March 9, 2014

1^st Sunday of Lent A

Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4: 1-11
Lent has begun. Jesus went to John in the wilderness section of the Jordan River to be baptized. John’s father was a priest but John was certainly not in any way connected to the Jewish priesthood. He was not associated with any specific ‘group’ within Judaism. He was a loner and by today’s understanding, an eccentric. He was fiercely austere who denied himself food and drink, surviving on wild honey and locusts (which were often the staple diet of the poor.) More importantly than his looks was his preaching: he constantly challenged the complacent and the religiously secure. His words echoed a very harsh reality the prophets spoke on: “Do not presume to say to yourselves...” how easily I can fill in the rest of this sentence...I’m a Catholic...I’m a priest...I do my prayers...I follow the rules...so I must be doing what is right in God’s eyes. Yet John called for a radical conversion and a change of heart.
And Jesus came to be baptized by John. John said that “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me. I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” There is no indication that at this time John knew what would be happening. The whole literature of the prophets kept on repeating a reminder to the people of God’s faithfulness: “I will be your God, you will be My people”...I will be faithful, always. The people were constantly unfaithful, preferring their way to God’s way. John insisted that real holiness was not just a matter of attention to the inner life, but of loving concern for those in need. I am loved, by God, each person is; my role is to love as God loves. The bottom line is that “we think we know what is best for us, but God in His mercy knows better.” I need God and I must allow God to transform me.
This is what happened in Jesus’ life; He was such a charismatic person that they wanted Him to be the Messiah they wanted Him to be. They wanted Rome driven out. These were a temptation to Jesus (from the people and the devil)—take the easy way out, accept the hero worship of the crowd. This was their way, not God’s. God’s domain has nothing to do with power or supremacy. The temptation to power...It is all about God and not about me. Jesus constantly was tempted to yield to popular flattery, ‘Go ahead, and be easy on yourself...God really doesn’t expect you to be that sincere...that honest...that kind...take care of yourself.’ How easily those temptations have filled my life. Jesus said, ‘NO’.
Jesus was tempted to stop fasting and praying in preparation for His mission—‘make it easy on yourself, and turn stones into bread.’ How easy it is to give in...how easy it is to do it my way...how unfortunate it is when I do this and not realize that life is nourished by the Spirit, not only a good meal. It is the Spirit who is leading me to be open, to care, to respond to one in need, to love and to be loved.
Then the devil took Jesus to a view of the holy city tempting Him to show how God will care for Him by having the angels save Him when He jumps. This is what happened in the desert...the people did not trust God; they doubted His care for them. Don’t I do that too when I say, ‘Now why did this happen to me...what did I do to deserve this...haven’t I been good?’ This shows my total lack of faith, again wanting to do it my way.
Then the last temptation is the one to use worldly power to accomplish a political goal. Satan is making the offer of giving earthly kingdoms as if they were his to give. How does the devil lure me: it is always to give in...to do it the easy way...to be concerned about me and not about others...to not care for people God has placed in my life and to selfishly to hoard the gifts and talents.

Donald Spoto in The Hidden Jesus, A New Life says this: “The Gospels reiterate that the entire ministry of Jesus was hedged round with inducements to ease instead of sacrifice, to power instead of poverty of spirit. As late as His last meal, Jesus spoke with wary gratitude to His closest disciples: ‘You are those who have stood by Me in my trials.’ Those trials and temptations virtually defined the entire arc of His life—not only the lure of social-political power, but also the occasional efforts even by His friends to deter Jesus from His difficult but destined road, to encourage Him to seek comfort above commitment.

Behind the primitive narrative lies the tradition that Jesus drew His growing self-understanding from constant reflection on God’s word. He would be the faithful son and servant...Evil had suggested that Jesus subscribe to a brand of false, political messianism that, He knew was contrary to the will of God. But Jesus did not falter.”
The gospel writers say that Jesus ‘went about doing good.’ What a wonderful Lenten message for me. Msgr. Chet Michael constantly says that the three ever present temptations of the devil are to Power, Possessions and Pleasure. What am I to do to counteract these daily temptations in my life? Msgr. Chet says that the opposite of power is prayer; the opposite of possessions is almsgiving and the opposite of pleasure is fasting. So I ask and reflect on:

• Am I devoting myself to quality time of prayer and of the prayer of listening each day to God’s interaction in my life?
  
• Am I seeing that I have been gifted and I am to share especially more so during this season of thanksgiving and praise?
  
• Am I doing those little daily sacrifices that are building up in me the habit of saying, ‘No I don’t need that now...I’ll sacrifice and offer it up for someone I know who needs a little boost today?’
  
• What other sort of actions can I undertake in order to make Lent a time in which I let God’s grace work in my life?
  
• In reflecting, do I see that I am led to desolate places where I find temptation, places such as despair, sadness, envy?
  
• Do I allow myself to drift into places and circumstances where temptation is more likely to happen?
  
• St Ignatius Loyola said, “Love manifests itself in deeds more than words.” St. John of the Cross says, “In the evening of life, we will be examined in love.”
  

Lord, help me in loving these holy days!