OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS

March 9, 2025 – First Sunday of Lent

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030925.cfm)

What kind of temptations that we find ourselves struggling from? There could be small and simple temptations that may come and easy for us to overcome. Some are quite difficult to avoid when such a temptation is what we also desire.

To name a few of common temptations may come in these forms. For example, students are tempted to watch their favorite TV series or play “Mobile Legends” with their friends rather than to study. As a consequence, a temptation to cheat during exams can be possible or super late submission of paper works. Workers or employees are sometimes tempted to steal from their company or employer, or place of work perhaps because of a need at home or because of a lavish lifestyle. This can also be true among business owners or employers who do not give just wages to their workers. Others would even treat their workers in an inhumane way. What they were after is merely profit.

Among our political leaders, because of the prevailing culture of dishonesty and corruption, they could easily fall in the corrupt system of politics that instead of serving their constituents, then, they seek to amass wealth and protect their business interests. And because it is not easy to be an honest, a counter-culture and self-sacrificing public servant, it is a temptation to just “go with the flow” and join the band of corrupt officials – because confronting the powerful will mean persecution and pressure from the political-powers-that-be.

On a personal level again, sometimes we are also tempted to be complacent, to stay in our “protected shells” or settle to what is only easy and comfortable because we do not want to be disturbed, we do not want to take an extra mile or refuse to take the risk. Sometimes we too are tempted to just go with the flow and to become passive in our relationships because we do not want to face our issues and refuse to admit what is wrong with us.

Husbands or wives succumbed to the temptation to engage in extra-marital relationships perhaps because their married life has become cold. We, as sons and daughters, may be tempted to escape from home and seek for what is fun and entertaining outside because the home has become a source of boredom for us. Or we may also seek more attention outside our home or seek love and acceptance from other people because home has become a source of despair, condemnation, of pain and trauma. Others also yielded to alcohol and drug abuse or worst to commit suicide to forget or end their overwhelming problems.

Until the very end of our life, we face temptations. And so, on this First Sunday of Lent, let us understand better our human tendency towards sin and how we can overcome temptations in life.

In the biblical understanding, temptation means a “test” – that is of putting a person to a test. Temptation is also the urge or desire to engage into something which may result to a long-term consequence. It also makes us inclined to commit sin and thus, being away from the grace of God.

If this is a test then, why would God bring us to the test? The common understanding in the bible is that, God tests His people to put them in situations that would reveal the quality and sincerity of their heart, faith and devotion. In trials, God strengthens our patience and hope, matures our faith and assures us of his love.

Though God allows trial and suffering but it is the devil who brings suffering and pain. The devil’s intention is to bring us into hopelessness so that we give up on God. The devil tries to crush a person by putting so much pain and suffering. The devil deceives us to choose what is easy and what is naturally appealing to us, to make short cuts, and more reasons for giving up. The devil will discredit God’s love and mercy when we are in so much pain and confusion.

This is what the Gospel brings us today. Jesus was alone in the desert but filled with the Spirit of God. Then, the devil came to tempt him in three different situations.

The first temptation was to turn the stone into bread. Jesus by that time was starving. He was weak and so the devil used the weakness of Jesus to tempt him. This temptation was an offer to give in to the basic “human need.”  It was to respond immediately for one’s “self-satisfaction.” Yet, the Lord understood well that his mission is not to satisfy himself but to do the will of his Father. Thus, Jesus chose to be hungry so that He too will experience how to be hungry. Through his hunger, Jesus can fill our hunger not just for food but for love, for affection and for God.

The second temptation was to worship the devil instead of the Lord God in exchange for all the kingdoms of the world with their riches and power. Jesus was poor and had no influence. The devil knew this and that’s why the devil offered Jesus riches, power and dominance. However, Jesus chose not to worship Satan, not to worship riches and wealth, not power and dominance over others, not control and influence or independence from his Father in heaven. Jesus chose to be powerless and vulnerable like the poor, the sick, the dying and oppressed.

The third temptation was to test the goodness and fidelity of the Father to Jesus. Jesus was alone in the desert and had surely felt loneliness and abandonment. This experience was used by the devil to tempt Jesus to test his Father’s faithfulness. The devil knew that Jesus had become insecure of what lies ahead. Being human, the future is always uncertain. But then, Jesus did not give in to that temptation to make certain of his Father’s love. He showed the devil that there is no need for testing God’s goodness to be certain of it. He showed that true faith in the Lord God is to embrace trust and hope in the midst our uncertainties and doubts.

All those things that the devil offered were actually not necessarily negative or evil. Satisfying ourselves, having riches and material possessions, and being certain of what lies ahead in life, are good in themselves.

Yet, be aware of this. Such good things can become a trap of the devil to allure us and keep us preoccupied, anxious, doubtful, fearful and insecure. These good things may then, keep us away from the grace of peace that God gives us. That is why, when something preoccupies and makes us anxious other than loving God, then, it comes from the devil.

Hence, our own hunger for attention, love and intimacy can become a trap when these are only directed for self-gratification. It happens when we immediately choose what is only comfortable and beneficial for ourselves without considering others or even at the expense of others. This leads us away from God.

Something can also spring up from our desires to be self-sufficient, the desire to exercise power and dominance over others, or simply to be successful. However, when our possessions, gadgets, work, fame, career and ambition preoccupy our heart and mind, then, we allow the devil to work and control our life.

Indeed, it feels so good to be served, to be self-sufficient, to have anything we need and want immediately. It feels good to be praised and be recognized because of the good things we did. It feels good to be able to exercise influence and power over the inferior ones.

But, when all of these only serve the ego (self) and feed oneself, then, we begin to become corrupt. The desire to have more and gain more becomes addictive. We will tend to worship ourselves rather than God, the Giver of everything and the source of all riches.

Moreover, our anxiety to be certain at everything about life can also become a great temptation. This anxiety can be very strong because when it controls our mind and heart then we begin to lose our peace of mind and become doubtful of God’s goodness. We will lose our self-confidence because we become fearful in making mistakes and taking risks. The temptation lies in our tendency to be masters of our own lives, to be independent from God. This will not surely bring us closer to God but in fact, we choose to be isolated from the grace of God.

The Gospel tells us that Jesus was actually led by the Spirit of God into the desert to be tempted. And Jesus was victorious over the temptations because he chose life and hope not death. Jesus chose his Father in heaven rather than the devil. This is how Jesus chose us.

And so, as we will all face temptations, let us also allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into our own deserts, to face our own struggles and difficulties. We are called not to escape from life but to face them with courage and faith. In this Season of Lent, we may discover and reaffirm God’s tremendous love and forgiveness for us. Hinaut pa.