Gospel of Luke, chapter 4:5

Evil is everywhere around us, and its tentacles are subtle and far reaching. It is often flashy and attractive but it is ultimately an empty cheat.

The gospel of Luke, chapter four sets us, not in the garden of paradise, but in a dry, barren desert where Christ takes on the forces of evil. This is the setting of the conflict between good and evil. This is the setting for a second beginning, a new Genesis. In a grueling, spiritual struggle Jesus takes on the full force of the evil. He rejects the temptations of materialism, fame and power. By standing up to the power of the devil, He tips the course of human behavior Godword. His message is very simple: “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

This simple message makes it clear that we can free ourselves from the grip of evil. We can repent of our sins, and accept the good news of the Gospel. We need to look hard at renewal and face up to our shortcomings. This is our time to enter into the renewal that Lent urges. We need to know where our darkness is; where we have cheated ourselves and one another; where we have lost track of the path of grace. We need to do as Jesus tells us: “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

We may embrace the glamour of the world or the boast of wealth and power, but they will never satisfy the longing of our souls. We long to be free of sin and corruption, and Jesus shows us how. In the desert, He rejected the three universal temptations of power; possessions; and prestige. And, He offered us a better way to follow.

Now is the time to renew ourselves by turning away from sin and all its empty promises, and to accept the good news of the Gospel.

Fr. Hugh Duffy