Temptation is more powerful than a locomotive. Sometimes we fall victim to temptation. This week's readings speak of the purpose of temptation and the means to fight it. The readings are after the commentary.
The Desert of Temptation
This week's readings speak of the desert. Mark's account of Jesus' time in the desert is not highly detailed. Mark speaks of wild beasts and of angels ministering to Jesus. Isn't it interesting that it was not the devil who brought Jesus out to the desert, but rather the Spirit? In other words, it was God's will that Jesus be sent to the desert to be tempted. I once heard someone say that each time we are tempted, it is an opportunity to tell God that we love him. When temptation comes, we say to the temptation, I love God more than I love you (the temptation). Although we should do our best to avoid temptation, it will come. When it does, God will use it to strengthen us in our relationshiop with him- if we remain obedient and faithful.
Jesus was tempted by the Father of lies, the master of deceit- Satan. Satan was cunning enough to deceive 2 people who didn't even suffer from original sin- Adam and Eve. Matthew Chapter 4 says that the devil waited until after 40 days to tempt Jesus- when Jesus was most hungry. We have something to learn from this, that when we are in great need, the devil seizes the opportunity to tempt us. When we feel the need for love, companionship, belonging, he comes in when our needs are greatest. In our times of great need, we must be aware of temptation and pray to God for help.
The Battleground of Life
In a sense, the story of the 40-days in the desert is the story of our lives. It is similar to the story of the Israelites' 40 years in the desert. Our lives are a spiritual BATTLEFIELD. On one hand, we have the God of the universe on our side. On the other hand, we have the dark tempter who knows exactly how to best tempt us. Yet, we can see here in this week's Gospel that Jesus has angels ministering to him. Do we have angels ministering to us? We do indeed. Matthew 18:10 says "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, 9 for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. Paragraph 336 of the Catechism says that we are "in the blessed company of angels". No matter how powerful the temptations we face, God gives us free will, but there are angels at our side fighting against evil.
Our lives are a constant fight between good and evil. But God offers us protection. In Isaih 43:4 God says he offers us protection, "Because you are precious in my eyes and glorious, and because I love you." Let's recall that the bible is the speech of God. His love and his desire to protect us is a real as it gets and we can hear out of his mouth.
Protecting Yourself
The Responsorial Psalm and Psalm readings this week show us how to protect ourselves from temptation. "Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior." David the Psalmist loves God. Here, David asks God to show David his ways. David wants to know God and he wants God to teach him. In this day and age, we are people with many years of education. People around the world are more literate now than they have ever been. Yet it seems as though we are more confused now than ever. In this week's Psalm, David shows us an example of who we should seek advice from.
In the practical sense, we are called to read the Bible. We are called to read the Catechism. Not only has God given us his angels to minister to us, his very speech is written down and he has given us a way to get to know him. Many of us spend more time reading the Mcdonald's menu than we do the Bible. Many of us read the newspaper far more than we read God's word. We are in the desert. We are in a war. Not only are our lives at stake, but our eternal souls are on the line. Will newspapers and magazines prepare us better, or the bible?
Temptation will come. Either the devil will use it to send us to misery, addiction, and hell, or we will use temptation as an opportunity to say yes to God, and say "I love God more" over and over.
Real Life
Not long ago, I was trying to figure out if God wanted me to a be a priest. Each night, I would ask God "do you want me to be a priest?" Night after night, week after week, I did not get an answer. I was frustrated with God because he wouldn't give me an answer. I was tempted to grow angry with God. I asked him "why won't you tell me? What is the point of me not knowing your will? How do you benefit from this lack of clarity?" In the end, God gave me the answer to all of my questions. He let me know whether or not he wanted me to be a priest. He even let me know why he didn't tell me at first. The reason why he didn't tell me at first was because he used this period of uncertainty to draw me to himself in prayer. Because I didn't have an answer to my question, I kept coming to God each night begging him for an answer. Despite temptation to grow angry with God, I was drawn nearer to him. He did indeed have a purpose in NOT answering my question. In all things, even uncertainty, God loves us.
Reading 1
Gn 9:8-15
God said to Noah and to his sons with him:
"See, I am now establishing my covenant with you
and your descendants after you
and with every living creature that was with you:
all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals
that were with you and came out of the ark.
I will establish my covenant with you,
that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed
by the waters of a flood;
there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth."
God added:
"This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come,
of the covenant between me and you
and every living creature with you:
I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign
of the covenant between me and the earth.
When I bring clouds over the earth,
and the bow appears in the clouds,
I will recall the covenant I have made
between me and you and all living beings,
so that the waters shall never again become a flood
to destroy all mortal beings."
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (cf. 10) Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R.Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
Good and upright is the LORD,
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and he teaches the humble his way.
R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
Reading II
1 Pt 3:18-22
Beloved:
Christ suffered for sins once,
the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous,
that he might lead you to God.
Put to death in the flesh,
he was brought to life in the Spirit.
In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison,
who had once been disobedient
while God patiently waited in the days of Noah
during the building of the ark,
in which a few persons, eight in all,
were saved through water.
This prefigured baptism, which saves you now.
It is not a removal of dirt from the body
but an appeal to God for a clear conscience,
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
who has gone into heaven
and is at the right hand of God,
with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.
Gospel
Mk 1:12-15
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
and he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
and the angels ministered to him.
After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel."
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