1st Sunday of the Lent – The Temptations of Jesus (Mt 4: 1-11)
Introduction
- Some Corrections
o What is the theme of today’s Gospel passage? Is it temptation of Jesus? No, it is the victory of Jesus over the Temptations. The emphasis is on the Victory.
o What are temptations? Is it ‘the occasions that invites us to sin’? No, it is the occasion to show our trust and faith in Jesus and His Words.
o The first two ways of looking at may be of the Old Testament while the other two is of the New Testament. – Story of Adam and Eve, David, Solomon, Israelites. They all fell in the temptation. But Jesus became victorious.
o We are the New Testament people therefore participating in the victory of Jesus over temptations.
Content
- Why these three temptations? Old Testament background…
o Jesus’ entire life was in essence a reliving of the history of Israel in the Old Testament. After escaping the bondage of Egypt, the children of Israel, during their 40 years in the wilderness, failed at three major temptations. Their first failure was refusing to trust God for their daily bread. They grumbled and blamed Moses for bringing them out from the “comfort” of their bondage in Egypt (Exodus 16). Their second failing involved their lack of trust to provide water for them (Exodus 17), and lastly the children of Israel broke their faith in God with the worship of the golden calf (Exodus 32).
o First temptation – of food – basic necessity of life. It is similar to the first temptation of Israel who refused to trust to God for their daily bread.
o Second temptation – on the trust in God. Israel did not trust in God for what they needed. Jesus was told to jump to prove this trust that he will be guarded by angels.
o Third temptation – Israelites worshiped the Golden Calf – devil told to Jesus to adore him.
- Temptations increase with the new technologies
o Eg: study shows that use of facebook make the people less faithful to their partners.
o Temptations through internet, television, etc…
o What ever reduces the presence of God in us is a temptation – ego, over attachment towards something or someone, lust, gluttony, etc…
Conclusion
- Let us go back to the first two corrections / statements
- More than a temptation of Jesus it is the victory of Jesus over the Temptations. The emphasis is on the Victory. How Jesus became victories?
o Word of God
§ One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
§ You shall not put the Lord, your God, to test.
§ The lord, your God, shall you worship/and him alone shall you serve.
o Lent is a time get strengthened by the Word of God
o Jesus fasted 40 days
§ 1. Fast from anger and hatred
§ 2. Fast from judging others
§ 3. Fast from discouragement
§ 4. Fast from complaining
§ 5. Fast from resentment or bitterness
§ 6. Fast from spending too much money
- Let us try to be victorious over the temptations by the power of Word and Fasting, and be part of the New Testament.
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