Cathal BarryJesus’ temptation reveals the way in which the Son of God is Messiah, writes Cathal Barry
The Gospels speak of a time of solitude for Jesus in the desert immediately after his baptism by John. Led by the Spirit into the desert, Jesus remains there for 40 days without eating; he lives among wild beasts, and eventually angels minister to him.
At the end of this time, Satan tempts him on three occasions seeking to compromise his filial attitude toward God. Jesus rebuffs these attacks which recapitulate the temptations of Adam in Paradise and of Israel in the desert, and the devil leaves him ìuntil an opportune timeî (Lk 4:13).
The Catechism notes the salvific meaning of this mysterious event: Jesus is the new Adam who remained faithful, where the first Adam had given in to temptation.
Contrast
Jesus fulfils Israelís vocation perfectly. In contrast to those who had once provoked God during 40 years in the desert, Christ reveals himself as Godís servant, totally obedient to the divine will. In this, Jesus is the devilís conqueror: he ìbinds the strong manî to take back his plunder. According to the Church, Jesusí victory over the tempter in the desert anticipates victory at the Passion, the supreme act of obedience of his filial love for the Father.
The Church teaches that Jesusí temptation reveals the way in which the Son of God is Messiah, contrary to the way Satan proposes to him and the way men wish to attribute to him. This is why Christ vanquished the tempter for us: ìFor we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sinningî (Heb 4:15).
By the solemn 40 days of Lent, the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert.
ìNow after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God and saying: ëThe time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe in the gospelí.î (Mk 1:14-15).
ìTo carry out the will of the Father, Christ inaugurated the kingdom of heaven on earth.î (Lumen Gentium 3).
Now, the Fatherís will is ìto raise up men to share in his own divine lifeî (Lumen Gentium 2). He does this by gathering people around his Son Jesus Christ. This gathering is the Church, ìon earth the seed and beginning of that kingdomî (Lumen Gentium 5).
According to Church tutelage, Christ stands at the heart of this gathering into the ìfamily of Godî. By his word, through signs that manifest the reign of God, and by sending out his disciples, Jesus calls all people to come together around him. But above all in the great Paschal mystery ñ his death on the cross and his resurrection ñ he would accomplish the coming of his kingdom. ìAnd I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myselfî (Jn 12:32).
Into this union with Christ, all are called.