Many of us think that if there is one thing we know about life, it is temptation. We are constantly barraged by it. Modern technology, in fact, not only enhances real time communication but also brings temptation into our homes 24/7. We hardly need our own imagination to bring temptation to us; so many others are willing to do that for us, offering everything from too much human intoxication, to too much flesh.
But if we limit our thinking about temptation at that level, we will miss the object of temptation. It is true that temptation can take the form of gluttony or lust or avarice, but we are motivated to have a better understanding of temptation.
Both the Readings from Genesis and from the Gospel this 1st Sunday of Lent, present us with temptation stories, and exhort us to understand the objective of temptation.
In the 1st Reading, the first man and woman were warned not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And the punishment for doing so would be death. But “the serpent said to the woman, No! You will not die! God knows in fact that on the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing good and evil.” The temptation was not disobedience, but to deny who they were. The man and the woman were not God. They were created by GOD, in complete loving care by GOD. Succumbing to the temptation, they chose to break away from GOD.
Temptation, as we experience it, is not the urge to misbehave, to do what we know that we should not do, but rather the enticement to compromise our basic identity – to be what we were not created to be.
The Gospel about Jesus’ temptation shows the same objective. The devil tries to make Jesus negate His Divine nature and assume human nature only. The three temptations; to turn stone into bread, to throw Himself down from the top of the temple, and, to worship the tempter, are enticements for Jesus Christ to be somebody else, to give up being the Son of GOD, and abandon His salvation mission.
Lent is a time for us to renew our identity as Christians. During this Lenten season thousands of catechumens throughout the world are preparing for their Baptism at Easter - - preparing to take on a new identity. For those of us who are already baptized, our task is to renew our identity as Christians. We are asked to remember who we are, and to act out of that knowledge.
It’s time to look at how GOD has called us in this life. Are we called to marriage, or to a life of single blessedness; to the religious life or to the priesthood? Whatever my basic calling is, I must be true and live to the best of my ability to that calling, serving the good of others. If I am a wife or a husband, a father, a son, a daughter, a religious sister or brother or priest, I should always remember who I am.
It is important to note that the devil does not try to persuade Jesus away from His ministry; he attempts instead to influence how Jesus looks at how He carries out His ministry. Many, if not most of us, will not be tempted to leave our marriage or priesthood or religious life. But we will be tempted to compromise, to cheat on the difficulties of living our vocation - - to be less than faithful to our calling.
Our sanctity can be found within our own vocation. And so during this time of spiritual renewal, let us renew our commitment to living out our calling in the fullest possible way. Husbands and wives are called to examine how they are living their marriage commitment. Priests and religious must look at their own promises to be faithful and loving. And all of us must take a deeper look at what it means to be a baptized follower of Jesus. May we arrive at the celebration of Easter with renewed minds and hearts, ready to rejoice with the risen Christ.
GOD Loves us.
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