First Sunday of Lent (C)

March 10, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Deuteronomy 26: 4-10

Psalm: 91

Second Reading: Romans 10: 8-13

Gospel reading according to Luke 4: 1-13

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Homily: The Temptations of Jesus

After baptizing by John in the River Jordan, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus; and filled with the same Holy Spirit was brought by him in the desert to be tempted by Satan as tests of his faithfulness as Son of God to God his Father.  “Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil” (Lk. 4: 1-2).  With the Holy Spirit in him, Jesus stayed in the desert for forty days and forty nights, praying and fasting, at the same time being tempted by the devil and/or evil spirit.

As part of his tests, he has not eaten any food or drank water to reduce his hunger and thirst.  “He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry” (Lk. 4: 2).  After forty days and forty nights, the last day of his fasting and prayer, he became more hungry and thirsty.  But, he survived.

The first temptation of Jesus, turning the stone into bread, by using his power.  The devil took this opportunity when Jesus finished his abstaining from food; he tempted Jesus to turn the stone into bread to eat and fill his stomach by stone (and not of wheat or rice).  “The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread’.” (Lk. 4: 3).  The devil, Satan, tempted Jesus by using the trick, “if you are truly the Son of God,” commanded Jesus to turn the stone into bread.  Bread (made of wheat or flour) is the stable and constant food in any house, of rich and poor alike, as rice for us Filipinos and Asians.  Everybody eats bread/rice.  But, in the case of the first temptation of Jesus, using the trick, “if you are . . .,” it is different.  Jesus is making small by the devil, and Satan was thinking he is more superior to Jesus.  Jesus in spite of his weak body due to fasting for forty days was able to confront Satan, the father of lies. How can you eat a stone?  “Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, One does not live by bread alone’.” (Lk. 4: 4).  Any one is not living by bread alone, “but by every word of God” (Lk. 4: 4). Most often Satan is offering his victim material things that do not last long.  Bread here is either wealth, or treasure, gold and silver, money which is also called bread and mammon, etc. that makes one separate from God for it brings ambitions and greed, yet temporary satisfaction.  Jesus knew very well what Satan meant when he said “command this stone to become bread.”  Satan was tempting Jesus to use his power and as a Son of God.  Jesus can say to Satan, that God is our Bread of Life, the One that gives life.    

The Second Temptation of Jesus. Satan did not win in tempting Jesus to use his power and his trick of as “the Son of God” in commanding the stone to turn into bread, so he used another trick, Satan the father of lies, by promising to give to Jesus all the kingdoms here on earth.  “Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.  The devil said to him, ‘I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish.  All this will be yours, if you worship me’.” (Lk. 4: 5-7). Like a big screen, in a single instant and on the spot, the devil shown to Jesus all the kingdoms here and in every corner of the earth.  Satan was amiable as to his cohorts that all these kingdoms have been handed over to him.  And, he was willing to give them all to whom he likes to give them, especially to those who are willing to sell their souls in exchange of this kingdom.  These, all kingdoms, he offered to Jesus just to worship him.  Satan (or Lucifer, an Angel of Light) was an ambitious fallen angel who wanted to become equal if not subsume God his Creator. When God told him to serve man, he rebelled and fought against God, angels, and man.  Now, he took this opportunity, when man, Jesus, was weak physically but not spiritually.  He wanted this man, Jesus, to worship him and serve him, to get even to God and to disobey God’s command.  “Jesus said to him in reply, ‘It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve’.” (Lk. 4: 8).  Jesus knew his intention. This was Satan’s long wish since the creation of the world, that man serves him and worships him. But, Jesus true Son of God worships the Lord, his God and Father, and him alone shall he serves.

The third but not the last temptation, for Satan will tempt again Jesus when he will be hanging on the Cross.  This time, Satan brought Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem, in the parapet of the temple, to drop himself down or hurl him down from the top of the Temple in order the people inside and out of the Temple might see the amazing landing of Jesus straight up without any bruises or wounds or broken bones; for according to Satan the angels of God will assist him in his landing on the floor of the Temple unharmed “lest you dash your foot against the stone.”   “Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against the stone’.” (Lk. 4: 9-11).  With his trick, “if you are the Son of God,” Satan was commanding Jesus to throw down his self from the top of the Temple.  He said also to Jesus that God his Father will immediately send his angels and catch him as he is falling down, but actually Satan was referring to himself about the angel who will lift him down; of which the falling down of Jesus would seems like a leaf slowly and gently dropping down, “parang iniindayog lang ng hangin pakaliwa’t pakanan pababa,” up to landing his feet on the ground so as not to dash his foot against the stone “hindi matatalisod sa bato.”  Satan wanted the people to see this astonishing apparition so that they will adulate and revere Jesus in Satan’s undertaking and not by God the Father himself.  “Jesus said to him in reply ‘It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test’.” (Lk. 4: 12).  Jesus reminded Satan of precept told to him long time ago, for he already put to test God before when he was the Angel of Light; never test God’s power, charity, responsibility, and capacity for it was great and magnificent.  No one can fathom the depth, height, width, length and the strength of God.  As if Jesus was telling Satan do not put him to the test for he is Lord, his God.

Jesus defeated Satan to his tests and temptations on him, despite of being weak in body due to long fasting and praying.  He proved to himself that he is truly faithful as the Son of God and of man.  “When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time” (Lk. 4: 13).   In the end, Satan left Jesus in the desert, the man whom he hated and caused of his rebellion against God, but will come again in due time.