I SUNDAY OF LENT - Luke 4:1-13
At the beginning of Lent, we are invited to reflect upon the temptations of Jesus. One thing is true, Jesus was tempted many times, at different places and in different circumstances. They asked him for a sign and he was called upon to descend from the cross as proof of his divinity. Luke summarises all temptations in three, as he presents Jesus in the desert reflecting upon his mission and choosing the path he would follow to carry out that mission. The three temptations are paradigmatic, representing the big temptations that seduced the people of Israel and go on seducing the Church. And the people of God have fallen prey to them many times.
- There is always the danger of confusing the Kingdom of God with an easy and good life, where our welfare is guaranteed. Progress and development are not the same as the Kingdom of God and, if not well managed, they will us away from it. To the Romans, St. Paul wrote: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” According to Jesus, the Word of God must always be the guide for the appraisal of human endeavour.
- Wealth and power are not the way to salvation, since they easily become gods to which we prostrate ourselves. If we live for wealth and power, we become blind to the reality of pain and suffering that surrounds us. We become insulated, building ivory towers from which we exploit and dominate the world and we change the brothers that surround us into slaves oppressed by us.
- The danger of using God for us to gain prominence is constant. Instead of giving glory to God, we use God to get our own glory. God is put at our service and in his name we impose ourselves. To do that is to put God to the test, and that will bring a bad outcome for us.
Jesus rejected each one of the proposals giving a biblical quotation as the reason for his choice. The word of God is of paramount importance because it sets forward the great values that must guide our lives. And some of them are worthy of sacrificing our lives for them.
Only God is God and nothing can take his place. Whatever we put up instead of God is a false god that, in the end, destroys our lives. God is the only foundation of our dignity and the guarantee of our freedom.
Finally, we cannot force God to do for us what we can and should do ourselves. He calls us to cooperate with him in the work of salvation.
JESUS' TEMPTATIONS
the song "Intunko shake Yesu" (Jesus' temptations) is sung by Yangeni Singers of Lubengele Parish, Chililabombwe, Zambia. The main singer is Clement Musonda; the melody was composed by Boniface Sandwe.
SATAN
What are you doing here
Suffering with hunger?
Are you not the Son of God?
What is your power for?
Why are you doubting?
What are you doing here hungry?
If you are the Son of God
Change these stones into bread,
Eat and be satisfied.
JESUS
It is written
That man does not live
By bread alone
But by every word
that comes from God.
SATAN
Yes, it is written!
He gave orders to his angels about you.
They will keep and protect you,
They will carry you in their arms,
So that you don’t stumble and be hurt.
Yes, it is written!
Then, why are you doubting?
Throw yourself down!
Throw yourself!
Believe!. Be confident!
Throw yourself down!
Throw yourself!
Don’t doubt.
Throw yourself down!
Throw yourself.
It is written.
Throw yourself down!
Throw yourself.
Believe.
Throw yourself down!
Throw yourself!
Believe.
Throw yourself down!
Throw yourself!
JESUS
Truly, it is written:
Do not put God, your Lord, to the test.
SATAN
Look at the world:
How beautiful.
By my power,
They become wealthy
And from me
They become kings.
Look at the world.
Everything is mine,
Let it be yours;
I give it to you.
Everything is mine,
Let it be yours,
If you kneel down
And worship me.
Everything is mine,
Let it be yours.
I am your god.
Everything is mine,
Let it be yours.
JESUS
Be gone, Satan!.
For it is written:
Worship the Lord your God
And him alone shall you serve.
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