“Repent, for the Kingdom of God has come near.” The gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus began His ministry by proclaiming the nearness of God’s kingdom. Jesus courageously and fearlessly embraced His divine ministry of ushering in God’s kingdom following His baptism when God’s voice from heaven affirmed His identity, “This is my Son, the Beloved.” Jesus then ventured into the wilderness for a time of fasting and prayer to spiritually discern the fullness of His mission as the Incarnate Son of God. There, in the wilderness, Jesus was tempted and tried by the evil one that lures us with false yet attractive promises of well-being that contradict God’s invitation to live in His kingdom of love, joy, peace, and justice.
As we enter the penitential season of Lent, Sunday’s gospel reading gives Matthew’s account of Jesus’ temptations (Matthew 4:1-11). As Jesus was in the wilderness fasting for forty days, His first temptation addressed His physical hunger. The devil challenged Jesus to miraculously turn stones into bread, “if you are the Son of God….”. But Jesus was sure of His identity. He knew that God would provide for His needs. Jesus, therefore, placed priority on His higher calling of living in the Spirit of obedience to God’s will. He refused to misuse the miraculous power of God for self-centered purposes. Jesus being God’s faithful Servant, He responded with the authority of the sacred scriptures, “One does not live by bread alone….” Bodily suffering is insignificant when compared to obedience to God.
In the second test, Jesus was symbolically placed on the pinnacle of the temple, the sacred place of worship. The devil challenged Him to throw Himself down in a spectacular show of power. Surely, God would save Him! But Jesus’ mission is not public acclaim. Jesus again defends His stance for God’s ways by citing scripture, “do not put the Lord your God to the test.” The truth is, only our Almighty Lord has the authority to test us, and He does so to strengthen our faith.
Having failed to lure Jesus by fleshly desires or love of the spectacular, the devil negotiates with Jesus, offering Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor, in return for His allegiance. But Jesus, the Son of God knows that God is the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. He only is worthy of worship. Again, He cites the scriptures, “Worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.”
What if Jesus had turned stones into bread to feed himself or thrown Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple for public acclaim? What if Jesus had chosen the easy path to gain worldly power and dominance? Jesus chose to take the hard, long, painful path of obedience to the will of God, even to the point of death. He lived into His identity as the Son of God who came to usher in God’s kingdom. Choices for God’s kingdom over the world is our lifelong challenge. May we, when tested, put God first, trust His power, His faithfulness. May we read, mark and inwardly digest the holy scriptures daily, so they become an anchor for our journey into God’s kingdom. Thanks be to God for Jesus our Savior, our help in discerning truth when faced with the lure of temptation.
Prayer: Come Lord Jesus, pour Your Holy Spirit upon us, and guide us in making choices that lead away from death and despair, and towards the path of abundant love, peace, and joy with God forever.
