​FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT​

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The Temptation in the Desert:  Matthew 4:1-11 

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Pope Francis proposed that the phrase in the Our Father ‘Lead us not into temptation’ should be translated differently. He felt it gave the misleading impression that God lures us into temptation and sets traps for us: as if God enjoys playing God with us and smiles when we fall into the trap. He proposed a clearer version: ‘Do not let us fall into temptation’. 

 

It’s worth reflecting on these options as we enter Lent with the gospel account of Jesus being led by the Spirit into the desert where he is tempted by the devil after his fast. At that point, he was bound to be especially weakened and vulnerable when the devil turned up. Deep within himself Jesus perhaps felt how easy it would be to slip into one or all three parts of the ego’s web of illusion.  

 

The first is to rely on the material substitutes for reality and so avoid the endless challenges it presents to us in daily life. How much easier it is to slip into self-indulgence and justify using our power or gifts in egocentric ways (turning stones into bread) – easier than learning what enduring the desert has yet to finish teaching us. Secondly, he waved away the temptation to throw himself off the pinnacle of the temple just to show that the angels would rescue him. How tempting is the illusion of the deluded pride of egoism to use risk to avoid engaging with reality and fall into the comforting nets of illusion. Thirdly, he shatters the temptation to expel ourselves altogether from reality by enthroning the impulses and cravings of the ego for power and control.

 

The Desert Teachers believed that we need temptations and tribulations in order finally to break out of the web of illusion and self-deception. It is good to see that we are making progress in living life as a spiritual path but dangerous to be complacent and think the old patterns will never try to return. ‘Be vigilant’, therefore, ‘at all times. That’s what the desert experience is about – staying awake. Abba Sisoes was on his deathbed, his face shining like the sun and surrounded by his disciples. When the angels came to take him, he asked for a little more time to repent. The younger monks, who thought he was perfect, asked him why he had asked for more time. He replied, ‘Amen, I tell you, I do not think I have even begun to repent’.

 

The myriad temptations to the illusions of pride are part and parcel of the school of life. Just when you feel you’ve got it under control, the insinuating whisper can return. Not from the Spirit who accompanies us into the desert and never leaves us at the mercy of the forces of darkness even when we fall into temptation. Temptations come from the human inclination under duress or disappointment to deny truth and choose the unreal over the real. 

 

Facing this human weakness is what the desert is about and why we meet more than the devil there. We meet the Spirit who always has our back. In front of us we see and are helped by radiant angels when we need them, for just as long as we need them.

 

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (Mt 4:11)

 

 

Laurence Freeman
Lenten Reflections

Bonnevaux 2024

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