Today, Jesus goes into spiritual battle with the enemy. You and I are also in a daily spiritual battle with the same enemy. Today Jesus shows us how to win the battle with HUMILITY, and with GOD’S WORD.
Chapter 6 of St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is famous for its description of the spiritual battle raging all around us. He warns, “…Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood [in other words, people are not the enemy]; again, “For our battle is not against flesh and blood , but against… spiritual armies of wickedness in the heavenly places…” [in other words, the enemy is the enemy; not any person, not that politician, not that church leader, not my relative, etc.]
Paul continues, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God…. Stand therefore, having put on the belt of truth… the breastplate of righteousness… having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:10-16)
What are the “fiery arrows”, or tactics, of the enemy? *Division. The name Devil means divider. Wherever you see unhealthy, harmful division, the enemy is involved. Another fiery dart is*Accusation: the name Satan means accuser. His fiery arrows include: temptation to the 7 deadly sins, but also, any form of discouragement, doubt, deceit, or confusion.
Today, the enemy tempts Jesus three times, shooting three different kinds of fiery arrows. How does Jesus DEFEAT these temptations? With HUMILITY and with the SWORD OF GOD’S WORD. He quotes Scripture verses, saying, “One does not live on bread alone, but on the WORD OF GOD.”
How do Jesus’ disciples, you and I, DEFEAT the enemy’s temptations? In the same way, with HUMILITY and with GOD’S WORD! I recently bought a short book called Fight Back Like A Monk: Resisting Temptation With Resolve, which contains selections from a Christian monk named Evagrius Ponticus. He lived in Turkey in the 4th century. The book contains 125 temptations, with specific scriptures verses to fight them with!
Evagrius imitates Jesus in recommending that we “talk back” to these temptations, these evil spirits, to defeat them. For example, I’ll quote one: “Regarding a proud mind, justifying oneself while not approving of the things done by others due to their weakness”; he says to “talk back” to those thoughts, by quoting Luke 14:11 “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” He’s teaching us to imitate Jesus!
Recently, someone told me that when he experiences thoughts of condemnation, he quotes Romans 8: “There is… now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” He was imitating Jesus! Do you and I imitate Jesus when we are tempted, with HUMILITY and GOD’S WORD?
Jesus didn’t HAVE to suffer the devil’s temptations. He’s God. He could have said “Get away, Satan!” a lot sooner. But He chooses to be tempted. Why? He knows His Father wants Him to be tested. God tests us, the devil tempts us. He sees through the temptation to the test. He is the new Adam and the new Israel. While the old Adam and the old Israel both failed the test and gave into temptation, Jesus wins the victory, on behalf of all mankind!
By His victory, he wins for us the power to DEFEAT temptation in our own lives. By His victory, He teaches us how to win the victory.
What man am I describing? This man is “faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!!” Yes, Superman. In the wilderness, Jesus chooses NOT to be a Superman, but still has the victory.
In the early Superman comics, Superman could CHANGE his face or body to look like someone else! In the Gospel, the enemy tempts Jesus to be a Superman, to use His Power to CHANGE stones into bread. Jesus defeats this temptation with humility and God’s Word: “One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”
In the comics, Superman could JUMP over high buildings. In this Gospel, the devil tempts Jesus to be a Superman, to use His Power to JUMP… off the temple. Jesus DEFEATS the devil’s temptation with humility and GOD’S WORD.
Superman had telepathic abilities, mind-control. He could enter another person’s mind and TAKE CONTROL of them! In the Gospel, the devil tempts Jesus to be a Superman, to use His Power to TAKE CONTROL of the world. Jesus is victorious through humility and GOD’S WORD.
But these aren’t the only defenses against temptation. We also need other people. A study showed that rooms exposed to light had about half the disease-causing bacteria found in rooms that were kept in darkness! If we keep our temptations and struggles in the dark, we’re doing exactly what the enemy wants. When we discuss them with someone else, we are bringing them into the light. Whether it be a spouse, a spiritual friend, a priest in the sacrament of Reconciliation, or fellow parishioners in small groups, it’s necessary to bring our temptations into the light!
Our Lenten Series began last night after the stations of the cross. I’m grateful that we have a nice group of parishioners participating. We will read through the Gospel of Mark throughout lent, and each Friday, come together to discuss in small groups our experience of the spiritual battle, and our lenten practices. Even if you cannot join us, I invite all parishioners to read the Gospel of Mark this lent. Equip yourself, fill your heart and mind, with GOD’S WORD, and you will enjoy more and more LIGHT in your life, the LIGHT OF CHRIST! Amen?