Temptation comes in different forms. Throughout the gospel stories the infernal powers are pictured as having few illusions about Jesus.
In the Hebrew Scriptures, Satan has a good track record in temptation, beginning with Adam and Eve and continuing with the likes of Job. As soon as Jesus is baptized and declared to be the Beloved of the Father, the Spirit takes him into the wilderness. There he undergoes testing by the devil.
These temptations to pleasure, irresponsibility, and power are temptations we all must face. Yet Jesus turns down these three life principles, as having any real ability to bring peace to one's soul.
Rather than giving into feeling good, or blaming someone else, or controlling others, God sends us Jesus as the Redeemer and Healer of our souls. The devil will always tempt us to be what we are not. The serpent told Eve she could be like God, knowing all things, e.g. making ones own rules. She and Adam were not satisfied being God's children. They wanted to be like God.
We have fallen prey to the temptation to seek pleasure for ourselves. No one wants to be in pain or even discomfort. Especially in America, we want an instant relief to whatever is wrong. We want it all to go away, hence the debacle in Washington. "Make me feel good," is a cry too often heard. Jesus proves that suffering, discomfort can be redemptive.
Who among us has not felt the temptation to have power over another? Many try to control conversations, relationships, using many ordinary and extraordinary means - humor, the silent treatment, swift argumentation, clever debate, etc. Jesus demonstrates that power must be used to serve the greater good rather than self aggrandizement.
Let us enter this Lent with a heartfelt spirit of penance and reconciliation. Our Parish mission, to be conducted March 6 - 11, will be several days of reflection on the theme of reconciliation. Fr. Alan Hartaway will help us with this effort. Pope John Paul II has called upon each of us to pay attention to reconciliation this year of the Father.
Lent is our Church's time for us to step back and examine how we are giving in to temptation. Let us not simply give something up, but take on the evil we face in our lives and say an emphatic, "No!" to the evil one.
