Luke 1:4-13, 1st Sunday of Lent

You don’t have to agree with me on this, sisters and brothers. But I don’t think Jesus was tempted just that one time. We believe and profess that the Son of God is “like us in all things but sin;” in all things…except sin. Which is why I personally believe that just like our demons do to us, they also did to Jesus: to “try and try again.” I also find it strangely consoling that Jesus was tempted in the three same areas that you and I are most often tempted in: physical gratification (“Command this stone to become bread”); power and wealth (“I shall give you all these if you worship me”); and honor (“Throw yourself from here and God’s angels will support you”).

But Jesus was filled with the Spirit, the Gospel said. Try and try the demon did. But he couldn’t make any headway with Jesus. Nope. When you’re filled with the Holy Spirit, no matter the little you have, you feel full. In fact, you feel God’s blessings are more than enough. You can’t complain. You can’t ask for more.

“Turn this stone into bread!” the demon said. And I imagine Jesus saying, “Oooh, tempting. But no thanks. My mother will have a warm supper waiting for us when I get home tonight.” (By the way, sisters and brothers, fasting ended by sunset and began again by sunrise. So, Jesus didn’t starve himself for 40 days. That would’ve been suicidal, or at least, brought him close to death.) “I shall give you all power and glory if you worship me!” the demon said. I imagine Jesus answering: “Tsk, um, no, thanks. I’m really okay with the healing and exorcising. Pro bono.” Last ditch from the demon, for now:“Throw yourself over and angels will serve you!” I imagine Jesus saying: “Tsk, um, you believe I can fly! But I don’t and can’t. So, no. Besides, I already have really good friends. They’re not rich. But I can count on them anytime. With empty hands, they catch me better when I fall.”

            Sisters and brothers, the Temptation in the Desert is often regarded as a foil to the Temptation in Eden. Jesus had nothing in the middle of nowhere. He should’ve been the more vulnerable to demonic enticements. But Adam and Eve? They were awash in blessings. No wonder they’re such classic symbols for the rest of humanity, for us. Despite so many blessings, despite having more than enough to survive and thrive, humans wanted more. And they would get at that more even when it meant violating God’s word and abusing his generosity. God did not deprive Adam and Eve of something they badly needed. God gave them everything! But they wanted more. Now. Regardless.

            If on a tinier scale, it’s happened to me a few times. I make one purchase from Lazada, something I really need. Before I know it, I’ve made two maybe three more purchases of what, I swear, I do not really need. Same thing at the grocery. “I will get only toiletries I’m running low on, promise.” Upon reaching home, I am all the richer…by two Cheetos, two Cracker Nuts, another bottle of Orahex, another bottle of Downy…and a new pair of reading glasses because the ones in my bag, office, bedroom desk, bedside table, are not enough! So, thank God for that guardrail that stops the wayward, runaway car: my limited monthly allowance!

            Imagine if we had even more money and more power to spare, sisters and brothers. Our demons will try and try again. In fact, they will make us go from self-gratification using stuff, to self-gratification using people. Never mind Lazada. Never mind the grocery. No, we want more control, more subservience from family. We want more praise, more affirmation from friends. More likes, follows, and subscribes from strangers! We want more show of power and sway over subordinates. We want more payback from our naysayers. To get at that more and to get at it now, we resort to manipulation, emotional blackmail. We swing from being fawning to being patronizing. We alienate and character assassinate. We inflict pain by passive aggression. And if that stops working: active aggression in word or deed. I think it was from the Stoics that I read a quotation which I think is true in this particular state of affairs: “If we want more, we will need more.”

When we are “filled with the Spirit,” however, sisters and brothers, we feel grateful and joyful with what we already have. And even more deeply grateful and joyful with whom we already have. We may not have everything we want. But enriched by the Spirit, we praise and thank God for giving us everything and everyone we actually need. Our demons will try and try to tempt us towards getting more physical gratification, power, wealth, and honor. But when we are filled with the Spirit, we realize: God doesn’t give us what we deserve. He gives us more than we deserve. We may feel empty at times, sisters and brothers. But were we really empty? Even in the loneliest wilderness we’ve been in, we’ve always had something to go by, always had someone to go with. Hindi tulad ng mga demonyo na nilalaglag tayo, kelan ba talaga tayo iniwan ng Diyos sa walang-wala? In that sense, we are always filled with God’s Spirit. We are always graced.

Lent is upon us, sisters and brothers. For most of us, it is a time of self-restraint and “subtraction.” But Lent can also be a time of letting ourselves go…in acts of kindness and generosity especially to people who don’t have very much in life. Lent can also be a time of addition…like words and acts of gratitude especially to people whose kindness we often take for granted. Because God has given us so much, sisters and brothers, let’s go and want more…let’s go and get at more…but for others. May our Lenten offering be their early Easter.

*The Temptation of Christ, St Mark’s Basilica, Venice