Gospel Reflection - First Sunday of Lent Year A

 

            We all have a serpent, don’t we?  Actually, we have three: the world, the devil, and the flesh, or our “self”.  These are opposed to God and draw us away from Him.  The world would have us busy ourselves with its endless array of concerns and preoccupations; the devil seeks to steal our heavenly reward and claim us as his own; and our flesh, ever caught up in itself, has a long list of things it supposedly needs. 

            And so, with these three serpents entwined around us, it is clear that we have a challenging task before us, if we wish to be free of them.  We have two models presented to us today of how we can handle our serpents. 

            First, we have Adam and Eve.  What did they do?  Fell into the temptations of the devil.  There is nothing more painful than the loss of God.  To give into temptation is like saying that we are willing to take the risk of losing Him; or it could even lead directly to that. 

A supreme and perfect example follows this first one.  Our Lord Himself was subject to temptation, but fought heroically against the Tempter.  He humbled Himself to undergo our own trials in order to teach us how to conquer them. 

To be tempted is not unusual, and in itself, not a sin.  It is only when we imitate Adam and Eve that we offend God.  However, if we hold fast to the example of Our Lord, we declare our fidelity to God, something which is never unnoticed before His eye.  In the end, our strength is always to be found in Jesus Christ: “Because he himself was tested by suffering, he is able to help those who are being tested.” (Heb. 2:18)

In what area of your life do you currently feel yourself being tested by either the world, the devil, or yourself?

Which of the two models do you tend to follow? If the first, how can you turn yourself to the second?