February 17, 2013
First Sunday of Lent
First Sunday of Lent
Migrants' Sunday
Dt 26,4-10 . Rm 10,8-13
Luke 4,1-13
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If you are a frequent churchgoer especially during Lent, you would know that the First Sunday of Lent is focused on the Temptation of Jesus. One of the reasons why we celebrate these forty days is to remember the forty days in which Jesus stayed in the desert after he was baptized. He spent it in prayer and fasting, just like what we strive (I hope so) to do during this period.
Yet, while He was fasting then, He was tempted by the devil, alluring him to forget His role as our Savior in exchange of earthly splendor and riches. But the Lord, knowing our sinful nature, did not give in to the Devil's charm, and instead drove him away, thus beginning His ministry of proclaiming God's kingdom to all.
We can ask, why does he need to be tempted by the Devil, knowing that he is the Son of God? We look at the hymn of Kenosis (Phil 2,7 ff) and see there that the Lord Jesus emptied himself of all the Kingly stature, leaving nothing for himself, and took the form of a slave when he was born and lived among us. Though a God, he left everything for our sake; he decided to live as an ordinary person, living our life, singing our songs and playing our games, but never committing sin like all of us. (Heb 2,18)
This was proved when he was tempted by the devil on the mountain. He was tried three times, once when he was asked to change the stones to bread, once when he was asked to jump from the parapet of the temple, and once when he was shown with all the riches of this world. Yet, he did not give in and so proved to the evil one that he is the All-powerful God.
These temptations are not really far from what we are experiencing today, it's just that we tend to give in instead of fighting against it. We are tempted to forget our history for something which is against God's will in our lives. We are tempted to challenge God by doing extraordinary things which we are not supposed to do. We are tempted to neglect God's providence and think that we are the master of our lives.
We are tempted, and we always give in without thinking of the consequences. We are tempted, but we don't even turn to God in these times, as we tend to do things on our own. Do you want proof? Just look around and you'll see people saying that they are serving the masses, yet they are just serving themselves!
Dear friends, Jesus was tempted too, like us, but He overcame these things. He knows how it feels to be challenged to forget His Father, that giving-in to these temptations may mean the loss of his union of love with His Father.
If Jesus was able to overcome these things, how much more in our part? We cannot do it on our own, that's why we have the season of Lent, a period of Fasting and Prayer that we may have the strength of Jesus and the courage of defending our holy life against the malices of the evil one. His grace is our courage; His love is our strength.
How many times did we neglect God's grace in our lives, and give in to the powers of this world? Do we still see ourselves bound to the temptations of the devil?
Friends, it's the season of Lent, a time of prayer and self-discipline. A time when God calls us to turn back to Him even if the evil one is around and charming us so as to forget Him. Let us take the opportunity set before us, that we may reach the glory of Easter full of blessings and grace.
Lord, call us back to you and defend us from the temptations of this world. Amen.
Yet, while He was fasting then, He was tempted by the devil, alluring him to forget His role as our Savior in exchange of earthly splendor and riches. But the Lord, knowing our sinful nature, did not give in to the Devil's charm, and instead drove him away, thus beginning His ministry of proclaiming God's kingdom to all.
We can ask, why does he need to be tempted by the Devil, knowing that he is the Son of God? We look at the hymn of Kenosis (Phil 2,7 ff) and see there that the Lord Jesus emptied himself of all the Kingly stature, leaving nothing for himself, and took the form of a slave when he was born and lived among us. Though a God, he left everything for our sake; he decided to live as an ordinary person, living our life, singing our songs and playing our games, but never committing sin like all of us. (Heb 2,18)
This was proved when he was tempted by the devil on the mountain. He was tried three times, once when he was asked to change the stones to bread, once when he was asked to jump from the parapet of the temple, and once when he was shown with all the riches of this world. Yet, he did not give in and so proved to the evil one that he is the All-powerful God.
These temptations are not really far from what we are experiencing today, it's just that we tend to give in instead of fighting against it. We are tempted to forget our history for something which is against God's will in our lives. We are tempted to challenge God by doing extraordinary things which we are not supposed to do. We are tempted to neglect God's providence and think that we are the master of our lives.
We are tempted, and we always give in without thinking of the consequences. We are tempted, but we don't even turn to God in these times, as we tend to do things on our own. Do you want proof? Just look around and you'll see people saying that they are serving the masses, yet they are just serving themselves!
Dear friends, Jesus was tempted too, like us, but He overcame these things. He knows how it feels to be challenged to forget His Father, that giving-in to these temptations may mean the loss of his union of love with His Father.
If Jesus was able to overcome these things, how much more in our part? We cannot do it on our own, that's why we have the season of Lent, a period of Fasting and Prayer that we may have the strength of Jesus and the courage of defending our holy life against the malices of the evil one. His grace is our courage; His love is our strength.
How many times did we neglect God's grace in our lives, and give in to the powers of this world? Do we still see ourselves bound to the temptations of the devil?
Friends, it's the season of Lent, a time of prayer and self-discipline. A time when God calls us to turn back to Him even if the evil one is around and charming us so as to forget Him. Let us take the opportunity set before us, that we may reach the glory of Easter full of blessings and grace.
Lord, call us back to you and defend us from the temptations of this world. Amen.
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