Homily for the Week of March 9, 2014

First Sunday in Lent, 2014

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7  Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17  Romans 5:12-19 or 5: 12, 17-19

 Matthew 4:1-11

         Today’s first reading tells us the story of creation of our first parents, their temptation and their making bad choices. This is not a documentary of what happened one or two million years ago. it is more like story that helps us to understand the problem of evil.  God created us to be happy.   This is indicated by the Garden of Eden.  This story of Adam and Eve tells us the beginning of evil which is when we give in to temptations. The story shows us that when we do this we bring suffering upon ourselves. But the good news is that Jesus can save us.    Given today's stories about Adam and Eve and Jesus and the Devil we might call this Temptation Sunday.  Most of you may not realize that each time we pray the Lord's Prayer, we say lead us not into temptation. We are asking God not to allow us to enter into any situations in which we might be tempted to do something wrong or sinful.

         God gave Adam and Eve everything necessary for happiness.  Life with God in the Garden of Eden was perfect.  God's only rule was simple: DO NOT EAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE OF LIFE NOR FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL.  But God gave Adam and Eve a choice, what we call free will. Adam and Eve chose to do what they wanted to do.  Sin is thinking we know better than God.  Temptations let us question whether we live according to God's way or our way.  

         God warned Adam and Eve that death would result if His request was disobeyed.  The devil tempted them and they disobeyed and death came.  When Adam and Eve sinned they no longer trusted God.  So they were expelled from the garden.  This was not just a punishment, but it was God telling them that he could no longer trust them to do what was right.

         Temptation is always a matter of thinking we can be happier without God’s direction or help. Temptations of any kind are invitations to do some things which are not good for us,  Our conscience tells us we should not do it.  But we give in because we expect to get some pleasure or reward as the result of giving in. Specifically, a temptation is a test to see if we will be loyal to God. Let us look at temptations in our own life.  Some of us may believe that certain things or actions will make us look better, sound better, be more popular. Most of us allow ourselves to be deceived constantly. After all, there would be no advertisements if advertisers did not think they could tempt us to change our mind. 

         Most of us aren't faced every day with temptations that lead us to commit mortal or deadly sins. We usually face smaller temptations. The worse deception of all is when we become convinced that some of our actions do not matter. What's a little white lie here or there?  What's an overly indulgent late night just once in a while? What's wrong with being selfish ever now and then? Who really cares if we are not too concerned about our health? Unfortunately, giving in to one temptation puts us on the wrong road. It is easier for us to give in again and again. The little white lie can lead to a bigger lie, and then an even bigger lie, all to cover up the first little lie.  We are decendants of Adam and Eve and so have a little of their genes.us chose human death so that he could be completely one with us.

         In today’s Gospel Jesus refuses to give in to temptation. It is contrasted with the first reading where Adam and Eve did give in. It tells us how Jesus was tempted by the devil while he was in the desert. St. Matthew shows us something of the inner structure of evil, of how it works in our desires for power and control, for comfort, for most anything that gives our egos a boost. Jesus had been in the desert with little food and water. This long fast and solitude do not protect Jesus from being tempted; they may even have left him more vulnerable. But his spiritual life gave him the strength, in the midst of upheaval and struggle, to remain true to himself, and God. The devil tempted Jesus in three areas of his life -- in fact, very much like us when we are tempted. We could call  them the three P’s of temptation: PLEASURE, POPULARITY, AND POWER.

         Jesus first temptation is Pleasure.  After fasting in the desert for 40 days, Jesus must have been desperately hungry.  The devil wants Jesus to command these stones to be turned into bread.  

         His second temptation is Popularity. Throw yourself down and the crowds will love you It is the temptation to take on impossible risks and challenges because we think we cannot ultimately fail and others will know us for what we did rather than why we did it.  

         His third temptation is a desire for Power  and control over others. The devil wants Jesus to worship him in exchange for unlimited power and control.  And believe it or not that is where the devil usually gets us.  We think we are in control and can control everything all by ourselves. We are convinced that everyone and everything is for our own selfish desires and needs. And when we are challenged by this we then start lying or blaming others.

         How  can we keep our desires for pleasure, popularity, and power in tune with Jesus?  By beginning today to make Lent a time of prayer and reflection. This Lent we must face our capacity for self-centeredness. We must face our selfish desire to make our own decisions about what is right and what is wrong. Lent is a time for us to do well what we must do. If you are married be the best husband or wife; if you are a mother or father, be the best mother or father; be the best son or daughter; be the best student, or the best in your work.  Our traditional practice of giving up something for Lent is an attempt to return to the basics, and to rid ourselves of some of the things that complicate our lives.  During Lent our spiritual challenge is to notice the booby traps which we stumble into.