Lent is a special extended time we are given to work on our relationship with God through prayer and penance, and to prepare to celebrate God’s saving work through the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. For us as Catholic Christians, our spiritual life — our relationship with God — should be the most important area of our life.
This relationship with God is personal and communal. The readings for this first Sunday of Lent speak to us about the individual and communal perspectives of this relationship.
Psalm 51 speaks to the individuality of sin and salvation: “Have mercy on me O God, … wipe out my offense.” The reading from Romans also speaks to both aspects of sin. Sin entered the world through one man and mankind was restored through one (v17). It also reflects two aspects of the communal nature of sin. We all are subject to death because we all have sinned (v18). Death came to all of us through the transgression of Adam and we all gained acquittal through one person, Jesus Christ.
In Genesis we see another example how the idea of sin is not just individual. It isn’t until Eve and Adam have both eaten of the apple that their eyes are opened and they realize they have sinned. Sometimes we only realize we’ve done something wrong when we lead others to sin.
The Gospel speaks to our relationship with God from an individual perspective in the person of Jesus and communally in us. Jesus encounters Satan while in a weakened physical state due to a 40-day fast in the desert. We encounter Satan in a weakened state because of sin. The Church encounters Satan weakened by its members.
The three temptations represent things Jesus faced in his humanity and that we also face. The first temptation, changing stones into bread, is about pleasure, things of the flesh. The second is about power and being presumptuous that we have the power to call on God, to supplant God’s will with our will.
In the third temptation, Satan offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence. This temptation is about things of the heart, the pride in our possessions, their value and quantity.
While the temptations are aimed at the human side of Jesus, the response of Jesus
to each temptation draws us to the spiritual aspect of each one. We live by the word of God, not things of the flesh. We should not test the Lord by putting ourselves in positions in which we expect or demand God’s action. It isn’t worldly possessions we should put first in our hearts; rather it should be things of heaven.
Reflecting upon these temptations might give us insight into our relationship with God and give us ideas as to what we can work on this Lent. How well do we know the word of God? Do we follow the will of God in our lives, or do we put our will first?
If we are more focused on earthly things rather than things of heaven, how can we change that focus? How can we improve our relationship with God?
Deacon Christopher Colville serves at Church of the Redeemer, Mechanicsville.