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[_01_] “I was tempted” / “I was tempted” is a statement we make to, perhaps, get somebody's attention. And, to acknowledge something that is over that has now been completed. I was tempted, but I'm not tempted anymore, or whatever I did. I, it's, it's not tempting me right now, we often use it to refer to things that are not even necessarily immoral or bad. Like I was tempted to go right to turn right. But I ended up turning left.
The temptations of Jesus, however, are
not really “over and done” in the Gospel. We read that the “devil departed from
him for a time”. But the devil is going to come back and temptations do come to
us from time to time.
And I just like to give some examples of
temptations. And that when we think of a temptation, it does not have to be
something troublesome, or toxic. But we can be tempted by something that is
good.
What does it mean to be tempted by something
that is good?
[_02_] Here's just one everyday example. Sometimes I have to come up with a detailed plan in order to avoid something that I might be fasting from, or abstaining from. And there was one example of this where I was trying to abstain from eating sweets for a while. And I really liked sweets, I like sweet things, desserts. And this is one thing we sometimes fast from during Lent or at other times. There are many forms of fasting, but that's one of the most common
A few years ago is there happened to be
several pieces of delicious chocolate cake in the rectory office available for
anybody who wanted them. And somebody came into the office of worker, a
carpenter to do some work. And we offered him the cake to take home. That was
part of my detailed plan to avoid eating this cake to get somebody else to take
it. So we gave him a cake. And then he continued to do his work. And he left
the cake and his keys and his jacket and his tools near my desk. And then I was
tempted to ask him because the cake was near my desk and I was be worn down
over time. Are you going to take the cake? Fortunately, I resisted back because
then he would have thought this guy really wants the cake. I'm going to give it
back to him. But that's sometimes what happens that temptation can come back
again. Chocolate Cake is not evil, even though it's called Devil's Food Cake. It is actually not evil.
It's something good and we can be tempted by something good.
[_03_] We remember the temptations of the past.
Just like we are called to remember a prayer we made in the past or a
charitable gift we made in the past. We're called to remember fasting that we
did in the past as something that was good. In this Gospel, Jesus had been
traveling in the desert for 40 days and he is hungry and he is tempted. And
he's tempted by three good things. I'd like to discuss what are the temptations
that Jesus was tempted by him how it relates to us, Jesus is tempted by the:
·
[ 1st. desire-2-B PROVIDED for
·
2nd . desire-2-B for PAYMENT or
“PAYBACK”
·
3rd.. desire-2-B for PRAISE]
[_04_] 1st . “PROVIDED for” During
such a long time without food, Satan -
the evil spirit – suggests that Jesus satisfy himself with bread, with
something material and with the conversion one thing that is material (stones)
into something else that is material (bread) and that this will allow Jesus to
be “provided for”
We all want to be provided for.
I do not want to be abandoned of
forgotten.
In resisting this temptation, Jesus is
coming to rouse us – to alert us – that it’s OK – and virtuous – to be hungry.
There are different ways to resist this temptation – sometimes – it does not
simply mean going on a 72-hour water fast, but it could mean – not taking
“seconds” … or eating exactly what is served, eating at exactly the same time
as others rather than seeking out our own private meal time. Following your (my) doctor’s orders about
what to eat or not eat – this is also a fast.
And, if we do eat alone – in our own
place and apartments – because many of us do – then to eat at regular appointed
times, as an act of community, even with those you are not physically with.
In this regard, your fasting and
feasting are synchronized with a wider community
We can say NO to our desire to be
provided for “on demand”. That’s the response to God’s call.
When we come to church, we are fasting, we
are fasting for the Eucharist. It's tradition, traditional. It's part of our
doctrine too fast for one hour before we received the Holy Eucharist. Some of
us fast for longer than that, but too fast for at least one hour before we
receive Holy Eucharist.
[_05_] 2nd . “PAYMENT”
Satan also tempts Jesus with the
desire for PAYMENT , or to be paid back in some money or financial-equivalent way. I
wonder if Satan has crypto currency or Bitcoin?
Satan tells Jesus – in effect – “if
you will bow down to me, I will pay you back with kingdoms, palaces, houses” .
Maybe some nice desert real estate?
Satan seems to have property of value
to provide – is he a portfolio asset manager ahead of his time?
Jesus sees through this and reminds
all of us that our value does not depend on our ability to get paid or paid
back.
[_06_] 3rd. “PRAISED”
Satan temps our Lord with “praise” by
saying that if Jesus will throw himself down from the high altitude of the
Temple roof and then be caught in mid-air by angels, that this will be better
than any “air show” or fly-through-the-air touchdown.
As a result of such a demonstration of
spectacular power, Jesus will attract followers, friends, likes, and PRAISE.
Jesus resists this and teaches us to
resist this. We do not live survive or
get our nourishment by the praise of others. I am tempted – at times – do
things not simply because they will “provide” me with nourishment ..or that
they will “pay me back” with something of value.
Sometimes, I am tempted to do
something or say something – just because I want to gain the praise or the
“likes” or “appreciation” of others.
Have you ever said anything – or
perhaps avoided saying something – just because you want to be praised or
like? Of course, saying something
unpopular or challenging also requires prayer…and reflection and knowing the
right timing.
But this is also the work of the Holy Spirit
in us so that we can know that we are praising God by what we do …not seeking
praise for ourselves.
[V.2– E] Lent is a time to respond to God's call to remember that our desires to be provided --- for our desires for payment – and our desires to be praised --- are good things, but we can fast from them for something even better, which is God's grace and mercy in our lives. [_fin_]
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