Our readings this morning seem both very familiar and sometimes very simple. But if we really look at them, they tell us a whole lot about Salvation History – that is, how we are to get to Heaven. In a very real way, they answer for us a key question for our lives– What’s your Deal?
Our first reading from Genesis is the story of Man’s Fall. At the beginning of the reading, Adam and Eve are in the Garden—they enjoy a unique and beautiful relationship with God. At the end, through falling for the lies of Satan, the Father of all lies, they are outcast and in need of redemption. This is the beginning of our Salvation History. Man has fallen. How will man be redeemed? What’s the deal?
The deal, as we know, is that our Heavenly Father will send His only begotten Son to take on mortal flesh, suffer and die—and rise from the dead to conquer death and redeem us all. So, man fell through one sin resulting in the condemnation of all. But, through the actions of one, the many are redeemed. This is the message of our second reading where Paul writes to the Romans exactly what the deal was for human redemption.
And the first part of the Son’s public ministry is played out in our Gospel today. We hear the story of 40 days Jesus spent in the desert. Here Jesus is tempted by the one and the same Satan that led to humanity’s downfall in Eden.
It is interesting to compare the three temptations Jesus faces with those of Eve. First, Jesus is offered food. Recall that in Eden, Eve saw that the fruit of the tree was good to eat. She was tempted with food for the body and the soul- by being told it would make her like God. Jesus, as God is all knowing. He sees through the evil of Satan and remembers that the Father will always provide for His needs. He soundly rejects the temptation Eve fell to. Next, Jesus is challenged to tempt God by throwing himself off a height and looking for God to send angels to protect him. Once again, Jesus knows God will always protect Him and has no need to prove this. Yet Adam and Eve were tempted to eat of the tree to become like God and be able to know the difference themselves rather then depend on God to protect them from evil. They fell to this temptation. Finally, Jesus is tempted with Glory. In exchange for his worship, the devil promises Jesus rule over cities—and the glory that comes with it. Jesus knows the Glory of the Father, and soundly rejects this temptation. Once again, Adam and Eve fall to the temptation to be like God. We know as Christians we are all called to Glory in Heaven. So, each of Christ’s temptations are, in a way, reflective of the temptations of Adam and Eve. Remember, of course that temptation is not sin, falling to temptation leads to sin. So while the first parents brought sin into the world by falling to temptation, Jesus overcomes sin by refusing that temptation. So, what’s the deal here? It seems clear. While we all may be tempted to sin, the righteous who do not fall to sin choose the better path—the same path as Jesus.
The age old calling of Lent is to practice Prayer, Sacrifice and Almsgiving. Prayer is the means we have to talk to our God. Through regular prayer, we build a relationship with Jesus and the Father. We may do his through intercession to various saints who will help to lead us to a path that recognizes the lies and of the evil one and the path to God. It is a strong tool to use when faced with temptation, before it turns us to sin.
No one ever promised the road to follow Jesus would be free from temptation—or always easy. In fact, Jesus said we would each have to tale up our own crosses and follow Him. Avoidance of temptation does not guarantee us an easy life. In fact, it will probably call on us to sacrifice.
Finally, none of us are completely free of sin—only Jesus and Mary were. And so, sin is in our world today. It is exemplified by the pain and suffering of others. Similarly, those actively trying to battle sin—be they lay or clergy—try to fight ignorance of sin—like our current culture of death. Or they may try to bring Christ to those suffering or longing to hear His Good News. In all these cases, almsgiving—giving to the poor or donating to help spread that Good News may be what we are called to do.
Prayer, sacrifice and almsgiving. Our Lent may be filled with one, two or all three of these—it all depends on our particular circumstances of life—and where we are in our own spiritual journey. But, just as Adam and Eve failed in the Garden and Jesus won in the desert, it is up to us to choose our own tools during this holy season to combat the lies of Satan in our own lives. So, for you, what’s the deal here? How will you combat evil in your own way? As we begin this season of Lent, it is truly something to think about this week. God Bless!
