First Sunday of Lent, 2023
In the first reading from Genesis, we experience a luscious Eden. Eve is surrounded by every possible delicious food, flowers and companionship. It must have been a magnificent home. Yet it wasn’t enough, and the serpent lured her with a delicious apple.
I think, maybe you do too, that I live with everything I can possibly want – natural beauty, nurturing, loving people; plenty of food; just about any fruit I want, money to do what I must and often want, personal items that bring satisfaction, technology for my use. It is a beautiful place. What or who is your serpent. What or who lures you to want more.
In contrast, Jesus is surrounded by a barren desert, isolation, little food – and when he is visited by the devil, he is forced to confront his ego. Tempted by wealth, power, esteem – he is on his knees relying on God’s strength to turn away from his ego. He embraces only Gods will and leaves the desert for what he knows will be a difficult journey. He prepared himself by rejecting all that draws him to himself rather than God – and he is a better person for his struggle. What or who is your devil – what in your ego lures your away from God.
We can’t hide behind the saying ‘the devil made me do it’ when we find ourselves less than who we want to be. Eve and Jesus made choices just as we face. Human struggle for security, esteem, control etc. is the human condition we live with. Jesus leads us to embrace God’s strength and turn away from a vision of Me to a vision of God.
As we face the 6 weeks of Lent, a new door for self-reflection opens. Lent is not just about repentance. It is about reaching deep inside to acknowledge areas of growth we may need. Our added prayer, almsgiving and fasting are tools to pause and look deep within. It is about resting in the love of and trust of the Trinity knowing they give us the courage and strength to tackle our challenges and emerge more authentic. God wants us to know self-forgiveness and not get stuck in our past but move ahead with loving action and compassion.
I don’t know your challenges. For me it is time to take a good look in the mirror – and reflect on how I feed my ego and put myself at the Center of the Universe. It is time to let go of resentments, disappointments, anger, control, pride and need for recognition – all that lead me to be self-focused. It is time for me find new ways of trust, acceptance, joy for others, less self-attention, more awareness of others and their stories and to rest only in God’s will.
God loves us for who we are and revels in watching us grow in goodness, faith, love of self and others. He doesn’t get stuck on our less than moments but pays attention to our loving God moments of action and prayer.
Our Lenten days can guide us to be alive each day to the wonder of God in us and how we are transformed. What a Resurrection experience it can be.