It all begins with Temptation
The first Adam failed to uphold the will of God and under the influence of his wife, Eve, he opened the door to an earth shattering experience: temptation. Through the new Eve obedience in the new Adam offers a power which can turn temptation into a means of merit. The goal of all merit is the reunion of the soul with its Creator. So let us take apart the temptations that came to our Lord; how He dealt with them to teach us; finally, why a temptation a day keeps healing the suffering soul.
In the first week of lent the theme of temptations repeats itself year after year. It is a famous story of the Hero overcoming all weakness and destroying the demon. The story is told by the One who experienced it: our Lord. Therefore, it is a crucial story for it is the beginning of our happiness. Recall that the Holy Spirit drove our Lord into the desert of Dammim in order to pray and fast forty days and forty nights. This is a period of preparation and purification and we carry it on even now.
After the fast and prayer, Jesus is met by the tempter who knows that all men have instincts. If they do not eat then they become hungry. They have instincts to sensual pleasure. Satan knows that if he wants to gain a crowd then offer them a “free-bee”. The subtlety of the temptation is that our was preparing for His mission to gather in the lost souls. Satan is saying that He can do that by pleading with their instincts. Give them bread from these stones. They will flock to you for the food that satisfies their belly. The divine answer to this demonic short cut from the Cross cuts across the sensual divide: “Man does not live in bread alone but in every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Whatever temptation comes to us through the world, the flesh or the devil will be conquered by “staying in” the Word of God. After that defeat the devil takes “the Son of God” to the highest point of the temple and challenges Him to be a super star. All people like to see marvels and Christ can gather in the sheep through the wonder of flight. He simply has to jump off the height of the temple and the angels will gather Him up and gently deposit Him on the land below. Why the people will cry out for Him to do it again. Satan wished to make the Christ a super star to avoid the suffering of the Cross. Jesus is quite clear that Satan shall not tempt the Lord, your God.
If you don’t succeed, try again. So the tempter takes the Lord to the high point of the mountains to show Him all the realms of the world. If Jesus would not be an entitlement do-gooder, nor a super star then surely He would concede to be a King or a President. Politics is the name of the game and so many fall into its lure. The price is the same yesterday, today and forever; sell your soul and worship the prince of this world. The true King of kings knows Whom He worships and drives Satan away.
In every temptation the divine merit flows from placing satan and his actions in the correct order. Order is given through the Words spoken by the Son of God. Priority number one in temptation is to hand over in humility our souls. Every test is only an opportunity to let God be God. Remember man thou art dust and to dust thou shall return. This is the key to conquering whatever the devil may throw against us. It is the way in which I conquer my own flesh and the pleasures of the world.
How important our attitude is in the question of temptation. Every one of us must be tested as gold is tested in fire. We must want to burn away the dross of selfishness. We must want the necessary temptations in order to affirm my love for my Lord. I want to know that there is no obstacle that can keep my heart from uniting with my Love. Temptation purifies my love affair with Jesus. Mary is my greatest helper in the times of my temptation. I do not run from them but with my angels and my brothers and sisters in heaven I embrace the test and merit graces for my family. So look for the temptations that come from the world, your flesh, or even the devil and know that they heal you much more thoroughly than anything else that comes your way.
In the hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
Fr. Richard Voigt, S.D.B.
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