The Old Testament tells us the stories of Moses, “the lawgiver” and of Elijah “the great prophet.” Before each ascended Mount Sinai and had unique encounters with God, and before they embraced their missions of service to others, these most important of Biblical figures prayed and fasted for forty days. Although they were in fact called to greatness, neither could escape their humanity, and at times while praying and fasting, were weakened with temptations to flee from the responsibilities given to them. But it was precisely because of their prayers and fasting that each gained the strength and the power to do what they were called to do! And so to Moses was given the Law of God that was to be shared with the chosen people (see Exodus 34), and Elijah was charged to bring to completion his prophetic vocation in service to God’s people (see 1 Kings 19).
On this First Sunday of Lent, and recalling the “desert experiences” of Moses and Elijah, we are invited to reflect upon the “Temptation of Jesus” (see Luke 4:1-13). Like them, Jesus also spent forty days of praying and fasting as a time of “preparation” for what he was called to do. With this in mind, it’s no coincidence that we understand the mission and ministry of Jesus as the fulfillment of all of the Laws and of the Prophecies given to us through the Old Testament (Moses and Elijah were their standard-bearers, and for this reason would also be seen at the Transfiguration of Jesus in the days before his public ministry was brought to its conclusion).
In Luke’s account of the fasting of Jesus in the desert, we find that Jesus as a human being (one like us) was tempted three times by devil: the first was to misuse his power in order to satisfy his own bodily desires, the second was to settle for worldly power instead of the eternal glory destined to him as the Son of God, and the third was to entrap people into a false understanding of his purpose by giving them only fleeting and passing (instead of eternal) reasons to pledge allegiance to him as the Messiah. Of course, Jesus did not yield to the temptations of the evil one, and because he prayed and fasted, and even submitted himself to the test, we believe he completely understands our own sacrifices, our struggles and our temptations–and he gives us all the power we need to grow in faith, and to overcome any obstacles to grace!
While certainly none of us have the stature of a Biblical figure like Moses, “the lawgiver,” nor of Elijah “the great prophet,” all of us are individually called by God to our own personal greatness. Our God desires that we enthusiastically embrace the missions and the responsibilities to which we have been called. As we strive to do this, we are invited during this Holy Season of Lent to give special attention to prayer, to fasting and to service to others. With Jesus as our model and guide, and knowing these types of actions empowered Moses, Elijah, and so many saints and holy people before us, may we embrace them with faith and confidence.
May we truly believe they will indeed strengthen us when weak, and empower us when tempted! My friends, as we once again enter the Holy Season of Lent, may we use this time of preparation to respond without defeat to whatever greatness God has called us to do and to be.
Praise God! Friar Timothy
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