First Sunday of Lent Reflection

Serve God Alone
A Reflection for the First Sunday of Lent
Based on Genesis 2:7 - 3:7, Romans 5:12 – 19, Matthew 4:1 – 11
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry


The Gospel reading for today is the story of how Christ, after fasting forty days in the desert was tempted by Satan. I really love this story because it points up the simple fact that if Satan had the chutzpah to tempt even the son of God, Jesus Christ, what makes us believe that he does not tempt every human being on the planet every day, especially people in positions of leadership and authority and those whom people admire.

Satan started off with a challenge that called on Christ’s vanity asking him to prove that he was the son of God by performing a simple miracle. ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves of bread” ’. Christ replied; ‘Scripture says: “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”.
The next challenge to Christ from Satan indicates the power that Satan has because Satan was able to transport Christ from the desert to the highest pinnacle of the temple and challenge Christ by saying; ‘If you are the Son of God’ he said ‘throw yourself down; for scripture says:
He will put you in his angels’ charge, and they will support you on their hands in case you hurt your foot against a stone”. Jesus said to him, ‘Scripture also says: You must not put the Lord your God to the test”
The next challenge was one that addressed human avarice for power and greed and the one that so many national and religious leaders throughout the ages has succumbed too. The devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘I will give you all these’ he said, ‘if you fall at my feet and worship me.’ Then Jesus replied, “Be gone, Satan! For scripture says: You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.”
The Gospel ends with these words; “Then the devil left him, and angels appeared and looked after him” which is the part I like best because it tells us that if we fight the temptations that the Devil gives us we too will be watched over by God’s angels .
There are so many temptations and guises that the devil uses to entice us to turn from God. They all are summed up in what are called THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS, which are:
LUST, the inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body, think how advertisers use this one to entice us to purchase all kinds of products from cars to food and medicine.
PRIDE an excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity. Here again is another ploy used by advertisers to get us to buy something and to have us have concepts about ourselves that makes us believe that we alone are responsible for and achievements we might have.
GREED, the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual and is often called Covetousness. This is a big one that has brought down many a person. It is a sin that has torn governments and religion apart and reduced good people to tyrants and demigods.
WRATH or Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for confrontation of discord. War is often the result of this sin and with war comes death and needless suffering of people who are innocent of this sin.
ENVY is the desire for others traits, status, abilities, material possessions, political or hierarchal position. This one causes much discord and often leads to some of the other DEADLY SINS.
GLUTTONY, an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires whether it is food, alcohol, power, money or sex. “Everything in moderation” is a good motto to avoid falling into this sin. Think about all the families that have been torn apart because of this sin.

SLOTH, the avoidance of physical or spiritual work or laziness is another one that creates problems for many people who are not prone to this sin. If someone is not doing their job to the best of their ability it often causes others to work harder to take up the slack. One of the manifestations of this sin is the drain it has taken on our social programs for the poor, elderly and less fortunate. We also have to examine the lack of Spiritual Work and what problems that can cause. When some people fail to does their part in supporting charitable organizations or their church, as they are called to do by God in the Beatitudes, work that would relieve hunger or spiritual enrichment has to be curtailed. There are many ministries that could do so much more if only everyone contributed their share of the work by donating time, talent or financial support.

We Christians and all who believe in the one God by what ever name called, are here to serve God.
Jesus summed it up in this one statement. “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."(Luke 10:27),
On this first Sunday of Lent I feel the Gospel reading for today from Matthew 4:1-11 is an excellent one for us to reflect upon and consider how we might avoid falling into the enticements that the Devil uses to cause us to be separated from God. Each and every one of us has sinned in the past because of one or more of these Deadly Sins but because of Christ’s Passion and Death and God’s infinite mercy we can be cleansed of the stain of our sins and move forward in our goal to serve only God. AMEN