24 Feb 2017
First Sunday of Lent
In the desert, Jesus is confronted with many temptations. Hunger and thirst, and the emptiness and quietness of the desert strip away all that stands between Jesus and his deepest self.
Just before Jesus was driven out into the desert, his Father told him at the Jordan that he was the Father’s beloved son. Rooted in the Father’s love, Jesus is able to face parts of himself that as a human being he might prefer to ignore.
The loaves of bread symbolise all those things we can put our trust in, such as food, money, and possessions. Jesus puts his trust in God’s Word instead.
Next, he is tempted to have power over others, to carry out his mission by lording it over others. Yet he rejected this path also. His path led to the cross, not to a throne.
The temptation to throw himself off the tower could be a temptation to live his life always looking for the most intense experiences. Sometimes, such desires can lead us to harm ourselves or others. On occasion, this temptation can lead to addiction.
Jesus rejected all these temptations. He put his trust in the love of his Father and chose the way of humble service.
This Lent, we are invited into the desert to face ourselves, to realise that the Father loves us also, warts and all, and to reject our own temptations in favour of the way of Jesus.
Fr. Con O’Connell MSC