SUNDAY REFLECTIONS: FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

Genesis 2: 7-9, 3: 1-7; Romans 5: 12-19 or 5: 12, 17-19; Matthew 4: 1-11

(Rev. Dr. Francis Perry Azah)

Last Wednesday, we began the season of Lent, which is our preparation for the Easter celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. It is a period in imitation of Jesus spending forty days in the desert. Jesus fasted in the desert and overcame the devil’s temptations. Jesus never sinned, but in the desert he was tempted. During these forty days of Lent, we remember Jesus in the desert as we try to overcome temptation and sinfulness in our lives. We are also reminded of the many struggles that threaten us in life.

The readings all tell us that we are subject to temptation and that we are always in need of God’s help and strength to get us through our day. There is practically no hiding place or shelter in the desert, and the difficulties of the desert make whatever is inside a person come to the surface. The desert tests and shows up a person as he/she is. Lent is an invitation to us to take the courageous step of “going into the desert” and not hiding from what lies hidden deep within us.

Look at the story of Adam and Eve. They seemed to have everything going in their favor. They walked intimately with God every day and were tenderly cared for, provided with a beautiful garden filled with everything they needed to thrive. All those trees in the garden are theirs for the asking, except one. And they couldn't avoid that one tree in the middle of the garden. They couldn't accept any limitation. That's the fundamental temptation we all face. It sneaks up on us because we don't put it in those stark terms - "I want to be like God." We simply want to get around some of the things that come with being human.

The core of being human is sometimes having to "die to self" - figuratively or literally. We have to "die to self" in order to get to life. Resistance to this is in us from the beginning. The temptation is to try always to avoid that which is to try to be like God. Lent is a time to put our souls before a mirror and see ourselves as we really are. Lent is an invitation to allow our sin, darkness, and wounds come to the surface so that we can deal with them and allow them to be healed by the grace of Jesus.  During these forty days of Lent, we do not hide from our sinfulness or prevent God from speaking to us or from healing us. It is only when we admit something that we can deal with it.

The first stage in overcoming anything is to admit the problem. If we remain in denial, we miss out on the grace of God to heal us, renew us, and make us whole. During Lent, we say no to the devil’s temptations to continue committing sin and instead trust in our heavenly Father, as Jesus did in the desert. The words of Jesus can be our words this Lent: “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt 4:4) Lent is not only about helping others, about doing something, it is also very much about the type of person we are.

At this point, I think it is fair to ask why Jesus fasted and went into the wilderness. In the biblical tradition, the desert was the place of preparation for a divine mission. So it had been for Moses, who knew the revelation of Yahweh (Exodus 3.1), and for the people who had been enslaved and experienced the fatigue of freedom. So it was for Elijah, who listened to the word of God (1st Kings 19:18). Then also Jesus remained in the solitude of the desert for forty days before beginning His public ministry. Jesus has done so to teach us to live life as an exodus in the desert, as it was for the Jewish people, and as it must be for the Church, a pilgrim to heaven. This means that we cannot plan our life, we cannot decide it, but we must abandon ourselves to a Word of promise.

Lent is a time for more prayer. We live busy lives, and there is much emphasis on enjoying life, but a life without prayer is a life without the joy of God's presence. If we do not pray, we are not Christians at full potential; we are only walking when we could be flying. Lent is not only about helping others and doing something, but also about the type of person we are. We pray because all goodness comes from God, and when we pray, we touch God. A Christian is a benefactor who also prays. God is our loving Father who greatly desires to be close to us, so we pray more this Lent to experience more of the joy of knowing God our Father. Let this Lent be for us a time to reform our lives and be obedient children of God, following the footsteps of Jesus.