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!
