At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
Mt 4:1-11
LITURGICAL NOTES
Lent is called Quaresima or Kwaresma because it is 40-day period of prepara-tion for Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Maundy Thursday before the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The Sundays of Lent are not included in the 40-day period because Sunday is always a celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection. In fact, it can not be a day of penance.
The time from the Lord’s Supper till before the Easter Vigil is called the Easter Triduum.
What are the practices that create the atmosphere of Lent? The imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, the liturgical color of violet, the removal of the alleluia and in some places the omission of flowers and of the accompaniment of musical instruments. In addition, we are invited to do the 3 traditional Lenten practices, namely, prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
BIBLICAL NOTES
At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
It was believed that the desert is the home of the devil. Jesus went to the desert to begin his fight against the forces of evil. This is the reason why the monks of old went to the desert. This is also the reason behind the practice described in the book of Leviticus for the Day of Atonement: “But the goat determined by lot for Azazel he shall set alive before the LORD, so that with it he may make atonement by sending it off to Azazel in the desert” (Lev 16:10). This goat is called the scapegoat.
Why did Matthew relate the temptation of Jesus?
The answer can be found in Hebrews 4:15: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.” The answer. First, Jesus is truly a human being like us. Of course, he is also truly God. Second, Jesus can relate to us. He can understand what we are going through.
He fasted for forty days and forty nights.
40 is a favourite biblical number. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years. After Jesus rose from the dead, he stayed 40 days more on earth before as-cending into heaven. Elijah walked 40 days and 40 nights until he arrived at Mt. Horeb. On the other hand, Moses went without food for 40 days and 40 nights on Mount Sinai. Again this detail shows Jesus to be the new Moses according to St. Matthew’s gospel.
What was the temptation all about?
The devil was trying to make Jesus become a Savior in a way that is different from what the Father wanted. In other words, the devil wanted Jesus to disobey the Father’s will. That was what the devil did to Adam and Eve. He succeeded in making them disobey God.
Was this the last time the devil tried to make Jesus disobey the Father’s will?
No. St. Luke says: “When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.” In other words, the devil returned some other time. Let us see those instances.
“If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.”
The next time bread was used to tempt Jesus was when he multiplied bread for the multitude. In John 6:14-15 we read: “When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world." Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.” Jesus did not fall into the tempta-tion of becoming a Savior by becoming an earthly king.
“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.”
The next time Jesus was tempted to make use of a mighty deed was at Calvary. Mark 15:32: “Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Of course, Jesus did not come down from the cross.
TURN TO ME WITH ALL YOUR HEARTS
1. Reconciliation. Magbalik-loob.
Lent is a time for repentance and conversion. But it is more than that. It is a time to heal our relationship with God, to be reconciled with him, magbalik-loob sa kanya. In other words, it is not just behavior-oriented. It is above all God-centered. For example, I am tired when I reach home. So I don’t check anymore if my son has studied his lessons or finished his homework. From now on I will check my son’s student diary. Why am I doing this? Not only because it is wrong for a parent not to supervise his or her son’s education. But also because God wants me to take responsibility for my son’s education.
2. Whole-hearted. Not half-hearted.
Our reconciliation / pagbabalik-loob must be whole-hearted, not half-hearted/ There must be a firm decision to change one’s behaviour and to nurture one’s relationship with God. For example, I will not say: “Starting next month I will work the full hours that I am expected to work.” Instead, I will say: “Starting tomorrow….” For example, in order to remember God ever y day, I will make the sign of the cross when I leave the house and when I return.
3. Your whole heart.
There was an advertisement a long time ago. And it says: “I want one-third of your life.” It’s an advertisement for a mattress. It’s different with God. He is not satisfied with one-third. He wants one whole. 100%.
When God tells us that he wants us to love him with our whole heart, does it mean that since we already love him with 100% of our heart there is nothing left for others? Certainly not. I think that what he means is that he wants a love that comes not from the lips but from the heart. In other words, he wants true love. He also wants us to love others with our whole heart, that is, with true love.
Let me tell you a real story of how true love can sometimes make us do something heroic.
Many, many years ago we were at the Methodist church at Kalaw St. near the Luneta. We were there to bury my cousin. He drowned. They were having an ex-cursion somewhere in Lingayen, I think. My cousin died young. But he died a very meaningful (and if I may say, a Christ-like death).
You see they were playing along the shore of the beach. A huge wave came without them aware of it. And they were carried away from the shore--he, his dad, his twin brother and his cousin. His dad could carry only two boys back to shore. My cousin told his dad to get hold of his cousin. His cousin was an only son. He was conceived and born after many years of medical consultation and interven-tion. And because of that his cousin lived and my cousin drowned.
A boy of 13 or 14 capable of a heroic deed! In the eulogy his mom testified that he had welcomed Christ into his life. And maybe that was why he was able to put into practice the words of Christ: "No greater love a man has than to lay down his life for his friends."
Perhaps we will never be called to give up our lives for another. But we certainly will always be called to use our lives in the service of others. But that will only be possible if we are capable of loving with our whole heart.
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The Salesians of Don Bosco is a religious congregation of priests and brothers dedicated to the welfare of the young. If you feel called by God to give your life for the good of the young, you may want help in discovering if this is really God's will for you. Please get in touch with the Vocation Director (Don Bosco North Province, Philippines) - 0917-7930112 - finvoc@yahoo.com - Bro. MON CALLO SDB.
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