LENT I

Matthew 4:1-11

After Jesus was baptized, he was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said, “If you are the Only Begotten, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying, “If you are the Only Begotten, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘God will command the angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus replied, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only God.’” Then the devil left Jesus, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Reflection by Jeremy Langill, Director of Youth Ministry

Forty days and forty nights was an expression often used to convey the experience of a great length of time—today we say, “I waited forever” or “not in a million years.” When Jesus was tempted for forty days and forty nights, it was a way of saying, “Jesus went through a long and difficult ordeal.”

We experience our own “forty days and forty nights” in different ways in our own lives. Sometimes we enter a period of fasting unintentionally—the events of life move us into a space of struggle and reflection. Other times, like during Lent, we are asked to think of ways in which we can purposively sacrifice in order to discern some spiritual truth.

1st Temptation:

Evil said to Jesus, “If you are truly the one who loves and is loved, then quench your hunger and turn this rock into food.”

Jesus said, “There is more to life than food—in fact, life and food itself flows from the very center of God, which is love.”

Do I lead a life of love? Do I love in order to quench my own desires or do I love in order to serve the world around me? Jesus reminds me that what flows from the love of God is far greater than food—it is love itself, which is the activity that binds all things together.

2nd Temptation:

Again, evil said to Jesus, “if you are truly the one who loves and is loved, throw yourself from the top of the temple, because the one who loves you will surely send you help, so that nothing will harm you.”

Jesus replied, “Do not tempt me with the path of ease, ignorance and excess, for the journey of work, understanding and contentment is the one that seeks love first.”

It is easy for me to worry about myself—it’s not hard to remain blind to the excess in my life and my own misplaced sense of entitlement. Do I trust in the right provision that flows from being centered in God, or do I work to secure my own end? Instead of creating for myself, how do I create for others?

3rd Temptation:

A third time, evil said to Jesus, “I will give you every/thing that is in the world to be had if you will only give yourself to me.”

Jesus turned from evil, saying, “I reject the path of destruction and hate! I will only give myself to God, and in so doing, will serve/love all that is in the world with me.”

Who has the ability to give me every/thing? In my ignorance, do I vainly seek it? To whom and what do I freely give my love?

The temptations remind me to allow love to work within me, so that in our experience of life we focus on the love of God in all creation, not just in ourselves.