Ready Answers for Temptation

First Sunday of Lent – A

Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7 / Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17 / Romans 5:12-19 / Matthew 4:1-11

Ready Answers for Temptation

We have two stories of temptation in today's readings: Adam and Eve's failure and Jesus' faithfulness. Why did Adam and Eve fail to resist temptation? Why did Jesus succeed? Jesus rejects temptation each time with words he had memorized from scripture. Adam and Eve enter into dialogue with temptation. When we enter into dialogue with temptation we typically lose.

Every time Jesus is tempted by the devil he responds with a quote from Scripture that had formed his relationship with the Father, words that reminded him of what was important in his life:

"One does not live on bread alone, but on every utterance that comes from the mouth of God."

"You shall not put the Lord your God to the test."

"You shall do homage to the Lord your God; him alone shall you adore."

Too often when temptation enters our lives, we listen to a voice different from God’s. We leave too much room for sin to enter in. We fail to “reject Satan, and all his works and all his empty promises” as our Baptismal vows require us to do.

Is there a better time than Lent to begin to implant in our hearts ready answers for temptation? 

·        Think of a recent occasion of sin. Rather than lecturing yourself about how you should have avoided this sin pay attention to the steps that led you to this choice. How did you fail to resist temptation? Be specific. At what point did you give in to temptation? What were the thoughts that led to your choice? How would you refute each thought, each rationalization, each argument in favor of this sinful choice? If you can, follow Jesus’ lead and choose passages from scripture that argue against this sin.