1ST SUNDAY HOMILY OF LENT – YEAR C

1ST SUNDAY HOMILY OF LENT – YEAR C

HOMILY THEME: IN GOD ALONE WE TRUST!

BY: Fr. Mike Lagrimas

HOMILY: Lk 4:1-13

An obese man went to the doctor. He was diagnosed of having high levels of cholesterol, blood sugar and severe hypertension. He was strongly advised to avoid all kinds of meat and fatty foods and change his diet to fish and vegetables. To help him remember his diet, the doctor said: “Only eat the food that knows how to swim.” Back in the house, his neighbors saw him in his swimming pool with a pig. “What are you doing with that animal in the pool?” asked his surprised neighbors. He answered, “I am teaching this pig to swim.”

A Jewish man joins a Catholic neighborhood. But every Friday he makes the life of his Catholic neighbors difficult. While the Catholics avoid meat, the Jew is outside barbecuing steak. The mouth-watering smell is making their abstinence excruciating. The best way to put an end to their misery is to convert the Jewish guy to Catholicism. After much pleading and some arm-twisting, the Catholics succeed. They take him to a priest for baptism.

Afterwards the priest congratulates the new convert and cheerfully says, “Born a Jew, raised a Jew, now a Catholic!” His Catholic neighbors are very happy. At last, there will be no more temptation on Fridays. But the next Friday evening, the familiar aroma of barbecue fills the air again. The Catholics all rush to the Jew’s house to remind him of the obligation of abstinence. They see him standing over the grill, sprinkling water on the meat and solemnly saying, “Born a cow, raised a cow, now a fish!”

These two stories illustrate how we can sometimes be stubborn to the point of being ridiculous. We would justify it by saying, “If there’s will, there’s a way.” This is determination, we would say. But there is a thin line between determination and foolhardiness. Coupled by selfish ambition, this converts into the deadly “by-hook-or-by-crook” mentality and attitude.

This is precisely what sin is all about. Sin is essentially disobedience to God. This is brought about mainly by trusting in one’s own power, by insisting on one’s plans and desires. The temptations employed by the devil show this. In essence, the devil was tempting Jesus to use his own powers and to follow his own plan instead of relying on the Father’s wisdom and power.

Jesus was hungry after forty days and nights of fasting. He can eat in the normal way, and there is nothing wrong with eating. But the devil proposes the faster and easier way: turn stones into bread. In effect, he was trying to convince Jesus to rely on his own power and disregard the natural course of nourishment designed by God. But Jesus refused: “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” (Lk 4:4).

Next, the devil showed Jesus the vast empires of the world, but with the condition that he will bow down to worship the devil. Although Jesus is God, and he has full dominion over the entire universe, yet he has to complete his mission first, and that entails suffering and dying on the cross.

There is a quick and painless way out, and that is to kneel before the devil and the entire world is his. But Jesus chose to follow the Father’s will and the way of the cross. He sharply rebuked the devil: “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve’” (Lk 4:8).

Finally, the devil used the temptation of vanity and pride. Jesus can throw himself down from the top of the Temple and he will not be hurt because, by his own power, he can summon the angels to catch him. If he does this, he can immediately be popular; people will readily believe his teachings and the authorities will not question him anymore. But Jesus did not use his own power to advance any agenda of self-glorification. He chose the way of humility and hiddenness in obedience to the Father’s will.

Trusting in one’s own power makes one proud and self-sufficient. Then it becomes very easy and convenient to disregard and disobey God. This is what we see in the world now. When a person becomes wealthy, he has the power to turn stones into bread. He won’t see the need to pray and ask God for help. When one has political power, he can give the command and people follow him. He won’t need to kneel down before God and ask for power and permission. When one is popular and famous, people adore him; they call and chant his name. People worship him, so he need not worship God.

However, the painful and shocking lessons eventually come. The global financial crisis has taught us that financial power is limited and fragile. Political power over peoples and nations will last only until the next elections or coup d’état. Fame and vanity suddenly vanish into oblivion as shown in the faded glory and ignominy of many famous movie stars and sports heroes. The prophet Jeremiah gives the apt conclusion: “Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who makes flesh his strength; whose heart turns away from the Lord… Blessed are those who trust in the Lord; the Lord will be their trust” (Jer 17:5,7).

God alone does not fail. God alone has no end. To trust in God is the best we can ever do. Let us reject the temptation to trust in our own power and resources. Let us call on Jesus who said: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in me will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). In Jesus we have the assurance of final victory and eternal salvation.

Fr. Mike Lagrimas
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
Palmera Springs, Susano Road
Camarin, Caloocan City

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