- March 9, 2025, First Sunday of Lent (Year C)
- Today’s readings: Deut 26:4-10; Ps 91:1-2, 10-15; Rm 10:8-13; Lk 4:1-13
After fasting for forty days and forty nights, the devil appeared to Jesus to tempt him. Our first lesson here is that we must be ready for the temptation or attack of the evil one or evil people whenever we set out to do something good.
What are the temptations Jesus passed through in the wilderness?
The first temptation was to turn stone into bread. It was about consumerism. What we consume. This kind of consumption entails the food, drinks, sex and any other bodily indulgences.
The devil wanted Jesus to indulge in those sins, especially sins of gluttony, drunkenness and impurities. But Jesus rightly answered him that life is not all about food, drink and sex.
Here Jesus admonishes us to be careful of whatever we consume either by eating, drinking, looking, desiring or acting.
The second temptation is about possessions. The devil showed Jesus all the wealth and attractions of the world and told him that they are under his control and will become Jesus’ if he worshiped the devil.
This is a big problem of materialism. We are in the world where material possessions have become more important than our fellow human beings and worship of God. Today we know that so many people have sold their souls to the devil because of wealth. We see the atrocities that are committed all over the world because of money. People go as far as taking the lives of their fellow human beings because they are pursuing money. Some people join (evil) cults because they are chasing after money.
However, Jesus reminds us today that nothing should replace God in our lives. We have to worship God who alone is worthy of our praises and worship. Nothing should replace God in our lives, not even material things or human beings.
Lastly, the devil took Jesus up the pinnacle of the tower and asked him to fall from there for God will send His angels to protect him.
The devil even quoted psalm 91 to Jesus in order to convince him. A good lesson is that the devil can even quote the scripture in order to get what he wants. We need to be conversant with scripture so that we may not be deceived.
Jesus however quoted the scripture back to him and told him that he should not tempt the Lord his God.
We have seen that temptation will always come our way. We also see that all temptations are centered on the three areas of consumption, materialism and power.
We see what food, drink, sex are causing us today. We also see what money and power is causing the entire world today.
We pray that we may choose love of God and love of our fellow human beings over money, power and food.
We pray that Almighty God may help us to focus in the love of God.
May Almighty God bless us and protect us from every evil through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Have a blessed Sunday.
- Rev. Fr. Ambrose Onyeka Anene SDB, is the Parish Priest of Church of the Archangels, Gaduwa, Abuja, the FCT.
