My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, as we begin this sacred season of Lent, we are invited to deepen our relationship with God through prayer, fasting and alms giving. Today, the Church presents us with powerful Scripture passages that invite us to reflect on the nature of temptation, our weaknesses, and God’s provision for us in times of trial. In the first reading from Genesis and in the Gospel reading from Mathew, we see the contrast between the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden and Jesus’ victory over temptation in the wilderness. These passages offer us a profound lesson about temptation, sin, and the path of redemption.
In the first reading, we are reminded of the original state of human beings in the Garden of Eden, a place of perfection where Adam and Eve enjoyed communion with God. They were placed in a paradise, given everything they needed, and instructed to care for the earth. But there was one condition: they were not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was the one command given to them. Yet, when the serpent, representing temptation, came to Eve, she and Adam gave in. The first temptation, as we see, was based on a false promise: the serpent told Eve that if she ate the forbidden fruit, she would not die but become like God, to have control and knowledge, leading them to doubt God’s goodness and trustworthiness. They took the fruit, and their eyes were opened but not in the way they had hoped. Instead of gaining wisdom, they lost the intimacy they had with God. Their disobedience introduced sin and suffering into the world.
This story is not just about the fall of two individuals but about all of us. We are all tempted in ways that promise more than they can deliver. Temptation often whispers that we can have something better, something that will fulfill us more deeply. But in the end, it only leads to emptiness and separation from God. This is why the story of the fall reminds us of the importance of trusting in God’s commands and not relying on our own understanding or desires.
The Gospel reading shifts to the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. After his baptism, Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert to fast for forty days and nights. It was during this time of deep prayer and fasting that the devil approached Jesus with three temptations. Each temptation presented an opportunity for Jesus to deviate from his mission and his trust in God. The first temptation was to turn stones into bread. Jesus had fasted for forty days, and he was hungry. The devil tempted him to satisfy his physical hunger in a way that was contrary to God’s plan. But Jesus responded, quoting Scripture, “man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”. Here, Jesus teaches us that while our physical needs are real, they should not be the sole focus of our lives. We are called to trust in God’s provision and rely on his word. The second temptation was for Jesus to throw himself down from the temple and have angels save him. This was a temptation to test God’s faithfulness and to seek fame and glory through a miraculous spectacle. Jesus responded, “do not put the lord your God to the test”. This teaches us the importance of trusting in God’s plan and not seeking signs or testing God’s love for us. The third temptation was to bow down and worship the devil in exchange for all the kingdoms of the world. This was a temptation to gain power and authority by compromising with evil. Jesus responded, “worship the lord your God, and serve him only”. Jesus shows us that our true allegiance must be to God alone, and that power and wealth gained through sin or compromise are not worth the price.
In both the story of Adam and Eve and the story of Jesus in the wilderness, we see two paths: one leads to sin, separation from God, and death, while the other leads to victory over temptation, deeper trust in God and eternal life. Lent is a time to follow Jesus’ example, just as Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness, we are invited to spend these 40 days in spiritual discipline. Through fasting, prayer and penance, we seek to detach ourselves from the things that lead us away from God, just as Jesus resisted the devil’s temptation, we are called to stand firm in God’s word, to trust in His promises, and to resist the false promises that the world offers.