1st Sunday of Lent - Temptation in the Desert

About 50 years ago, when the Church met in the great event we now know as the Second Vatican Council.  They began a reform of the liturgy.  One of those reforms made some serious changes to our readings at mass.  While in the past there was only a single year's cycle of readings.  The council decided it was important to look at how much of the scripture we read at mass.  They radically expanded the amount of the bible covered at mass.  Rather than a single year of readings, they decided on a 3 year cycle of Sunday readings.  Yet, with all of those changes.  The readings we use for Lent were so ancient, and put together so specifically, that they made up an exception.  We use these readings every time we are in year A, and we use them every year at masses for catechumens, those preparing to enter the Church.  That's significant, and so we should pay close attention to how these readings really fit together.

This Sunday, as we begin the lenten season, we hear about temptation.  In the first reading, we hear the story of the fall, as Adam and Eve are tempted by the serpent, and give into that temptation.  In The Gospel, we hear about Jesus, who is tempted by the Devil with things that while to us seem bigger and bigger, from Jesus's perspective seem smaller and smaller.  As he responds to each of the Devil's temptations, he moves forward, and away from his grasp.

Then, in second reading from Paul, we realize what ties it all together.  Just as through one man, Adam, sin entered into the world, so too through one man Jesus, redemption from sin came into the world.  So Jesus, in a real way, does for us what we can't really do for ourselves.

In the first reading, we hear about the fall.  Notice how little it took for Adam and Eve to really be tempted and fall.  Think about how curious little kids are.  Even for us as adults, think how tempting it is when we're told not to do something.  Especially, when the serpent says, "God's keeping something away from you.  He doesn't want you to have it"  He know if you eat it, you'll be like him.  While we certainly recognize that they shouldn't have done it, I think we also recognize how tempting it must have been.  Then, once they sinned, I think we know the rest of the story, and they continued down the path, through the story of Cain and Able, and eventually through the flood with Noah.

On the other hand…keep that story of the garden in mind when we think about the temptations of Jesus in the Desert.  Jesus had been fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, then, we hear the understatement of all understatements.  After fasting for 40 days and 40 nights….Jesus was hungry.  So the devil hits him where he's most vulnerable.  He tries to temp Jesus to turn the rocks into bread.  Do a miracle just to satisfy yourself.  It had to be tempting.  Yet, Jesus stood strong, and responded back to the Devil.  Yet, look at what happens after that.  Then, the Devil takes him to the top of the temple and says…jump off, if you're the son of God, the angles will catch you.  I don't know about you, but if I'm standing on the top of the temple, and somebody tells me to jump off and have faith, just because he said so, I'm gonna look at him and say…..um….why?   even if I do believe I'll be fine….why exactly do you want me to try this?  What exactly is that going to prove to anyone.  Why put on a magic show that's not really for anyone's benefit?  I don't know about you, but when I got to the top of a tall building, I'm not exactly tempted to jump off…   Then, The devil takes him to the top of a very high mountain, and tries to tempt the son of God, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, by saying "All these I will give to you if you prostrate yourself and worship me."   Does he realize who he's talking to?  Can't we picture Jesus saying to him….um….what are you talking about? They're already mine?  Not just them, but everything in heaven, on earth, and all of creation belongs to God.  How exactly is the devil going to give him a couple of cities….let alone the whole world, when it already belongs to Jesus in the first place.  It's ridiculous.

But that's exactly the point.  In the Garden, once sin started to take hold, it got worse and worse.  The devil gained more and more power over us.  We became more and more enslaved to sin.  Through one man, sin entered into the world.  This story in the Desert, is exactly the reverse.  The first temptation was real, after that, they started to have less, and less, and less appeal, until finally, the devil tries to offer Jesus something he things is incredible, when in reality, Jesus can look at that so called gift and simple say…..Seriously?  That's the best you've got?.  Through one man, sin entered into the world, and through one man, salvation from sin entered the world.

It's the same story for us with temptation.  Once we get over that first hump, once we get our life going in the right direction, we really can reach a point where certain sins just aren't appealing anymore.  I often hear from people who have cleaned up their diet, that now, some of those fatty foods simply aren't even appealing anymore, and if they eat them…they end up getting sick.  It's the same way with in and temptation.  Yes, there are always places we need to improve, yes there are always places where we sin, but when we reject sin in a real way…when we really do Repent and believe in the Gospel, once we get ourselves headed in the right direction, sometimes we can look back at where we were, and knowing what it's like, in many respects, it's not even tempting anymore.