1st Sunday of Lent year C: Deut 26:4-10, Ps 90(91):1-2,10-15, Rom 10:8-13, Luke 4:1-13
Have you ever found yourself already eating a tempting food, although you have planned to fast or watch your weight? Have you ever found yourself watching television or glued to your phone, although you planned working on an important project? Or did you ever catch yourself flirting with another person or ‘laying with them’, although you are married or in a serious relationship? Or you found yourself laying with someone, although you have decided to keep chastity until marriage? All these challenging situations require a large amount of willpower and thus puts a person’s self-discipline or self-control to the test.
Only those who try to resist temptations know how strong it is. It is easier to condemn others for being unable to resist temptations, until we find ourselves in similar conditions. And so I ask you: Are you gravely tempted and can’t resist anymore? Listen, I will share with you useful tips to overcome temptations. Continue reading slowly…
Luke 4:1-13
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through the wilderness, being tempted there by the devil for forty days. During that time he ate nothing and at the end he was HUNGRY. Then the devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to turn into a loaf.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Scripture says: Man does not live on bread alone.’
Then leading him to a height, the devil showed him in a moment of time all the kingdoms of the world and said to him, ‘I will give you all this power and the glory of these kingdoms, for it has been committed to me and I give it to anyone I choose. But Jesus answered him, ‘Scripture says: You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.’
Then he led him to Jerusalem and made him stand on the parapet of the Temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said to him ‘throw yourself down from here, for scripture says: He will put his angels in charge of you to guard you, and again: They will hold you up on their hands in case you hurt your foot against a stone.’ But Jesus answered him, ‘It has been said: You must not put the Lord your God to the test.’
Having exhausted all these ways of tempting him, the devil left him, to return at the appointed time.
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Child of God, the temptations of Jesus reminds us of our own temptations. And since Jesus is the only man that did not yield to temptations, we learn from him and tap from the wisdom by which he overcame the Tempter. But first, there are basic things you need to know about temptations:
a. Temptations are not time bound: as long as we are alive on earth we shall be tempted. St Luke says Jesus was tempted for 40 days. In the Bible the number 40 signifies ‘a lifetime’, totality, ‘completeness’ or ‘a period of trial’. After these 40 days temptation, we are told the devil left him, to return at the appointed time.
b. Temptations are not space bound or condition bound: Temptations can come to us anywhere and at anytime, whether in the church, during prayer, at school, work, etc not considering any conditions, whether one is rich or poor, a sinner or righteous. The bible tell us of two locations where Jesus was tempted: in the wilderness which symbolizes the condition of poverty, and in Jerusalem (on the parapet of the Temple) which symbolises the condition of riches and religiosity.
c. Temptations arises from our various ‘HUNGER’: The devil always tempts us from the hunger of our 5 senses of sight, smell, taste, hear and feel. And from other ‘hunger’ like that of power, fame and wealth, as he tempted Jesus.
d. Temptations arise from what God had said to us: The devil is always interested in what God had said, and knows how powerful God’s Word is, because the WORD OF GOD has the ability to transform those who hear it and believe it. But no, the devil wants our destruction hence he distracts us. That is why to tempt Eve the devil asked: “What had God said?” Here again: to tempt Jesus the devil reminds Him twice what the Father said to Him at his baptism: If you are the (Beloved) Son of God, turn these stones to bread; and throw yourself down this cliff!
2. To resist temptations we must, like Jesus:
a. Be filled and led by the Holy Spirit: this is very important because the Holy Spirit reveals hidden things (mysteries) and teaches us all we don’t know (1 Cor 2:9-11). This relationship with the Holy Spirit is kept by constant prayer and meditation.
b. Be filled with the Word of God: Having a good grip of the Word of God is very important in order to respond to the deceptive questions and doubts the Tempter poses to us. Remember the devil knows the Word of God very well. He was once the leader of the angels and had even experienced the real presence of the Word (Jesus) before he was condemned and thrown down (Rev. 12:10). So he knows Jesus more than any human. To resist temptations therefore you must have a koinonia (fellowship) with the Word.
c. Rebuke evil thoughts or suggestions on arrival: The bible tells us to: resist the devil and he will flee from you, draw closer to God and he will draw closer to you (James 4:7-8). As Jesus rebukes satan, we are called to rebuke evil suggestions and thoughts on arrival.
TASK: Today make a resolution before God to make conscious efforts to resist temptations that come daily.
I pray for you: May the Lord supply you strength from above to overcome your daily challenges, in Jesus name. AMEN
Thank you father for this reflections, I just realized once again that the struggle against temptations is a life time tasks because the devil left Jesus for another opportune time. May the Holy Spirit help us to always overcome, amen