: 1-13
The other day one of my neighbors expressed some regret that Catholics no longer have the rigid fast and abstinence laws that were part of Lent in her youth. “Now Lent,” she said, “is just like the rest of the year.” I suppose that might be true for many people but today’s Gospel tells us how it ought to be different.
We begin the Lenten season with the liturgy setting the tone for our 40 days. The Gospel today connects Jesus’ time in the desert with his baptism and the proclamation, “This is my beloved Son…” Luke wants us to know that Jesus’ temptation is connected with the mission that he is called to accomplish. It is not an accidental time away for the Lord. The Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the desert as a time of preparation and there our Lord is tempted. Jesus had to decide what it meant for him to be the beloved Son in whom the Father is well pleased. How would he lead men to the Father?
Jesus had been fasting and was hungry. Jesus’ ministry is filled with occasions when his compassion led him to feed the hunger of others. Now he needed to decide how he would lead others to the kingdom. Should he use his power to give them material things? Should he bribe them? Jesus’ response is quick: “One does not live on bread alone.” We will not find life in material things.
Then it was suggested that Jesus should gain followers by choosing political power and success, by compromising. Instead he chose the path that would lead to suffering, humiliation and death. “…and him alone shall you serve.”
Finally, Jesus was tempted to seduce the people with his power. His response was the same. He knew that sensationalism would not last. And then, the Gospel tells us that the temptations left our Lord “for a time.”
We do not expect the Son of God to be tempted like this. Neither do we expect him to face the opposition. It is easy to think that we ourselves will not be tempted and Lent is a time to prepare. Today’s Gospel reminds us that we, too, must make decisions that will affect the way we live. Will material things take precedence in our lives? Will we compromise Christian principles for the sake of ease? Will we use power to accomplish what we are called to do?
The Lenten experience is rooted in our hearts and in our will. Each of us needs a time to withdraw spiritually from everyday concerns. Lent comes to each of us — in season or out. It is the desert experience we need to see that will allow us to achieve inner integrity.
Much of our Christian life is spent in good and holy concern for the welfare of others. From time to time, though, the Lord calls us aside and reminds us that our own lives need reordering. Priorities must be reconsidered.
At this celebration and throughout the season of Lent, the Lord calls us to the desert to dialogue with him so that we are enabled to speak to the world.
