First Sunday of Lent
Mt 4:1-11
February 26, 2023

I recently watched a “JESUS MOVIE” on television that I personally found to be especially inspirational. It left me with the feeling that I had been reflecting on The Scriptures and not just watching television. The movie is called “40: The Temptation of Christ.” As you can guess from the title, the focus of the film is today’s Gospel passage.

With the exception of a few scenes drawn from Jesus’s younger years, the whole movie is committed to the Lord’s time in the desert. And because of that, the fullness of JESUS’S HUMAN NATURE is highlighted. The film maker accomplished this in a very powerful and dramatic way.

As I was watching the action unfold, I could almost feel the crippling heat from the burning sun, the thirst, the hunger pains, the fatigue, the confusion, the fear and anguish, the loneliness…especially during the dark, frigidly cold desert nights. I felt the uncertainty that the Lord endured during those days and nights of solitude…ALL OF WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD LED HIM TO.

I think it’s interesting to consider that the description of these 40 days in the Lord’s life must’ve come directly from HIM. He was alone in the desert when the evil one appeared on the scene. There were no witnesses. It seems highly unlikely that the tempter shared the story with anyone else, since he lost the epic spiritual battle.

It’s telling of how significant this struggle between good and evil was, since it is reported by Mark, Matthew, and Luke with only slight variations. I think it’s also important to notice and reflect on the detail in each of these reports, while still leaving a great deal of room for the imagination.

It’s a bit like a children’s coloring book…with thick, dark lines, outlining a picture to be filled in by a young artist, relying on their own creative imagination. This particular film maker has taken full advantage of the Gospel’s invitation to “fill in the bank spaces.” In fact, the first two attacks by the tempter involve images by which many people might be horrified, shocked, and even scandalized. But as I let the impact of the film settle in, it occurred to me that this highly creative approach (that some might find offensive) really puts the viewer in touch with Jesus’s humanity…His Human Nature…which was, after all, the tempter’s target.

Upon entering the story, the tempter isn’t depicted as an ugly creature from a horror movie…or a wild animal…as in some Jesus films. He is a handsome young man who relies on a long, black hooded cape to give a sinister vibe. Then, during the first temptation…and this is the part where you might recoil at first…he appears to Jesus disguised as Mary.

Speaking in a very soft, loving voice, the tempter mimics how a caring, nurturing mother would have urged her child to do what is good for them.

Eat! Please eat…you have to keep up your strength. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you.

How clever of the evil one! What child would resist the desperate pleas of their mother? But Jesus saw through the disguise, and He resisted the temptation to turn stones into bread.

Your immediate reaction to the second temptation might also be negative. After a brief flashback to all St. Joseph had done to protect and foster the Son of God and the child of Mary, the tempter stole the image of the other loving parent.

To lure Jesus out of the spiritual realm and into the material world, he uses an image of St. Joseph, who attempts to “shame” Jesus into turning away from His mission. In modern day terms, the second temptation might sound like this:

I sacrificed so that you could have a better life. Work hard, study hard, get a good job. Succeed. Make a lot of money. Give meaning to MY life…to all the sacrifices I made for you…by having a second home…a great car…a big investment portfolio.

But Jesus saw through this disguise as well. He resisted the temptation to forego His mission and ministry so He could engage and embrace the material world. The Lord ignored the very natural inclination to satisfy the ambitions of his earthly father, understanding the cost would be the will of His heavenly Father.

For the final temptation, the evil one dropped his efforts to disguise himself. There was, however, a costume change. He shed the long, black hooded cape that shrouded him in other scenes. Instead, the actor was dressed in a brilliant white tunic with gold trim. There was no longer anything dark or ominous in his appearance or demeanor. In a very friendly and inviting tone, he offered, even pleaded with The Lord to partner up with him.

And, of course, Jesus refused.

The Lord did not buy into the diabolic scheme. In spite of the extremely weakened state that both desert conditions and deprivation had pushed Him to, Jesus had the strength to resist this final onslaught.

And then, The Lord, in a dazzling display of power, named the enemy and then dismissed him. The actor playing the role of Jesus spoke those three commanding words with force. But whether shouted or whispered, those words continue to be the ultimate weapon against any hunger, desire, or ambition that threatens our spiritual well-being.

Get away, Satan!

With those three, simple words, together with the help of God’s saving grace, our fragile and weak human nature, so vulnerable to temptations, has the power to UNMASK…NAME…AND BANISH anything or anyone that might slither into our lives.

As I said, the movie “40: The Temptation of Christ,” left me with the feeling that I had been reflecting on The Scriptures, and not just watching television. My reflection reinforced what the Church calls us to remember each year as we begin the Lenten Season by joining Jesus in the desert.

Temptation is all about deception. There are no rules. The tempter does not play fair. We must be super vigilant if we are to unmask the enemy which assumes many different disguises.

It might take the form of misguided love or undeserved loyalty. Very often, it hides in the shadows of ego or ambition. Moreover, the tempter does not give up. Our appetites, our greed, or our pride are easily reignited.

Resistance and rejection aren’t always as easy as we might hope. It takes time. If we are blessed, we might overpower and even banish a temptation in 40 days. But other temptations come back after a hard-fought battle and try again…and again…and again…to win the war.

You know that’s true from your own lived experiences.

So, you have ahead of you 40 pages of thick, dark lines, outlining a picture to be filled in by you…relying on your own creative imagination. If you take full advantage of the Gospel’s invitation to “fill in the blank spaces” with prayer, fasting, and works of charity, on Easter morning, you will be looking down at a masterpiece…an image of Christ!

But remember, “conversion” is a life-long process…a marathon, as they say, not a sprint. So don’t get too discouraged if you happen to skip a page or ruin a picture by coloring outside of the lines.

And don’t rush.

Finally…be confident that with God’s help…and three powerful little words…GET AWAY, SATAN!…spoken with conviction…you can prevail.

When you do…the angels will come and minister to you! AMEN.