1st Sunday of Lent 9 March 2025 Temptation
We can look more closely today at Temptation, and how it works ,and how we might improve our response to being tempted.
The Devil has many ways to tempt us. There are two ways in particular that he can ensnare us into sin. Flattery and Intimidation.
By flattery the devil tells us how good we are and how entitled we are to take things easy, so why don't we just indulge in one or two things which may not be quite by the book, but what harm can it do? Flattery appeals to our pride, laziness, lustfulness, gluttony. Why not take a bit more? You deserve it.
People will say: I am a good person, so it is ok if I do this thing.
This is self-flattery but it comes from the devil.
By intimidation the devil puts fear into us with the idea of paralysing our response. Intimidation is seen most brutally in time of persecution. eg Deny Jesus Christ, or we will shoot you…
Intimidation would be seen also in peer pressure where others challenge us to follow their example, which might often be the wrong direction. Peter was intimidated when challenged about his association with Jesus.
At various times we will be tempted to deny our faith or some aspect of our faith, which goes against the common opinion eg to be pro-life, pro traditional family.
Satan tried flattery with Jesus this first time, working on Jesus’ closeness to God. You can do whatever you want… (Later at Calvary, it was intimidation. Come down from the Cross and we will believe you).
If one of us had been in that position and subjected to those temptations we would not have lasted as long, but Jesus was made of sterner stuff.
He had come as the new Adam, the leader of the new humanity. He would save us from the Devil by exposing the latter's tricks and lies for what they were and giving us more substance to look for instead.
When tempted, Jesus shows us what to do by referring back to certain basic truths.
Man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
You shall not put the Lord to the test.
You shall worship the Lord and Him alone.
He was thus not deflected. He was still walking that straight path before Him – the path to Calvary, and then to Heaven.
The devil works on our weak points, so that we come around eventually to what he wants us to think.
Like the Israelites we forget the Lord who brought us out of Egypt (Deut 6,12).
This is why we need Lent, as a season of re-thinking and self-denial; a time to straighten out what has become crooked. A time to assert where we stand and resolve not to be moved.
Not only to give up sin, but in a way give up temptation too. Well, we cannot stop temptations coming, but at least we can send them where they belong. In the light of day we see them for the distortions that they are.
Hold firm against the devil’s flattery and intimidation, and we will come through the dark into light – a light that cannot be overcome.
Lord, lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil.
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