March 5, 2017
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
Joining Christ in the Desert
Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Rom 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19; Mt 4:1-11
First Reading: Genesis reminds us today that original sin truly is pride — or trying to equate ourselves to God. Eve is tempted by the serpent to disobey the command of God, and when she and Adam eat of the forbidden fruit, they immediately know shame and fear — the byproducts of sin.
Second Reading: Paul writes in Romans that Jesus is in fact "the new Adam," the only one who could undo the first sin of disobedience through his perfect sacrifice. Original sin, Paul reminds us, brought condemnation and death to humanity. Consequently, only through the blood of Christ and his perfect obedience to the will of the Father could atonement, forgiveness and eternal life be given.
Gospel Reading: Following his baptism, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the desert for 40 days, where he is tempted by the devil. Jesus undertakes his journey prior to his ministry of proclaiming the kingdom of God. Jesus is presented with three temptations seeking to manifest his divinity, but each time, Jesus rebukes the devil. He quotes from Deuteronomy to demonstrate his fidelity to his Father and God's covenant. The theme of this testing in the wilderness portrays Jesus' perfect obedience to God as the fulfillment of the disobedient Israelites who wandered for 40 years.
Homily
Why is sin is so alluring? Usually, we all have good intentions to do our best and to accept the will of God, but oftentimes we fail, because we are inclined to follow our passions and let pride get in the way.
We live in a world of distraction and noise, and on many occasions, it can be hard to hear God's call and know how to act accordingly. Our readings on this First Sunday of Lent instruct us to use Jesus Christ as our model of discipleship and obedience to God — and his plan for us.
Genesis reminds us that the first sin of our parents was failing to listen to God. Adam and Eve allowed worldly pleasure and selfish ambition to encroach upon their perfect relationship with God. Temptation became too much for them, and when they turned away from God's plan, they came to know what sin is: separation from God and his love for us.
Thankfully God does not leave us in our sin, and he never abandons those whom he loves. St. Paul reminds the Romans that the Father sent his son to save us. Jesus' perfect sacrifice on the cross allowed the sin of Adam and Eve to be reversed. Through Jesus Christ, we now have the opportunity to know our great dignity as God's own beloved sons and daughters. Baptism permits us to be "plunged into the Paschal Mystery of Christ" in order to inherit the promise of resurrection and eternal life (Sacrosanctum Concilium, No. 6).
However, as St. Gregory of Nazianzus writes, "we must not expect baptism to free us from the temptations of our persecutor." As a result, Jesus goes through a "Lenten journey" of sorts after his baptism by John to show his complete dependence upon his Father. The devil, knowing Jesus is hungry and weary from his days in the desert, uses common and ordinary desires to tempt Jesus to turn from the Father. 1 John 2:16 tells us all that is in the world — "sensual lust, enticement for the eyes and a pretentious life" — is not of God but of the evil one, and, consequently, Jesus faces three tests revolving around each of these themes. Jesus, though, will not fall for any of the devil's traps, and in rebuking his attempts, he presents himself as the perfect servant of the Father. It is his obedience to his Father that allows him to demonstrate how we are to trust in a God who loves us deeply.
During this Lent, we, too, are to be tempted, not just to keep our Lenten resolutions but also in becoming more willing to follow God's lead. There are so many things in this world — addiction, anger, judgment, suffering, sickness, abandonment, loneliness — that prohibit us from seeing God as he is, a loving and provident Father.
Can we, like Jesus, reject the lies and deception of the world around us? Are we willing to trust in God and follow wherever he leads?