THE DEFEAT OF TEMPTATION: A VICTORY FOR HUMANITY.

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT. YEAR A.
February 10, 2008.
(First reading: Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7) (Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14, 17)
(Second reading: Romans 5:12-19) (Gospel reading: Matthew 4:1-11)


THE DEFEAT OF TEMPTATION:
A VICTORY FOR HUMANITY.

CHAPTER I: Humanity falls into temptation.

The Book of Genesis describes the first human settlement as that of the "garden of Eden"(Genesis 2:8), which in Greek means "earthly paradise". This primordial state of human life is characterized by the unity and harmony between human beings and with God. This way of life reflects the life of God himself.

The historic event which marks the destruction of this primordial state of human life is the institution of divisions among human beings.

Genesis points out to the fact that human beings ("Adam and Eve") fell into the temptation of believing that the life of God (That is, the life of unity among human beings and with God) was not "good" enough for humanity.

Upon falling into the devil's temptation, human beings came to "realize" that they were different from one another ("that they were naked" - Genesis 3:7), that they did not share in the same dignity, and therefore they could exploit and destroy one another.

And so they turned from unity to division, from harmony to chaos, from life to death.

Saint Paul in his Letter to the Romans confirms the existence of the primordial state of human life in which "sin is not accounted when there is no law" (Romans 5:13). There was no Law because human beings lived in unity among themselves and with God.

However, that life of unity was broken - says Paul - "through the disobedience of one person [and] the many were made sinners" (Romans 5:19), humanity sunk into the darkness of division, oppression and injustice.
Humanity had fallen into temptation.

CHAPTER II: Nowadays, humanity continues to fall into temptation.

The world continues to fall into the temptation of believing that the life of unity, peace and justice is not "good" enough for humanity, thus its sinks into darkness and death.

The world falls into the temptations:
1. The tempter says to man: "Command that these stones become loaves of bread"(Matthew 5:3); and that is exactly what some people do: They dispossess their fellow human beings of the wealth that is produced for the common good, and accumulate such wealth for their own self interests. The one who falls into this tremptation turns into "his" what is everybody's. In his insatiable greed and ambition he appropriates for himself and devours the "loaves of bread".

2. The tempter says to man: "Throw yourself down. For [God] will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone" (Matthew 5:6). In other words, the tempter says: "Throw yourselve behind policies that perpetuate injustice and oppression, for God will not allow that any harm befall upon yourselves". And that is exactly what some do: They perpetuate injustice and oppression in their believe that God will not permit that they themselves be, at some point, destroyed.

Therefore, those who fall into this temptation "put the Lord, [our] God, to the test" (Matthew 5:7) because they dare to go on oppressing and destroying others while thinking that all God can do is condone their abuses, support their oppressive power.

3. The tempter says to man: "All [the kingdoms of the world] I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me" (Matthew 5:9); and that is exactly what some do: They prostrate themselves and worship the "idols" of money, power which are the means that keep them in their seats of world domination.

CHAPTER III: Jesus defeats the temptations, thus showing us that we can also defeat them.

1. Jesus defeats the first temptation by showing us that a human being "does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God" (Matthew 5:4); and the words that come forth from God's mouth are: unity, peace, justice, mutual respect. They are the true food which make human beings develop and grow. Once people take that food, they will be able to give material wealth its true purpose which is to serve the needs of all human beings.

2. Jesus defeats the second temptation by showing us that he does "not put the Lord, [our] God, to the test" (Matthew 5:7); and neither should we. We cannot expect God to tolerate our injustices and our abusive power, for the time will come when those who fail to change their unjust and abusive ways will meet with their own obliteration.

3. Jesus defeats the third temptation by showing us that he only worships and serves "The Lord [our] God" (Matthew 5:10); and so should we. Jesus rejects all "idols" and false gods. Jesus demonstrated with his life that he came to serve God by serving his fellow human beings; and so should we, for by serving our fellow human beings we are also serving the Lord, our God.

The victory of Jesus over the temptations is a victory for humanity.