On this First Sunday of Lent, as we get started in this holy season, it seems appropriate that all the readings reflect in some way on the issue of temptation. We are familiar with the line in the Our Father prayer, in which we ask God to “lead us not into temptation.” And we see the great example of Our Lord in our Gospel today who was tempted in every way in which we are but didn’t sin.
Jesus knows firsthand the different ways we are tempted. He knows that it won’t be easy, as the devil will come at us with all he’s got. But our Lord does give us the grace we need to overcome temptation every single time. It is up to us to cooperate with these graces, so that we may overcome any temptation the devil throws at us.
In the first reading, we hear about Original Sin. Adam and Eve aren’t given Ten Commandments, but just one: don’t eat from the tree of knowledge. The devil comes and says, “Did God really say that?” and Eve says, “Yes, we can’t even touch it or we’re going to die.” Then the devil responds, “Oh, you certainly will not die.”
So, who is correct? God or the devil?
God says if we sin, we will die. Then the devil comes and says if you disobey God, “You will not die.”
So, we have a problem. Somebody is lying. So, it’s either God who’s lying — who cannot lie — or it’s the devil who’s lying, who Jesus called the Father of Lies.
When the devil says that “you will not die; you will become like gods,” what he means is that, we determine what’s right and what’s wrong, not God. If you think it is right, it’s right. When that is the case, you in a sense become God. You push Him out of your life. You make excuses for any of your sins.
However, when we choose to disobey God, we sin, and our sins enslave us. God has given us the free will to choose to love Him, to choose to follow Him or not. He won’t force us to do the right thing. So, it is up to us to choose to do the good and follow Him. It is then that we will be authentically free.
This Lent, may we overcome our temptations to sin and follow Christ and be free.
