Fr Angels Homily

I really enjoy Father Angel's homilies at St Therese church in Aurora. I reposted this weekends from the church website:

Lent and the temptations of Jesus
Since we are beginning the Lenten Season, I thought to reflect with you on the meaning of this season in light of the temptations of Jesus.

The Gospel speaks of Jesus, being led by the Spirit, going to the desert to be tempted by the devil. Just as Eve was tempted, so now Jesus will be tempted in the same way. However, the outcome will be greatly different. Through Adam and Eve we came to experience death, not just physical death but the death of our being.

Jesus went into the desert to overcome the devil and destroy death. That is why these temptations were present throughout all his life. He won the devil not falling into these temptations and following the will of his Father. How are these temptations related to us today?

Even though Mark does not explain to us the temptations, Matthew provides for us a detailed account. Jesus' first temptation is to convert stones in bread.Bread is the symbol for security, for nourishment. What is the food of Jesus? He said that his food was to do the will of his Father. That is why he answered to the devil that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

The question for us today is the following: what is our nourishment today? Where are we looking for life? Maybe many of us are idolaters; we are looking for life not in the will of God but in money, prestige, work, etc.

Jesus' second temptation is to throw himself from the pinnacle of the temple. Maybe it is hard to understand the big deal about this temptation. The devil was telling him the following. Jesus you come from Nazareth, you are a "no-body", the son of a carpenter. You did not even study in any rabbinic school. Your father was not a famous high priest. Who is going to believe in you? Reject the life God has given you! Through yourself from the pinnacle of the temple and thus everybody will see you. If they see that the angels help you, then they will believe in you. This same temptation is also present in our lives.

The devil invites us to reject the history God is doing with us. He invites us to escaped suffering. Finally, the last temptation of Jesus is about idols and money. The devil again wants to present him with a different way of being the Messiah. The devil is inviting Jesus to worship him, because the devil wants to be like God.

He promises Jesus richness and the kingdoms of the world. Exactly the same is promised to us by the devil. He says: "if you sin, you will not die, you will be like God."

So the GoodNews of this Gospel is that Jesus overcomes these temptations for us, so that we may win our spiritual battle, which is not against flesh or blood but against the evil spirits. Lent is a time to fight against the devil with three weapons: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

May God grant us to be one with Christ and share in his victory over death. May God Bless you,
-Fr. Angel Perez Lopez