1st Sunday of Lent [C]
March 6, 2022
Luke 4:1-13

On the first Sunday of Lent, the Church always gives the Gospel reading on Jesus in the desert for 40 days. There are several reasons for this choice. Firstly, as Jesus stayed for forty days in the desert, we are also invited to enter the desert of Lenten season for 40 days. Secondly, as Jesus fasted and prayed in the desert, we are also called to fast and pray during this season of Lent. Thirdly, Jesus teaches us how to fight against the devil and his temptation. Since we are currently in the Liturgical Year C, we can learn from the story of Jesus in the wilderness from Luke’s perspective. One is prominent in the debate between Jesus and the devil is how the word of God is used.

Jesus is facing three devil’s temptations. The traditions call the three Concupiscences. These are three areas where human persons are spiritually weak. The first is the lust of the flesh, and it attacks our desire for bodily pleasures like food and sexual relationship. The second is the lust of eyes, and it exploits our desire to possess the things we see. Lastly but most deadly is pride. This confuses genuine self-love with narcissistic behaviors. This is the worst because pride eventually sucks us into the false idea that we can become a god without God.

These are the temptations that the devil throws into Jesus. The lust of the flesh is launched when Jesus is hungry and asked to turn stone and bread. The lust of the eye is commenced when Jesus is brought to see the worldly wonders and offers to have them all. Lastly, the temptation of pride is initiated when Jesus is invited to show off His power as He has the authority to command the angels.

Surely enough, the devil fails miserably. Yet, what is more, interesting is the way Jesus resists the devil. Every time the devil launches an attack, Jesus wisely counters it with the quotations from the Old Testaments. Indeed, the Word of God is a powerful weapon against the assault and temptation of the devil. Thus, we need to know our Bible and learn them by heart!

Yet, that is not the end of the story because even the devil uses the Bible verse. He quotes parts of Psalm 91, “He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you… [Psa 91:11]”. What is more remarkable is that Psalm 91 is traditionally used for exorcism. The devil is using the very words that used to expel him! How is this possible? The reason is that the devil uses the bible verse out of context and only to suit his purpose: to trap Jesus.

From this story, we learn a valuable lesson. The words of Scriptures, when misused way and only to fit our purpose, are become the instruments of the devil. We are called to imitate Jesus in living the word of God. Only if we indeed read the Bible in its proper context and a loving relationship with God, they truly become the powerful Word of God.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP