First Sunday of Lent 2025: March 09, 2025
Readings: Deuteronomy 26:4–10; Psalm 91:1–2, 10–15; Romans 10:8–13; Luke 4:1–13
Who does not get tempted? Our human nature is such that we cannot be perfect. Vulnerability, finiteness, limitedness, and mortality are part of our lives. Our human nature craves for things more than it is necessary to satisfy one's basic needs. Our desires are unlimited and uncontainable. There is no end for dissatisfaction. Rarely, we might utter, it's enough. More the merrier is the only thing that drives us. In this context, we have very fascinating readings from the Bible, which are nothing but a contradiction to who we are. Jesus is indeed our model in this scenario to discern not only our thoughts and feelings but also our desires.
1. Victory over temptation is possible
The first Sunday of Lent places us at the threshold of the desert with Jesus, where He is led by the Spirit and tested by the devil as we read in Luke 4:1–13. This Gospel passage is not just an episode in Jesus’ life but a revelation of His identity and mission. It invites us to walk with Him into the wilderness of our own hearts, where we confront our struggles and rediscover the path to true life in God. Jesus, the Son of God, faces temptations that echo the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Where the first Adam failed by succumbing to the devil’s lies, Jesus—the new Adam—remains steadfast. The devil tempts Him with three things that still challenge us today: physical needs (bread), power (worldly kingdoms), and pride (testing God). Yet, Jesus resists, not through sheer willpower but through His deep trust in the Father.
His victory is our hope. Jesus does not use divine power to avoid suffering; instead, He embraces His humanity fully, showing us that holiness is possible. In every temptation, He turns to the Word of God. This Lent, we are invited to do the same. Do we rely on God when we are weak? Do we trust His promises when life tests us?
2. The Wilderness: A Place of Encounter, Not Abandonment
The desert is a place of hunger, silence, and trial. It is also a place of encounter. It was in the wilderness that Israel was tested, but also where they learned to rely on God alone. The same is true for Jesus—and for us. Lent is our own journey into the desert, stripping away distractions and false securities so that we may hear God’s voice more clearly.
Often, we resist the wilderness moments in our lives, seeing them as punishment or loss. But Jesus teaches us that the desert is not a place of abandonment but transformation. It is where we learn who we truly are—beloved children of God. We are constantly lured by the illusion that material comfort will satisfy our deepest hunger. Jesus reminds us that “man shall not live by bread alone” (Luke 4:4). True fulfillment comes only from God. We need to hang on to God, who fulfills all our needs. Our human needs cannot be matched by material things that are available in this world.
3. Following Jesus means following the Path to Salvation
The world tells us that success is found in dominance and influence, power and prestige, wealth and honour. But Jesus chooses a different path—one of humility, docility and surrender to the Father’s will. When life becomes difficult, we may demand that God prove Himself. No one is too far gone, no sin is too great, and no heart is too hardened for God’s grace. But Jesus shows us that true faith means trusting even when we do not see immediate signs, including hoping in hopeless situations. Let Jesus be the center of our lives, shaping our words, actions, and desires in this Lent.
Jesus does not merely resist temptation for Himself—He does it for us. His victory over the devil foreshadows the greater victory He will win on the Cross. Lent is not just about giving up things; it is about drawing closer to Jesus, who alone can save us. Lent is not just a time of penance and self-denial; it is a journey toward renewal, a time to rediscover the grace that is already near to us, “on our lips and in our hearts” (Romans 10:8). As we journey through this Lenten season, let us fix our eyes on Him, who is alone our way, the truth and the salvation.
Questions for self-reflection:
- How do I respond to temptations in my daily life? Do I rely on my own strength, or do I turn to God’s Word for guidance and strength, as Jesus did?
- How do I perceive the “wilderness” moments in my life—times of trial, loneliness, or uncertainty? Do I see them as opportunities to grow closer to God?
- How can I create space in my life to listen to God more deeply during this Lent?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, in this Lenten season, deepen our faith in You. May we proclaim with our lips and believe in our hearts that You are Lord, our salvation, and our hope. Draw us closer to You, and help us to live in the freedom of Your love. Lord Jesus, You triumphed over temptation so that we might share in Your victory. In this Lenten season, give us the grace to trust in the Father’s love, to hunger for His Word, and to walk with You in faith. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.
- Olvin Veigas, SJ
March 07, 2025
