1st Sunday of Lent 2023

Homily: “Corrective Lenses”

There are basically two different lenses through which we could view our scriptures this 1st Sunday of Lent. The first lens emphasizes the dangers of temptation and the inexorable reality of our human condition. The second lens, rather, focuses in on remembering what is most true. The first lens alone might lead us to see our Lenten Journey solely as one that requires the uprooting of sin. The second lens, though, reminds us of the necessary truth of who we are. This then provides us the corrective lenses we need to honestly look at our weaknesses and struggles in the light of God’s mercy.

In a world where too often “doing” always precedes “being” and too many people define their “being” by way of their “doing.” Lent is a reminder to all of us to put the “being” before the “doing” and then the “doing” will take care of itself.

In reflecting on our gospel passage today, the Temptation of Jesus in the Desert, one scripture scholar touches on what, I think, is most central. He writes, “Jesus, in his human weakness, takes refuge in the truth of who he is.” I would like to offer that as good Lenten advice for all of us. As we take up this Lenten journey, in our own human weakness, the best thing we can do is take refuge in the truth of who we are. But that then raises the question: Who are we? And the answer, of course, will be shaped greatly by whichever lens we are looking through.

If we look at the Fall Story of Genesis and Jesus’ Temptations in the Desert through that first lens, overidentifying ourselves with those particular weaknesses we struggle with that flow from our human condition, or if we fixate on “Satan,” or evil, giving it too much power (which I fear too many people do today), we will prioritize our “doing” over our “being” and our “doing” (thus detached from our true “being”) will necessarily be distorted and will do us (and others) more damage than good.

But if we look at these scriptures first through the lens of “being” we are reminded that God has intimately breathed his life-breath into each of us and we are created in his image and likeness. And in regard to Jesus, in the desert of temptation, we will avert our gaze from “Satan” and instead turn our focus first and foremost on Christ, who in the midst of temptation, models for us how we too must take refuge in the truth of who we are in him… no matter what our own particular weakness or temptations. When this “being” precedes the “doing” our weaknesses fall into right perspective so we can act in the world in ways that bring healing and reconciliation rather than contribute to on-going division and hurt.

St. Paul tells us the gift is not like the transgression! So, I would say, with God, the transgression, whatever it may be, can never outpace the gift. Our transgressions, our human condition, our own temptations can NEVER undo the gift: the life-breath of God stirring in each of us, the fact that we are created in the divine image and likeness and, if we take refuge in this truth of who we are, we need not fear “Satan” or any form of evil in this world.

A spiritual writer once wrote that Jesus, through the power of his death and resurrection, is daily lifting each of us up to the gaze of the Father and that God never sees our weakness, but only sees his children: his daughter, his son. So I would add, if we trust that to be true, then every day, as Jesus raises us up to the gaze of the Father, we are learning how to see ourselves first as daughters and sons of God. And then in that light our own particular weaknesses, struggles, and temptations, though very real to us, fall into their proper perspective and our hope of healing and reconciliation is renewed. Each day Jesus lifts us up to God’s gaze we are learning to put our “being” before our “doing.” And we come to realize the Gift always out does the transgression.

Lent is for us a time to take up the corrective lenses of “being” before “doing,” putting the gift before the transgression, so that we truly remember who we are and in acting out of that truth we can do our part to bring real hope and healing to the world around us. In our Eucharist today, and as we launch out on our Lenten Journey this year, let us pray that we may trust in the Christ who raises us up before God’s eyes teaching us daily to see ourselves for who we truly are: Children of God!