Fr. Eduardo Emilio Aguero, SCJ
The liturgy of the first Sunday of Lent leads us to the desert. Immediately after being baptized and receiving the anointing at the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit brings Jesus to the desert to be tempted by Satan. It is worth noting the role of the Holy Spirit, the “True and Original Love,” the inner force that impels Jesus (2 Cor 5:14ff). He enters the desert “full of the Holy Spirit”. The fruit of Love is obedience, and the fruit of obedience is self-transcendence or the gift of self. This reflects the dynamics of the mystery of Love within the Blessed Trinity. We were Created in God’s image and likeness; Jesus was sent to restore our true identity.
In the Bible, the desert represents a theological place. The wilderness marks a stage of transformation in our journey, as it was for Israel. God’s people journeyed 40 years in the wilderness before reaching the land of God’s promise. It took 40 days in the desert for the prophet Elijah to reach Horeb, the holy mountain.
The Devil’s purpose is twofold: to test Jesus’ identity as “The Son of God” and to deflect Him from His mission. Where Adam and Eve failed, the Son of Man triumphs. Jesus defeats Satan and teaches us that through overcoming trials and temptations, we grow in fortitude and become ready to carry out our mission. The temptations of Jesus in the desert show us how Satan attacks and teaches us to overcome him, following Jesus’ example.
The Weakest Link
“The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, One does not live by bread alone.’”
After 40 days of fasting, Jesus was hungry. Satan took advantage of his physical weakness. St. Ignatius teaches us that the Devil acts like an expert war strategist, attacking the enemy’s weakest side. Self-awareness is essential to know where and how “the enemy of the human soul” might tempt us. We should be honest with ourselves and the Lord, allowing the Spirit to transform us. The road of conversion is also a path of personal growth.
Jesus answers Satan by quoting the Scriptures. Another way to prepare to withstand the intrusions of the evil spirit is to meditate on the Scriptures. Christians should know the Bible, pray with it, and be instructed by the Word of God. Jesus knew it by heart. When we apply the Word of God to our day-to-day lives, we grow in wisdom and discernment. Lent is a special time to meditate on the Word of God.
Idolatry
“If you will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.’”
Wealth, political power, and worldly pleasures are shortcuts the devil uses to divert us from our truth as beings created in God’s image and likeness. Satan tests the nature and strength of Jesus’ relationship with God. We suffer the consequences of original sin: “For all that is in the world is the concupiscence of the flesh, the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 Jn 2:16).
We are challenged to fight against our tendencies to stray from God’s will and get stuck in our self-centeredness. Lent is a time of penance. Fasting and other ascetic practices help fight these temptations and, with Grace’s help, control our passions and possess ourselves. We can only give what we possess. If we possess ourselves—our emotions, body, and soul—we can offer ourselves as a gift to the Lord and others.
The Father of All Lies
“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written….” Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
For those who have grown spiritually, the Devil has a more subtle tactic: “He disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Cor 11:14). Satan notices how Jesus answers using the Bible. He also knows the Scriptures but twists their interpretation to bring about confusion. We are called to read and interpret the Scriptures with the help of the Spirit and according to the Sacred Tradition of the Church.
We are blessed when we have the opportunity to share our spiritual life with a good friend, a spiritual director, or a confessor. They can help us discern because even with the holiest intentions, self-love or pride might creep in, like weeds among wheat in Jesus’ parable (Mt 13:24).
Praise be the Lord who allows us to be tested so that we grow in strength and purpose!
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