FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT -- YEAR A

READINGS First Reading: Gen 2: 7-9; 3: 1-7; Second: Rom 5: 12-19 Gospel: Mt 4: 1-11

THEME OF THE READINGS 

The word temptation seems to be key in the daily liturgy. The serpent tempts Adam and Eve through cunning, as the first reading mentions. At the beginning of his public life, Jesus is tempted by the devil in the desert (Gospel). However, whereas Adam and Eve gave in to temptation, making themselves blameworthy for their sin, Jesus conquered temptation, freeing us from the guilt of sin (Second Reading). Thus Jesus becomes the true Adam, the very ideal of humanity loved by God.

DOCTRINAL MESSAGE 

Temptation is a fact of human experience. From the moment a person has the use of reason and is responsible and free, from that moment evil in all its innumerable varieties, and the Evil One in all his cunning, can irrupt in one’s life with attractive and seductive force. There is no temptation from which one is immune on earth, as liberty is universal and the Tempter is the "prince of this world" who only wishes evil. Adam and Eve had a double temptation: they wanted complete autonomy in knowledge and absolute lordship over life. From the beginning of humanity until its end, mankind desires unlimited knowledge, to command life at will. One prefers to stretch his hand to the forbidden tree, than to enjoy serenely and happily what is allowed. One believes God has prohibited things because he does not will one’s good, and wants to keep mankind subjected and submissive, like a tame dog. Mankind sees God, therefore, not as a Father but as a rival and an enemy. 

The truth is the very opposite: if God prohibits something, it is because he loves us and knows the forbidden will harm us. Sadly, man was not convinced, did not trust, stretched his hand toward the tree … and saw himself in all the nakedness of his misery, of his destructive pride, and of his false and malignant liberty. The consequences of sin are experienced by every person in their own flesh. Jesus, a man like us in all things but sin, also suffered temptations from the devil. 

Jesus was tempted several times in his life, but Saint Matthew concentrates on the temptation he suffered before beginning his public ministry. He was tempted in the same way as the people of Israel when crossing the desert toward the Promised Land: tempted to power, to seeming, to having, and to possessing. The people of Israel succumbed to the temptations, but Jesus was victorious. According to Saint Augustine, in him we have conquered our temptations, if we behave like him, that is, if we fast, pray and do penance. 

In essence, the great temptation of man has been, in his smallness, to appear to be great, "like God," to believe himself, and to seem to others to be, a god. The great teaching of Jesus Christ is that, although he had the very greatness of God, he became little, like man, to the point of being subject to temptation. Adam and the people of Israel manifested their smallness and nothingness in face of temptation. Jesus, on the other hand, at that very moment revealed all his greatness. Consequently, as through Adam sin entered the world, through Jesus Christ, true prototype of man, redemption has come to the world.

PASTORAL SUGGESTIONS 

The ways one is tempted depend a lot on personality, on the environment in which one moves, on the stage of life, on legal or professional status, and on circumstances and situations. Nevertheless, temptation is just around the corner, waiting to strike any one, when least expected. On temptation, it is important to stress anyone can be tempted at any stage in life; it must not be thought temptations are limited to the young. 

Lent offers a good opportunity to analyze the topics of temptation and sin in many areas of human activity: the temptation of "another religion," to one that is easier and more pleasing, or the temptation to idolatry of gods made by human hands, the temptation to rebellion and to civil or ecclesial disobedience, the temptation to dissent for the sake of dissenting, the temptation to lie, to corruption, to adultery, to abortion, to sex without love, etc. These and many other temptations beset us and our brothers and sisters.. An in-depth catechesis on temptation is a catechesis on freedom and responsibility before God, our own conscience, and others. It is precisely in temptation one shows whether or not one is truly free, that is, that if freedom is used correctly. 

Today the tendency is to take responsibility away from man for his actions, chalking up to surroundings, psychological weaknesses and abnormalities, "innocent kids' stuff," what is, in fact, blameworthy. Without removing altogether the weight such reasons might carry, I believe society must react, and instead of decreasing responsibility, make an effort to develop people who are truly free and responsible for their actions. Otherwise, instead of improving society, we will let it fall, with greater or lesser culpability on our part, into recklessness and irresponsibility.

Source: http://www.clerus.org/clerus/dati/2004-05/21-13/CICLOA.html by P. ANTONIO IZQUIERDO L.C. (1948-2013)

[참고: 이 파일은 저서명 "가톨릭 교회의 말씀 전례에 따른 성경공부 해설서"(엮은이: 소순태, 출판사: 가톨릭출판사)의 각주의 연장으로 마련되었습니다].