1st Sunday of Lent
Luke 4:1-13
Sunday Reflections by Sister Anne Flanagan

Luke tells us in this Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert for 40 days to be tempted by the devil. Jesus had only recently heard the voice from Heaven say “You are my beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased.” This confirmation of his identity was accompanied by the outpouring of the Spirit as he was baptized by John. Then he was led by the Spirit into the desert.

A Biblical Scholar, Eugene Maly offers a reflection on temptation:

That Jesus was tempted and tempted severely, tells us that temptation to evil is one of the most radical elements of human nature. The Word of God took on human flesh precisely so that he could experience the deepest realities that we experience. And to be human is to be tempted…Temptation is the measure of human freedom. That we can be tempted means that we can make a decision.

That experience of being led by the Spirit underscores Jesus' attitude of total openness to his beloved Abba. Surely, too, it was through the power of the Spirit that, like us in all things except sin, Jesus could overcome the temptations--a reality in all our lives. How do we allow the Spirit to lead us in the deserts of our own lives? Those deserts are surely the times/places where we experience our own vulnerabilities and weaknesses. There is where we can be tempted, especially when feeling vulnerable, to forget who and whose we are; to forget also where our true strength lies--in God. How often we struggle also with letting go of being in control of our lives in so many ways.

The older one gets it seems, the more subtle this temptation to control becomes stronger. Of course, there are the idols that our culture would have us worship, such as consumerism and individualism --to mention just a few.

Jesus who is our WAY, TRUTH, AND LIFE became one with us, EMMANUEL. So now we can trust that we are not alone in our weakness, vulnerability, our humanness. As Jesus was led by the Spirit, we have been given also this same Spirit to be with us as we experience the desert times/spaces in our lives –loneliness, failure, sickness, and death itself. In all of this we are able to recognize God’s presence and proclaim “How good is our GOOD GOD!

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry.

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”

Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.”

Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”

When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

            This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

Sister Anne Flanagan

In more than 50 years as a Sister of Notre Dame, Sr. Anne Flanagan has brought God’s Goodness to her students in parish elementary schools in Ohio. After receiving her MS in Math from St. Louis University, she continued her educational ministry for many years at her beloved Alma Mater, Notre Dame High School for Girls in Chicago, IL.

Later, she received training in spiritual direction and retreat ministry. Along with her teaching, she worked part-time for about 30 years in retreat work and spiritual direction. Also, she served her sisters as Community Moderator at Mt. Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Ohio. Then, as Associate Director for the Notre Dame Mission Volunteers Program (NDMVA) in Cincinnati, she was inspired by the generosity of the members in their service.

Presently, she is engaged in the awesome ministry of companioning others through spiritual direction/retreats.