HOMILY FOR THE 1ST SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR B (3)

HOMILY FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: LET US GO TO OUR DESERT!

BY: Fr. Mike Lagrimas

HOMILY:

Mk 1:12-15
A mother camel was talking to her young son. “Mother”, asked the young camel, “why do our feet look different from the others?” The mother replied, “Well, son, our feet have three hooves so that when we walk on the sand in the desert, we will not sink.” The son again asked, “But why do we have such long eyelashes?” And the mother said, “Those long eyelashes will protect our eyes from the sands during sandstorms.” “And why do we have these ugly humps on our back?” asked the young camel. “Well,” the mother explained, “in the desert, water and food are scarce. Those humps look ugly, but that is where we store our food and water when we cross the desert.” But the young camel was still not satisfied. “Now I know that these hooves are for walking in the sand, those long eyelashes are to protect our eyes from the sand, and the humps are for our food and water as we walk in the desert. But why do we need these? We are not in the desert! We are right here inside Manila Zoo!” (M. Ezeogu).

For many of us, we may feel like this young camel. We are in Manila, and there is no desert here. It is simply difficult to relate to the Gospel this Sunday about Jesus in the desert. But we must understand, however, that the desert may not necessarily be a physical location. In biblical context, the desert is any situation where a person can be in solitude. And in this solitude, two things can happen: an encounter with God, and an encounter with the Tempter. This is what happened to Jesus in the Gospel this Sunday.

The Gospel said: “The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert.” This has two purposes. First, so that he could be alone and commune with the Father through prayer and fasting for forty days and nights. Second, so that he would experience what every human being undergoes, especially the temptations and sufferings. The Letter to the Hebrews expressed that: “Therefore he had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested” (Heb 2:17-18).