Feb. 17, 2013: 1st Sunday of Lent (C)

Have you ever been pricked by thorns on roses? Have you ever seen roses without thorns? In Assisi, Italy, in one of the gardens on the grounds of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, you will find rosebushes without thorns. The basilica is built around a small chapel, called Porziuncula, where St. Francis began the Franciscan order (Order of Friars Minor) and is considered the holiest site for Franciscans. Tradition has it that one night when Francis was praying in the chapel, he was strongly tempted to abandon his way of life. So he went outside the chapel, and rolled in the bramble thorns. In contact with his body, the bramble bushes miraculously turned into dog roses without thorns. Since then, this dog rose is the only rose bush without thorns that grow in the garden next to the basilica in Assisi, Italy.


Do you ever have temptations? I suppose that is similar to asking, “Do roses have thorns?” Temptation is a trial in which we have a free choice of being faithful or unfaithful to God. A temptation is an attraction either from outside oneself or from within, to act contrary to right reason and the commandment of God. We hear in today’s gospel how Jesus was tempted and put to the test by Satan three times. Satan was seeking to compromise Jesus’ faithfulness to Heavenly Father. Each time as Satan tempted Jesus, Satan began with, “If you are the Son of God...” Similarly, when Satan tempts us, he tests our relationship with our Heavenly Father by asking us “If you are a son or a daughter of God...” He uses manipulation, curiosity, desire, or fear of loss to entice us to choose a perceived good or pleasure. The greatest temptation of our generation is selfishness. The constant marching beat of Satan is, ‘Do what you feel. Do what you want. Do it now! Don’t listen to God and His Commandments.’ To give into temptation results in us compromising our marriage vows, compromising our integrity at work and at school, and compromising our duty to be kind, patient, gentle, and compassionate to others. True to his name, Satan, which means “divider,” tears apart married couples, families, friends, and communities.

Our scripture today tells us how Jesus rebuffs Satan’s three temptations and those same methods will help us in our temptations. Firstly, Our Lord relies upon the Word of God. If we read or hear scripture daily, our minds are filled with the voice of our Heavenly Father who will guide when we are tempted. Secondly, our Lord is faithful to His Father. We need to remind ourselves daily of why we were put on this earth: that is, to know God, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven. A daily reminder of our purpose will strengthen our faithfulness and then no temptation will keep us from loving God and neighbor. Thirdly, Jesus trusts in God’s unconditional love and mercy. Once a temptation is accepted and we sin, Satan immediately kicks us while we are on the ground, “And you call yourself a son or a daughter of God? Look what you’ve done! You think God still loves you?” When our conscience is telling us that we have gravely sinned and the guilt is festering inside, another temptation is presented…. to accept that we are not good, can’t be saved, and can’t be lovable. But today’s responsorial psalm promise otherwise to the one who trusts: “Because he clings to me, I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in distress; I will deliver him and glorify him.”

When St. Francis threw himself upon the sharp thorns of the bramble bushes, he was calling upon his Heavenly Father to come to his aid as he was tempted by impurity of flesh and the desire to abandon his vocation. St Francis suffered cuts and bled, but his temptation went away. Who in this church has not been tempted and sinned; who in this church has not hurt himself or a loved one when he gave into temptation? Jesus invites us during Lent to call upon the Heavenly Father and renew our relationship with Him. Come and seek God’s forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and regain peace in your hearts. “Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.”