EASY TO STAY OUT THAN GET OUT

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

National Migrants’ Sunday

Dt 26: 4 – 10 / Ps 91 / Rom 10: 8 – 13 / Lk 4: 1 – 13

The Irish novelist, Oscar Wilde, has this to say, “I can resist anything except temptation.” Indeed, all of us have our own share of temptations. For those on a diet, it is always a temptation to ask for more… for more food! For those who want to have a better future, it’s always a temptation to gain more money as easy as possible! And for those who are loveless this Valentine’s Day, it’s always a temptation to be bitter and have a pusong bato today!

Even Jesus in our Gospel was tempted not once but thrice in the wilderness. “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus was tempted to love pleasure than God. “I shall give to you all this power and glory… if you worship me.” Jesus was tempted to love possessions than God. “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here…for he will command his angels to guard you.” Jesus was tempted to love protection than God. Love for pleasure, power, and protection were the three temptations the devil offered to Jesus. However, Jesus did not give in to these “lower loves” because he has always chosen the highest love who is God.

The temptation for pleasure, possession, and protection is also our own temptation. Since we want to be always comfortable, then the devil offers his pleasure. Since we want to have a name in society, then the devil offers his possession. Since we want to be stable and secure, then the devil offers his protection. However, my dear friends, we are called to be like Jesus – that we resist these temptations by always CHOOSING GOD.

And our first two readings today give us the reason why we must choose God. We must choose God because Moses in our first reading reminds us that God hears our cries; he sees our affliction and oppression like what happened to the Israelites while they were in Egypt. We must choose God because St. Paul tells us in our second reading that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

My dear friends, the presence of temptations also reminds us of the presence of God in our lives. For what use is the temptation if there is no opposing force on the other side?  The devil tempts us because he is aware that there is also a God who constantly invites us to be with him. What matters in the end therefore is our decision either to give in to the devil’s offer or give way for God’s grace to enter into our lives. Jesus was able to resist the temptations of the devil because Luke tells us right at the start of the Gospel that Jesus was “filled with the Holy Spirit.” We during our Baptism received the Spirit and we were strengthened in Confirmation with His gifts. We too therefore can resist temptations no matter how strong they may be because the Spirit is also in us. Let us therefore call on the Spirit to inspire us every time we are to make a decision in choosing either the lower loves of pleasure, possession, and protection or the highest love who is God. Let our responsorial psalm be our prayer today and forever, “Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.” Be with us Lord, now and forever.

The American novelist, Mark Twain has this to say, “it is easier to stay out than get out.” It is easier to stay out from sin by resisting temptation rather than getting out from the tight net of sin. Therefore, in our effort to resist temptation and choose God let us remember the words of the apostle James, “Resist the devil and he will take flight. Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you!” Amen.

Photo taken from postbarthian.com