THE REALITY OF TEMPTATION AND SIN IN OUR LIFE

 

Homily for the First Sunday in Lent, Year A

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scriptural Texts: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11

 

The three readings of this first Sunday in Lent speak to us about the reality of sin and temptation in our life as Christians. The first thing to note when it comes to temptation is that no human being is exempted from temptation. Jesus himself was tempted, as such, being a Christian does not immune one from temptation. As matter of fact, the stronger we are as Christians, the greater the temptations that come to us. But the good news is that God does not desert us in the face of temptation. While the temptation of Adam and Eve in the first reading tells us how we are tempted by the devil, the temptation of Jesus in the gospel reading not only teaches us the tricks of the tempter but also shows us how to deal with temptations. The way we overcome temptation is by looking at the one who has overcome the world (John 16:33).

The temptation of Adam and Eve teaches us that every sin is caused by temptation and sins are the result of our conscious decision. Adam and Eve were not forced to disobey God; they voluntarily chose to go against the commandment of God (Genesis 3:6). They knew what was expected of them by God but they willfully chose otherwise. Sins are acts of the will. We sin because we choose to sin. Statements like “the devil made me do it” are just ways of denying our culpability and when we blame our sins on others, we condone our sins.

Temptations are deceptively attractive. Behind every temptation that comes against us are always traces of satanic deception (lie) or arguments that negotiate for our failure into sin (genesis 3:5). As far back as the Garden of Eden, the whisper of the devil was to rise and not to fall. He did not suggest to Eve and Adam that the forbidden fruit would make them like the devil, but like God. The fall is there, to be sure, when you cut a deal with the devil. It is just hidden in the fine print. Also, the temptations of Jesus and Eve teach us that temptations almost always begin by distorting the authority of God. The devil takes God’s command and reshapes it (Matthew 4:3-11).

The devil comes to tempt us in those moments when he knows we are in weak and vulnerable. Like a roaring lion, the devil waits to pounce when he thinks his prey is most vulnerable. That is why St Peter advises us to be vigilant (1 Peter 5:8) and not to give the devil a chance (Eph.4:27). The devil capitalizes on our basic needs and longings. The devil uses what we have and what we need to tempt us. That is why every temptation would always come through something that has an emotional connection with us. Our emotional connectors include people, our possessions, quests and cravings; events, and places that have intense appeal to the soft part of us.

Lastly, temptation is real but the good news is that Jesus teaches us how to deal with it. The way Jesus overcame Satan’s temptations was not by denying God’s Word as Eve did, but by relying on it to defeat Satan in his temptations (Luke 4:4, 8). Jesus remained faithful to God who loved him. We all face temptation to sin every day. But the author of the letter to the Hebrews tells us that since Jesus himself knew the experience of temptation, he is able to understand our weaknesses, and he can help us to endure temptation without sinning (Hebrews 2:18; 4:15). When we fail the test, as Adam and Eve did in our first reading, the Lord sympathizes with us. Rather than condemn us, he is there to help and support us. As Saint Paul says in our second reading, ‘the good act of the one man brings everyone life’ (Romans 5:18). When we fall, all is not lost. At such moments, we can confidently make our own the prayer of today’s responsorial psalm, ‘Give me again the joy of your help’.