After his baptism, Jesus goes out into the wilderness to fast and pray, to gain strength for his journey to Calvary and the Cross. Hating this, Satan attempts to divert him by way of three temptations, three "shortcuts from the Cross."
We're familiar with them, if you're the Son of God, turn these stones to bread, cast yourself down from the Temple and the angels will bear you up lest you dash your foot against a stone and finally, the offer of all the kingdoms of the world on the condition Christ worshiped Satan.
There they are, the sins of the flesh, of pride, and of greed which if Jesus had succumbed to them would have hijacked his mission of redemption. Stones to bread, why go to the Cross if you can win men's hearts by feeding them? What need for the agony and shame of Golgotha when you can perform a marvel, a sign which converts the people? And why endure the agony of crucifixion when you can establish an earthly kingdom here and now?
Why not indeed. Because in all of Satan's beguilement redemption doesn't occur, the people remain in their sin and subject to death and Hell regardless of how well fed, self-sufficient and well governed they are. No Cross, no Resurrection, no life.
I like Fulton Sheen's observation. The first temptation is economic, the second a marvel and the third political; bread and circuses under the aegis of diabolic power. Perhaps this sounds familiar, as it was in the days of ancient Rome so now. But consider the second or in Luke's case third temptation.
Throw yourself down from the Temple, says Satan to Christ, throw yourself away from the Church. Who will catch you? Angels, yes, but surely fallen ones, demons, and will they hold you up in their claws and talons, elevating you above the ground of reality, of God himself? Maybe for a time, until they don't and the Faustian pact resolves on collision with the rock.
Thus warned, we pray and meditate on God's holy Word, practice fasting, abstinence and self-denial, give alms and tithe, repent and confess our sins. All the disciplines of Lent by which we beat back Satan and find unity with the Cross and from there the risen life of Easter.
God bless,
LSP
6 comments:
Thank you, Parson.
Our church had a Call to Holiness conference with Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, which was preceded by a Solemn High Mass. The celebrant at Holy Mass made similar points to yours and tied them to what we are required to do in Lent: fast, pray and give alms to combat carnal, pride and greed temptations.
Great talk by Dr. Kwasniewski - "Christian Militancy in the Prayer of the Church: A Summons to Lenten Warfare". Had a great turnout.
I usually go on a fast during Lent. If Jesus hung on the cross for me then I can give up some food for Lent.
Glad to oblige, Linda! Bless you.
DOS, that sounds great, not least a SHM.
I sure wish I could do those at the Missions but I lack the liturgical power (no deacon, subdeacon...).
Right on, Infidel. And it's odd, American Christians, esp Evangelicals, are open to all kinds of things but fasting? Wow, very alien and they resist it. Why would you tell us not to eat? That's weird and stupid.
You'd think, being all Bible, that they'd embrace it. Not at all.
Post a Comment