Homily of First of Lent Year C, 2022
Deuteronomy 26:4-10; Psalm 1-2, 10-13; Romans 10:8-13; Luke 4:1-13
Moses did not reach the Promised Land. However, he set for the Israelites laws and directives they were to keep in the Promised Land that would guide their relationship with God and with one another. The first reading was a pronouncement to be made during the feast of harvest thanksgiving. The pronouncement summaries Israel’s history and journey with God, from their ancestors to their settling in the Promised Land. The offering of the first fruits from one’s farm and the pronouncement were an expression of gratitude to God for his blessings. The reading encourages us to be grateful to God for his love and mercy, and to express our gratitude practically by offering to the Church of God from the blessings we have received.
On offering to the Church Sirach 35:6-13 says, “Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed, for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the precepts. The offering of the just enriches the altar: a sweet odor before the Most High. The sacrifice of the just is accepted, never to be forgotten. With a generous spirit pay homage to the Lord, and do not spare your freewill gifts. With each contribution show a cheerful countenance and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy. Give to the Most High as he has given to you, generously, according to your means. For he is a God who always repays and will give back to you sevenfold.” The Church uses the offering to serve humanity, carry out the work of evangelization, and build up God’s kingdom here on earth.
The devil does not want us to have a good relationship with God. He comes with all kinds of temptations to draws us away from God. The gospel story of the temptation of Jesus by the devil shows us some of the subtle ways the devil tempts us. The first temptation shows us that the devil tempts through our needs. The temptation shows how the devil tempts us to get what we want through improper means (turn stone to bread). The second temptation shows us that the devil tempts us to worship the things of this world and derive power and fame from them rather than from God (“I shall give you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish”). The third temptation shows how the devil tempts us to engage in harmful and dangerous ambitious activities and expecting God to save us (throw yourself down from the pinnacle of the temple and expecting angels to catch you).
The three temptations can be summarized as ungodly quest for wealth, power, and miracle. Jesus teaches us that when we put God aside and pursue wealth, power, and miracle, we become tools of the devil.
If the devil tempted Jesus who is God, he will tempt us more who are mere human beings. In the Book of Job, “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you been?’ Then the Satan answered … ‘Roaming the earth and patrolling it”’ (Job 2:2). This is why 1 John 5:19 warns, “We know that we are children of God, [but] the whole world is under the control [constant attack] of the evil one.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 also warns, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith…” St. Augustine encourages us where he writes, “Our pilgrim life here on earth cannot be without temptation, for it is through temptation that we make progress, and it is only by being tempted that we come to know ourselves.” The following words from the second reading are very encouraging, “No one who believes in [Jesus] will be put to shame… For every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:11, 13). Hebrews 2:18 assures us, “Because he himself was tempted through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” It is by the power of his name that we triumph over every temptation as he himself did.
The power of the evil one is the power we give to him. Listen to this parable:
“A donkey was tied to a tree. A demon came and released it. The donkey entered a farmer’s field and began destroying his crop. The farmer’s wife saw the donkey, got angry and shot the donkey with her rifle and killed it. The donkey’s owner saw the dead donkey, got angry and fired at the woman with his rifle and killed her. When the farmer saw his dead wife, he killed the donkey’s owner. The donkey’s owner sons seeing their father dead burned the farmer’s field. The farmer in retaliation killed them. When the demon was asked what he has done, he said: ‘I did nothing, I only released the donkey.’ Do you get it? The devil doesn’t have power to do much, except to release the donkey, and we do the rest.”
I wish you a spirit-filled Lenten Season.
Fr. Martin Eke, MSP
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