During my Holy Land pilgrimage in November, I had the privilege of going to the Mount of Temptation. In this sun-baked barren place in Jericho Jesus lived for 40 days and 40 nights, fasting and praying. Here in the desert he withstood the wiles of Satan.
The Mount of Temptation
The whole scene came back vividly to me as I listened to the Gospel of the First Sunday of Lent. Against this backdrop, the reflection on Scripture of Fr. Carroll Stuhlmueller, C.P. in his Biblical Meditations for Lent opened new vistas:
We are not usually tempted by what is obviously bad. Rather, temptations emerge out of goodness which we desire selfishly for ourselves alone. Temptations change at once to invitations to greater goodness, once we recognize the possibility to share properly and happily with others….
Strange as it sounds, goodness provides the occasion for temptation, goodness around us in other people, places and events, goodness within us in our talents and values….Jesus was tempted while fasting and praying in the desert. Here he was led by the Spirit; here he realized the incomparable gifts which he, a human being, possessed because of being Son of God with a messianic mission. In the desert the devil suggested:”Because you are so saintly and so powerful, work those extravagant miracles quickly, at once, and the messianic triumph all over the world will be accomplished! Why wait?”
Jesus, however, waited and concentrated upon his public ministry. This way of God was long, at times tedious and in the end seemingly a failure. The work had to be handed over to apostles and disciples, and as it continues into our own day, it is still unfinished. Maybe we are tempted to think that Jesus should have followed the devil’s advice and carried out the world’s salvation as quickly as turning stones into bread. Then all the kingdoms of the world would be his, enthusiastically acclaiming this wonder-worker who can even throw himself from the highest and most conspicuous spot of the temple and remain unharmed. Jesus waited; for only by a slow process of thought, prayer and dedication can salvation be achieved according to God’s holy will. This salvation must be shared with everyone before individual persons can consider themselves fully saved.
Fr. Stuhlmueller ends his reflections by contrasting the responses of Adam in the garden and Jesus in the desert. In Adam we are selfish and apt to misuse goodness; in Jesus we are strong enough to share without losing. It is an interesting insight that not evil but goodness provides the opportunity for temptation.
Lord Jesus, help me to fast from selfishness this Lent and unselfishly share goodness.
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