Discerning Lenten Meaning Biblically: Reversing Sin-Bound Effects from Genesis 3 by Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11//Luke 4:1-13/Mark 1:12-13

The Lenten 40 days are often juxtaposed to the 40 days that Jesus spend fasting in the wilderness upon his baptism and before starting his public ministry in Galilee.  The meaningfulness to this approach to Lent can be augmented by contrasting Matthew 4:1-11//Luke 4:1-13/Mark 1:12-13 to Genesis 3.

When we began our Lenten journey with ashes smeared on the forehead, as a sign of penance, a minister reminded us, “Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris”(Remember, you are dust, and to dust you shall return), citing from Genesis 3:19, which says, “By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, from which you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return”.  This was what God said to Adam as His verdict on his sin, resulting in the eviction from Eden.   Ever since the time of Genesis 3, throughout the rest of the Old Testament, though created out of dust of earth (Genesis 2:7) and formed us in His image (imago Dei)(Genesis 1:27), we have been wondering in the world outside Eden.  While we were still in Eden, there was no suffering and no death. There was no need for the Law. There was nothing that separate us from God in Eden. There was a harmonious co-existence of God and us – until Satan in disguise of serpent tempted Eve by tricking her sensual desires (Genesis 3:4-6).  At first, we recall this event back in Genesis 3 – how we fell in the first place. That is the first order for Lent.

The Good News, however, is that our God, who is God of love (חסד/chesed) and mercy (רַ֫הַם/racham), as reflected in Psalm 25:6, never abandon us in the state of sin – outside Eden. Out of His loyal covenant love and compassion, God has been always try to bring us back to him – moving from the state of sin to the state of grace through His grace (חֵן./chen). For this reason, God saved Noah and his companion in the ark and established a salvific covenant, as reflected in the First Reading for Quadragesima Sunday on Cycle B (Genesis 9:8-15). Furthermore, God later established even stronger covenant with Abraham to guide us back to His fold. In fact, as Matthew 1:1-17//Luke 3:23-38 indicate, Jesus the Christ, hails from the Abrahamic root.

Now, reading Matthew 4:1-11//Luke 4:1-13/Mark 1:12-13 and focusing on how Jesus fought three temptations set by Satan and overcome, we can see these Gospel narratives, which are used for the Gospel readings for Quadragesima Sunday (Matthew for Cycle A, Luke for Cycle C, and Mark for Cycle B), remind us that God the Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, to save us by reversing  the effects of what Satan did to Eve and Adam.

Eve, followed by Adam, could not resist her sensual temptation and fell to Satan, resulting in losing Eden.  In contrast, Jesus overcome his carnal temptation, though he must have been extremely hunger as it was the 40^th day of his fasting in the wilderness. Besides the bodily temptation, Jesus also successfully resisted to the temptations for self-glorification and power. Thus, he was fully equipped to begin his salvific ministry, starting in Capernaum, where he recruited the first batch of his disciples, such as Andrew and his brother, Simon (Peter), as well as, James and his brother, John.

Now we are more armed to journey on this Lent, praying, fasting, and giving alms, in joy – though the journey may demand sacrifices and take us to some sufferings.  

May Christ always be with you on your Lenten journey!