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 1^ST SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: TEMPTATION: GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO GLORIFY GOD

(Luke 4:1-13)

Today is the first Sunday of Lent. We are presented with the temptation of Jesus, which is a follow-up from the Baptism episode. The Holy Spirit had descended on Jesus, testifying that He is the beloved, and God is well pleased with Him. Moved by the same Spirit, He made His way to the wilderness not necessarily to be tempted but to reflect on what to do with His anointing, to meditate in a quiet place on how to go about the ministry and to lead the people who have been called upon to listen to Him. He went to ponder on the right choice of companions with whom His mission would be actualized. He was led there for Him to give a thought on how to enhance the growth of the kingdom of God and its reign.

In the same way, the Spirit of God through the Church leads us into the desert to reflect on the price paid for our salvation, to ponder on what we have made out of our

baptismal, confirmation, confessional, eucharistic, ordination, and matrimonial "anointing."

Jesus fasted and prayed for 40 days to be strengthened spiritually to withstand and overcome the various temptations on the way to his realizing the will of God for himself and humanity. We, too, are called upon to make use of these 40 days and nights to examine our appreciation of what Jesus Christ has offered us even in the face of the many trials surrounding us.

To do this, we have to learn from the 3 Temptations of Jesus Christ:

 

TURN STONES INTO BREAD (Oh no!)

You will never be tempted with what you do not need at any point in time. It is at your weakest moment that the tempter strikes your weakest point. He really knows where to strike. Jesus was hungry of food and was tempted with it. But Jesus did not sell His birthright like Esau, who for porridge had to sell. Jesus hungered more about the Heavenly food, namely, to do the will of the One who sent him.

My dear, what's the most appealing apple in your garden?  The tempter would like to tempt you with it like he did to Eve. What's your most loved food? Bread? Yes, the Jews generally loved bread but it could be that Jesus' special love for bread and the great miracle He intends to make of it in the future has been discovered by the tempter who wanted to be the author of transubstantiation thereby making it devilish instead of divine. But Jesus made known to him the source of His inspiration - the mouth of God.

You may be strong in controlling yourself in matters of theft but gullible in resisting sexual temptations. You may be strong in obedience but weak in gossiping. Never allow your weak point to be used by the devil. Be careful.

 

THROW YOURSELF DOWN (God forbid!)

There may be other interpretations of the above, but I wish to see it that no one, not even the devil, has the power of really throwing you down.  Thus, he can only persuade you to do it yourself. He comes to give you reasons for which you should fall away from the grace of God.

Never take the grace of the Lord for granted. Yes, the Lord is merciful and full of compassion, but He frowns at abusing his mercy and love. Every sin attracts a punishment.  Endeavour not to fall. Rise if you have fallen. That's why the Church offers us this good opportunity to fall on our knees in penance, asking for forgiveness for the many sins we have committed by throwing ourselves down to the lowest level in sin.

May you never fall from virtue's height to vice's depth.

 

ALL THESE I WILL GIVE YOU, JUST A SIMPLE BOW (Be gone!)

Can one give what he hasn't? Oh no. This is one of those empty promises of the devil. He steals to give and claims falsely. He demands respect and honour.  I can imagine the devil, the human tempter or the mind telling the tempted one: It is as simple as that, just do it after you ask God for mercy, just hit the money by simply saying yes or no.

Wealth and Mammon are forces we have to battle against to remain faithful. What has the devil to offer? He is a thief who comes to kill, steal, and destroy. But Jesus comes that you may have life and have it in abundance. Worship Him alone.

 

My dear people of God let us thank God for this wonderful opportunity He has offered us this Lenten season. Let us in a very special way learn that every temptation is an opportunity to glorify God and also an opportunity to shame and rebuke the devil. Let's not put God to shame by following the instructions of the enemy. May the devil never take the glory in your life.

Job did not allow that, Joseph in Egypt did not permit such, Jesus in today's Gospel refused to allow it. May Julian, you, you, and you never allow that to happen by the grace of God.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

Gracious Father, we thank You for this period of grace. We adore and glorify You for enabling us to take part in this period of spiritual rejuvenation. Fortify us with the necessary weapons we need to overcome the many forces trying to pull us down, away from Your grace and Holy will for us. May we sustain Your grace as we journey with You into the wilderness through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy First Sunday of Lent

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh