First Sunday of Lent /
Msgr. Owen F. Campion
The Sunday Readings
The first reading for this first weekend of Lent 2014 is from the Book of Genesis.
Few passages in the Scriptures are as abundant in literary technique, and in theological message, as is this reading from Genesis. Bluntly confronting paganism and the tendency of all humans to avoid accusing themselves of fault, it goes to the heart of sin.
The heart of sin is that it is the result of a freely chosen act by humans. While in this reading the role of the tempting devil is clear, it also is clear that the devil only tempts. The devil does not force the first man and woman to sin. They sinned of their own will.
Temptation in itself has a lesson. Rebelling against God was hardly the best thing to do. Yet, imperfect even in their pristine state of holiness, the first man and woman listened to bad advice and trusted someone other than God.
It is a process that has been repeated an untold number of times in the lives of us all.
The second reading is from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. In this reading, Paul looks back to the incident described in Genesis, recalling that by the Original Sin the first humans introduced sin, and resulting chaos and trouble, into earthly existence.
Death and hardship are not God’s designs for us. God did not create us to suffer and die. Misfortunes are not curses sent upon the human race by an angry God. Believe it or not, the first humans chose bad consequences when they sinned. Sin, voluntary and deliberate, brought such devastatingly bad results into the world.
God is the center and source of everlasting love and mercy. The Father sent his Son, Jesus, our Redeemer, among us because he was unwilling to leave us in the whirlpool of death and despair created by our sin. Indeed, since God is love, he is unable to leave us in such dire straits.
St. Matthew’s Gospel provides the last reading. It recalls the temptation of Jesus. It is a synoptic tradition. Similar stories appear in Mark and Luke.
As was the case with Genesis, this reading is heavy in its symbolism. For example, bread in the time of Jesus much more obviously represented survival than bread would be for many people today.
Modern refrigeration and quick transportation of food products have given us in the developed world a great selection as to what we will eat. In the time of Jesus, the selection was considerably less. There was no refrigeration. Few foodstuffs could be transported at any distance without spoiling.
However, grain, and flour, could be stored. Bread was a principal food. So the devil tries to convince Jesus that he can give true life.
The devil also takes Jesus to the top of the temple. Even the Earth, created by God, can be contaminated by evil.
The final and most powerful message is that Jesus can command even the devil. Jesus is God.
Reflections
The Church uses the opportunity of this weekend in Lent to teach us one of the most basic facts of spiritual life. Sin removes us from God. Sin is not thrust upon us. We are not captured by sin against our will. We choose to sin.
The Church has another lesson. The deadliest effect of Original Sin is, perhaps, the human tendency to minimize the danger of sin and to deny personal responsible.
In these readings, the Church calls us away from sin and to face facts. It reminds us of our own personal role in sin. It pleads with us to ignore temptation. It reassures us that, although temptations may be mighty, Jesus gives us enough strength to overcome any temptation.
We must ask for the Lord’s strength, however. Lent calls us to this request. †