Family with Teen(s)
Matthew 4:1-11 The Temptation of Jesus
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written:
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written:
‘He will command his angels concerning you’
and ‘with their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’”
Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written:
‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve.’”
Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written:
‘He will command his angels concerning you’
and ‘with their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’”
Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written:
‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve.’”
Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.
Last year, Pope Francis said, “Lent comes to us as a providential time to change course, to recover the ability to react to the evil that always challenges us.” Indeed, Lent is a time to “turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.”
What, then, does “giving something up,” have to do with the evil in our lives?
The best way for me to describe it is by using Fr. Jim Shafer’s simple method, the “1-1-1 Plan.” Let’s first look at Fr. Shafer’s plan in its entirety and then discuss the significance of the Lenten sacrifice.
What, then, does “giving something up,” have to do with the evil in our lives?
The best way for me to describe it is by using Fr. Jim Shafer’s simple method, the “1-1-1 Plan.” Let’s first look at Fr. Shafer’s plan in its entirety and then discuss the significance of the Lenten sacrifice.
STEP ONE: GIVE UP ONE THING
Giving up something for Lent has been in our tradition for centuries. While it’s tempting to give up chocolate, lose a few pounds, and call it a “good Lent,” it’s not quite what the Church had in mind. Not that your health isn’t important but the Lenten sacrifice plays a more significant role in the process.
STEP TWO: PICK UP ONE THING
It’s about this time of year that I hear someone say, “I’d rather do something than give something up.” Well, here is the perfect opportunity. Lent is not just about fasting and sacrifice it’s about also about action. The next step is to add one habit that enhances your relationship with God. Since we are all so busy, Fr. Shafer challenges us to reflect on this carefully. The objective isn’t to create another commitment that drains your energy but to find one that gives you more of it. Pick up a habit that energizes you and keeps your mind straight; pick one that fills you with the Holy Spirit, re-charging you for the rest of the week.
STEP THREE: FOCUS ON ONE SIN
The last and most important step is to pick one sin that is actively working in your life. Pick one sin and name it. Are you always angry? selfish? greedy? Do you turn to certain behaviors to fill the void inside? When you give sin a name it becomes real. It exists. You know where it lives and you can kick it out the door. This is what Francis means when he speaks of “the evil that is always challenging us.” It sneaks in and destroys like a cancer. It’s unrelenting and it doesn’t discriminate. But if we name it, we can “react” to it, as Francis says.
It’s only when we come face to face with the evil deep within us* that we can begin to take our Christian discipleship seriously. Indeed, this is the heart of Lent — turning back to Christ.
It’s only when we come face to face with the evil deep within us* that we can begin to take our Christian discipleship seriously. Indeed, this is the heart of Lent — turning back to Christ.
RECLAIMING OUR LENTEN SACRIFICES
All three steps contribute to the bigger mission of “turning away from sin.” But what can the lenten sacrifice really do for us? Traditionally, we know it can give us a taste of Christ’s sacrifice, a reminder to pray more, or even a sense of gratitude; however, one of the more practical reasons is to simply create a habit of discipline. Discipline is a like a muscle. The more we use it, more resilient we become when evil finds its way into our lives. If we cannot say “no” to a piece of chocolate, how can we say “no” to some of life’s most destructive and seductive temptations?
My college professor once joked with us, saying, “There’s only way to get rid of a temptation!” Our class thought for a only a second before he said, “…give in!” And even when we do “give in” it finds its way back. It’s a constant battle and if we cannot stand up to the evil in our lives it will find a home in our heart, transforming us into something we never meant to be. “Giving in” is not an option — unless you want to be a slave, a prisoner in your own body.
Our Lenten sacrifice gives us an opportunity to exercise our freedom and will power, building spiritual resiliency and old-fashion discipline. When partnered with prayer, it is the most powerful weapon against the strong pull towards sin.
-Written by Jurell Sison-
My college professor once joked with us, saying, “There’s only way to get rid of a temptation!” Our class thought for a only a second before he said, “…give in!” And even when we do “give in” it finds its way back. It’s a constant battle and if we cannot stand up to the evil in our lives it will find a home in our heart, transforming us into something we never meant to be. “Giving in” is not an option — unless you want to be a slave, a prisoner in your own body.
Our Lenten sacrifice gives us an opportunity to exercise our freedom and will power, building spiritual resiliency and old-fashion discipline. When partnered with prayer, it is the most powerful weapon against the strong pull towards sin.
-Written by Jurell Sison-
This Lent, I pray that we can take our Lenten sacrifices seriously — myself included. When we do, we will not only find ourselves stronger and more resilient in the face of temptation but we will also discover the full meaning of a Lent that leads to resurrection. Take on the 1-1-1 challenge, but don't do it alone! Invite a family member or a friend to support you on your journey.
If you are not ready for that (yet!) check out this Life Teen blog that has "102 things you should really give up for Lent". What matter the most is that each day you do something that promotes being the best version of yourself.
Good Luck! I will be praying for you!