First Sunday of Lent (2)

Title

Testing

Outline

We all face testing or temptation

The fact is that we have all failed in the test and oriented our lives, briefly if not long term, around another core of meaning.

We all should come to Mass saying, “my father was a refugee Aramean” (and therefore servers of another deity) and I was in bondage and God freed me. I offer this sacrifice today in gratitude for that freedom.

But our gospel tells us that Satan has not given up

Jesus has had a great spiritual experience at his baptism

The Spirit then takes Jesus into the desert, the place stripped of resources, the place that seems far from God, but the place where one, stripped of all, can draw near to God or, as Israel, rebel against him.

But instead of God it is the devil himself who draws near to Jesus. Yet the three temptations seem to sum up the whole process of the 40 days.

They also follow Luke’s schema of moving towards Jerusalem, which in Jewish thought was ever upward.

Each temptation is built on God’s words at Jesus baptism: “If you are the Son of God . . .”

The first temptation is to fulfill a sensuous desire,

even a necessary bodily desire. The poorest often feel driven to this, while the rich may make their lives revolve around the best in food or drink or sex or whatever. But Jesus (as Evagrius would later say) speaks truth back to the devil: “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ” This starts a passage ending with “but by every word proceeding from God’s mouth.” God had said fast; Jesus would trust in God even in the face of death (about a week or two off). He would also do that facing and on the cross.

The second temptation is a higher desire, one that could be rationalized as being for the good of others.

It is the desire for power and authority: ““I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me.” But of course he would get them by the devil’s means if it meant worshipping the devil, following the way of the patriotic Jewish resistance, including the Maccabees. And God had said he was his Son, so they were all his as he worshipped God, which meant following him to the cross. Jesus does not bend an inch: “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.’ ” Jesus would become a crucified criminal rather than the emperor, for in following his Father he destroyed death itself, the fear of which is the devil’s power, and gained people, a kingdom, rather than earthly kingdoms.

The third temptation is in Jerusalem itself; it revolves around spiritual status, revealing himself as God’s anointed.

“There is the crowd of people in the Temple, you are visible to all, throw yourself down and angels will appear saving you; can’t you see the people falling prostrate and worshipping you?” Jesus does not deny his status but he affirms the way of the Father and his total trust: “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’ ” That type of revelation is not on the Father’s docket, not part of the plan of incarnation - not now, not that way. I choose his way that leads to that revelation through the cross and in the second coming.

Sisters, these temptations come upon us all the time, even in the place of meeting with God.

Of course, we get lesser tempters than the devil himself.

We have uttered our trust in God, for we have “confess[ed] with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe[d] in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The first was a gift through our parents, perhaps, and then confirmed in our confirmation. But however it came, we gave our allegiance to Jesus as Lord, the Lord who followed the way of the cross to his present exaltation.

The problem is that the demons are quite persuasive in suggesting that we need to seek some other means to fulfill our basic needs, to fulfill our mission in the world, or even to show others how much God loves us, our spiritual status.

Strengthen your hearts, commit to your allegiance, and be prepared to answer back with truth. You may experience a significant attack even today.

And use this holy Lent as a time of asceticism through which you purify your motives, thrust the devil from you, and draw closer to God in the desert we have entered with Jesus.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 3-6-2022: First Sunday of Lent

FIRST READING

Deuteronomy 26:4–10

4 The priest shall then take the basket from your hands and set it in front of the altar of the LORD, your God. 5 Then you shall declare in the presence of the LORD, your God, “My father was a refugee Aramean who went down to Egypt with a small household and lived there as a resident alien. But there he became a nation great, strong and numerous. 6 When the Egyptians maltreated and oppressed us, imposing harsh servitude upon us, 7 we cried to the LORD, the God of our ancestors, and the LORD heard our cry and saw our affliction, our toil and our oppression. 8 Then the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and outstretched arm, with terrifying power, with signs and wonders, 9 and brought us to this place, and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 Now, therefore, I have brought the first fruits of the products of the soil which you, LORD, have given me.” You shall set them before the LORD, your God, and you shall bow down before the LORD, your God.

Catholic Daily Readings 3-6-2022: First Sunday of Lent

RESPONSE

Psalm 91:15b

15 He will call upon me and I will answer;

I will be with him in distress;

I will deliver him and give him honor.

PSALM

Psalm 91:1–2, 10–15

1 You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,

who abide in the shade of the Almighty,

2 Say to the LORD, “My refuge and fortress,

my God in whom I trust.”

10 No evil shall befall you,

no affliction come near your tent.

11 For he commands his angels with regard to you,

to guard you wherever you go.

12 With their hands they shall support you,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

13 You can tread upon the asp and the viper,

trample the lion and the dragon.

14 Because he clings to me I will deliver him;

because he knows my name I will set him on high.

15 He will call upon me and I will answer;

I will be with him in distress;

I will deliver him and give him honor.

Catholic Daily Readings 3-6-2022: First Sunday of Lent

SECOND READING

Romans 10:8–13

8 But what does it say?

“The word is near you,

in your mouth and in your heart”

(that is, the word of faith that we preach), 9 for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11 For the scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Catholic Daily Readings 3-6-2022: First Sunday of Lent

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 4:4b

4 He said in reply, “It is written:

‘One does not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’ ”

GOSPEL

Luke 4:1–13

1 Filled with the holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert 2 for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ” 5 Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. 6 The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. 7 All this will be yours, if you worship me.” 8 Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written:

‘You shall worship the Lord, your God,

and him alone shall you serve.’ ”

9 Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written:

‘He will command his angels concerning you,

to guard you,’

11 and:

‘With their hands they will support you,

lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

12 Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’ ” 13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 3-6-2022: First Sunday of Lent

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2022 | LENT

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

YEAR C | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Deuteronomy 26:4–10

Response Psalm 91:15b

Psalm Psalm 91:1–2, 10–15

Second Reading Romans 10:8–13

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 4:4b

Gospel Luke 4:1–13