Sunday Gospel Reflection
First Sunday of Lent
Mark 1:12-15
O Tukso, Layuan Mo Ako!
Bro. JM Nuqui
During my 30-day Ignatian Retreat, I had the chance to contemplate on the Temptations of Jesus. I have to say that it’s one of the most difficult yet memorable Gospel contemplations I had (and I suggest you also try contemplating on this Gospel!)
In my prayer, I was a spectator from afar. There were feelings of fear and helplessness as I saw Jesus being tempted by the devil. Ang hirap dahil yung mga bato nag-aamoy tinapay na. It was already tempting to assert one’s power. Ang hirap tanggihan ng kapangyarihan at paghahari. But what consoled me were the actions of Jesus. Contrary to what we hear in the Gospels, in my contemplation, Jesus didn’t say a word. Rather— whenever the devil tried to tempt him—I saw him closing his eyes, taking a deep breath, and then walking away.
My dear brothers and sisters, temptations are real and painful. They are all around us—from our desire and craving for prestige and recognition, to common desires, satisfaction of the body, and appetite for acquisition of power and wealth. But we also have to remember that temptations aren’t sins in themselves. It’s when we succumb to these that we sin. And more often than not, these come to us disguised as something good and beautiful, attractive and enticing—mga pagkakataon gamitin ang kayamanan at kapangyarihan para sa sariling kapakanan lamang; mga karanasan mabigyan ng oportunidad na makilala, sumikat, at gamitin ang mga ito para sa sarili lamang; at mga pagkakataon itago at ipagdamot ang mga talento upang hindi lumago ang iba.
In moments of temptations, in times of doubts and confusions, I find it consoling to go back to Jesus’ experience of temptations, and ultimately, to His very person. It’s consoling to know that Jesus was tempted, too, not only in the desert, but also in His public ministry. It’s very reassuring that Jesus was tempted like me to reach out and crave for superficial attractions, to find shortcuts and easy way out of the problems in life, and even to make self-centered decisions in the midst of a global crisis. But Jesus resisted and conquered the devil’s temptations, and so shall we. And then, we realize that it isn’t only about saying “no” to temptations. More importantly, it’s a series of “yeses” to the will of the Father. It isn’t only about resisting, but also translating these energies to acts of charity.
Kapag natutukso, binabalikan ko ang aking panalangin. Balikan natin si Hesus. Huminto saglit. Ipikit ang mata. Huminga nang malalim. Lumakad, kahit dahan-dahan, kahit mahirap, palayo mula sa mga temptasyon sa buhay.
As we enter the first week of Lent, may today’s Gospel story remind us of God’s love for us. Baunin natin itong karanasan ni Hesus. The temptation experience shows us that God loves us so much that he became like us to endure every form of human hardships and difficulties. He loves us so much that He always meets us where we are. It’s God looking us in the eyes and saying, “Yes, my son and daughter, I do understand what you’re going through. I really do.”
Jesus’ experience of temptation has become a wellspring of his love, mercy, and compassion for us so that we, in our own experiences of temptations and weaknesses, may also be compassionate, merciful, and loving toward others.
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Artwork:
Jesus Tempted by Carl Heinrich Bloch
