40 is a number we find at several significant moments in the Bible. The reason for the use of 40 is its association with transformation. At least 40 days are needed for an individual to be transformed, as old habits are uprooted and are replaced with new ones. Similarly, 40 years are required for the large scale transformation of society, as one generation passes and another one rises up.
In the Book of Genesis, 40 days of rain bring about a global flood, which erases the evil social structures that had arisen. Later, after their liberation from Egypt, the Israelites spend 40 years wandering in the desert in order to be reshaped into a new people, who are ready to enter the Promised Land. During this time, Moses stays 40 days at the top of the mountain in God's presence as he prepares to be God's messenger, through whom the law will be communicated to the Israelites. When the Israelites fall into sin by worshipping the Golden Calf, they undergo 40 days of fasting to atone for their sin.
In the New Testament, in the Gospel passage for this Sunday, we see that Jesus spends 40 days fasting in the desert. He does not do so because he himself needs transformation, but to highlight the great transformation he is about to bring about. He will usher in the new law, the New Covenant for humanity. He will, moreover, atone for the sins of all of humanity with his death upon the Cross. The number 40 appears again after the resurrection. Christ spends 40 days instructing the Apostles, preparing them to lead the Church after his ascension back into Heaven.
As we see in the Gospel passage for this Sunday, at the end of his fast in the desert, Jesus is tempted by Satan. The account of the temptation appears in the Gospel of Luke as well, but in a different order. In the First Reading for this Sunday, we also see the temptation of Adam and Eve in the garden.
Temptation is a continual part of our experience as humans here upon the earth. The dynamics of temptation follow a pattern. The tempter seeks to bring about doubt and confusion. In the Genesis temptation narrative, he questions Eve if God had really given the command she had referred to. In the Gospel reading, he questions if Jesus really is the Son of God. The tempter offers partial truths and takes quotes from Scripture out of context, twisting the meaning around. A partial truth is usually more effective than an outright lie, because it is harder to tell from the full truth.
The tempter insinuates that the rules are unreasonable and that they are there for our oppression. Transgressing the rules, the tempter suggests, will liberate us and will help us live into our full potential. The tempter also makes false promises, offering what he cannot give, like offering all the kingdoms of the earth to Christ. Another ploy of the tempter is to encourage us to take things by force, to grasp early that which we would receive in the fullness of time.
Then, if we do fall into sin, the tempter becomes our accuser, seeking to make us think that we are too far fallen to receive God's redemption. The tempter wants us to think that God could never love someone who had sinned as horribly as we have. Through these thoughts, the tempter tries to lead us into complete despair.
We see three types of temptation play out in both temptation narratives. The first has to do with the body - physical comfort and pleasure. The second is focused on the ego, an unhealthy elevation of our self. The third revolves around a sense of control, having the power and resources to serve our body and our ego.
But how does such temptation work upon Jesus? As we know, Jesus is God incarnate. Since he is God Himself, he would never and could never sin, since sin would contradict his very nature. At the same time, he has come among us to live like one of us, entering into the fullness of our humanity. As a human, he allows himself to experience human temptation, though he will never sin.
As God Incarnate living among us, Christ used his divine power only in his ministry, to fulfill his mission. But Satan tempts him to get him to use his power for himself, rather than for the benefit of others. Jesus is tempted to make food for himself miraculously, for his own satisfaction, rather than to experience the limitations of the human condition and to use his powers only to feed others. In the temptation to jump off the Temple, Jesus is tempted to use his power for his own glory, his own ego, rather than for the service of others. The glory will be his. But first he must complete his mission. He must first give himself in sacrifice upon the Cross. Then he will receive the glory.
The third temptation seeks to get Jesus to take control over all the world right now. He is already King of the Universe. He already has all the power. But his mission upon the earth entails that he not claim the power for now, not until after the crucifixion and resurrection, when he will claim again the fullness of his power.
The temptation of Jesus is the reversal of the temptation of Adam and Eve. He succeeds where our First Parents failed. Adam and Eve eat what is not meant for them, but Jesus resists the food that is not his to eat. Adam and Eve reach out for glory that would be given to them in the fullness of time, but Jesus refuses to grasp at glory prematurely.
Adam and Eve are placed in charge of God's creation. But by seeking control beyond what is given to them, they squander the gift, losing the protection of God and falling under the dominion of the evil one. Jesus is tempted to take control of the world by subjecting himself to the tempter. But he refuses to reach for power before the fullness of time. Instead, he claims his dominion over the world only after the resurrection.
As our spiritual journey unfolds, we too can expect to encounter relentless temptation. Needless to say, our society constantly tempts us to please the flesh and to elevate the ego. Moreover, as Christ is pushed more and more out of public life, we can see that our culture is falling increasingly under the control of the evil one, and we are under ever-greater pressure to acquiesce.
But we should not despair. Christ has given us an example of resisting temptation. We must look to him to be our guide and protector. We should not seek to overcome temptation through our own strength, but always through the strength of Christ. To receive his strength, we need to maintain a deep and consistent prayer life and focus on drawing close to the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist. We should also invoke the protection of all the heavenly hosts, and first and foremost of our Holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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The readings for the First Sunday of Lent, Cycle A, are:
Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7
Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17
Romans 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19
Matthew 4:1-11
The full text can be found at the USCCB website.
Photo Credit: Mount Quarantania near Jericho, where, according to tradition, Jesus was tempted by Satan by Zoltan Abraham (c) 2016.