Sunday, , February 18, 2024

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT, February 18, 2024

(Genesis 9:8-15; I Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15)

Always on the first Sunday of Lent we hear that Jesus is tempted in the desert. Probably most of us remember how Satan challenges the Lord to change stones into loaves and bow down before him. However, the passage from the Gospel according to Saint Mark that we have just heard says nothing about the contents of the temptations. It only reports that the Holy Spirit drives Jesus into the desert. It is not correct to think that Mark has the same temptations in mind as Matthew and Luke. In fact, it seems that Marcos has another idea of temptation.

The word for temptation has two meanings. It may be an attempt to seduce a person to betray his principles with something attractive. Or it may be testing the person to strengthen him or her. Because the Holy Spirit originates the temptation here and there is no suggestion of seduction, it is likely meant as a testing and strengthening.

The temptation of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark can be compared to the United States Army Ranger School. Preparing for combat, soldiers train for more than sixty days in extremely rigorous conditions. They eat only 2,200 calories and sleep on average only 3.5 hours daily. Surely after such a challenging course the soldiers will be among the most war-ready in the world. Thus Jesus prepares himself for the mission that he is about to begin. He will preach “the Kingdom of God” that saves the world from perdition and gives it peace.

We must think of Lent as our training to continue this mission of Jesus. In the world today, culture has largely left religion behind. Popular songs tell of sexual encounters, not of meetings with the priest to prepare for marriage. Sunday mornings are reserved even more for soccer or basketball games than for going to church. Christmas is about giving gifts to each other, not about worshiping the Child Redeemer. And Easter is remembered for hunting for eggs and eating chocolates, not for the hope of eternal life.

“So what's the problem?” some will ask. The problem, which is very big, is that once society loses its religion, it also loses its core that holds all its parts together. As a result, it will begin to fall apart. Without religion, society would not be responsible to the Only One who cannot be deceived. Huge problems soon appeared. We see indications of undoing now in our society. A growing number of teenagers attempt suicide. The media regularly gives out misinformation to manipulate the public into conforming to their own perspective. With the preoccupation with sex without the intention of having a family, the population becomes smaller, older and weaker.

It is up to all of us to bear witness to Jesus Christ who incorporates in himself the Kingdom of God. We do it first of all with righteous lives. The Lenten discipline of saying “no” to continuous offers to eat and drink more strengthens us morally. The Lenten commitment to prayer will bring us closer to God, always our main resource in the mission. And efforts on behalf of the needy will bring us closer to Jesus' priority for the poor.

Why do sacrifices seem like an insurmountable challenge at the beginning of Lent, but at the end of the season like no big deal? Could it be that we are too lax now and need an awakening to live really well? As with Jesus, the Holy Spirit is propelling us forward. Let’s not turn away from the challenge!