Ps 90:1-2.10-12
Romans 10:8-13
Luke 4:1-13
TEMPTED, YET NOT DEFILED
Lent is here again! Lent is a period to deepen our relationship with God through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is a time to reflect on and renew ourselves, a time to start afresh, to return to the Lord. It is a time of penance and conversion. Traditionally, the gospel of the first Sunday of Lent speaks of the temptation of Jesus (Luke 4:1-13). This is to tell us that there are many temptations that await us during this season of grace. But just as Jesus resisted the devil, we too should not give in to the solicitations of the devil.
Today’s first reading presents the creed of the Jews. This profession of faith is a kind of anamnesis, a remembering of their history from the patriarchs to their establishment on the Promised Land. And this profession of their faith was made during the offering of the first-fruits to the Lord so as to acknowledge and give thanks to him for his wondrous deeds (Deut. 26:4-10). For St Paul, to believe and profess that God raised the Lord Jesus up from the dead brings justification and salvation. Thus, anyone who proclaims Jesus as Lord and calls on his name will not be put to shame, but shall be saved (Rom. 10:8-13).
The story of Jesus’ temptation has much to teach us. First, no one can escape temptation. Temptation is everywhere and has no respect for status or position. Second, the devil tempts us on our weakest point and can easily seduce us to fall into his traps. The desire for food, pleasure, power and fame are common human attractions.
Third, to be able to resist the temptation, we must counter him firmly with the Word of God. Lastly, when we are tempted, we have a choice to make, depending on whether we know our identity and mission as Christians or not. Jesus was able to withstand the devil because he knew his identity and mission. May he help us to resist temptations that may come our way especially during this season of grace.
Amen
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