Gospel Refection for the 1st Sunday of Lent 2017

March 5th – Being Tempted

We begin our Lenten journey with Jesus in the desert. As he fasts and prays for forty days and nights, he is tempted. He is tempted to satisfy himself, to make himself happy, to rely on his own strength and to ignore the power and presence of God in his life. But realising where his strength and identity come from, he resists giving in. Jesus pushes back insisting he has faith, saying in essence, ‘God will support and strengthen me, God will feed and nourish me. I don’t need to perform tricks to prove who I am.’

Not only during Lent, but every day, each of us is tempted in countless subtle ways. Sometimes we may not even be aware that we are being tempted or making decisions and choices that are not good for us. Temptations come in many shapes and forms. We might be tempted to have another drink when we neither need nor want it. We might be tempted to buy and eat more food than is really good for us. Work, while it is important, too can be over used and even abused. When we work too hard, our health can suffer and we can avoid spending time with our families. Increasingly now in our modern age, we are all surrounded by electronic devices. These include lap tops, computers, television and mobile phones. These have their place in lives, but when we become addicted to them, we can often find ourselves cut off from others and not be aware of their needs and concerns.

The gospel of Jesus being tempted offers us support and encouragement. As we face into these Lenten days, we are not on our own. Jesus walks with us to help us when we are tempted. Having being tempted himself, he knows what we are experiencing and feeling. Like Jesus, we too can turn to God for help. Lent offers us the opportunity to recall and renew the power and presence of God in our own daily lives. God is with us as we begin and make our journey through Lent.

As we begin the season Lent, Jesus does not expect to us to do so on our own. He calls to us and invites us to follow him with these words, ‘Take up your cross and come with me.’ He walks by our side offering us words of support, comfort and strength, especially when we are tempted.

• Michael Moore OMI