A man got a special invitation from Lucifer to visit heaven and hell before he could choose them. He went to heaven first and St. Peter wearing a long white garment. St. Peter welcomed him to heaven. He saw inside the heaven praise and worship, liturgical music, flowers, incense etc.
Then he visited hell. Lucifer was waiting for him with beautiful face, colorful garments. He entered inside and heard Jazz music, delicious food, dance. It was a party place . Very colorful place!
Man said I am choosing hell because that's the prettiest and party place. After death he was welcomed to hell by lucifer. He saw lucifer with ugly face and shabby garments. He went inside find no party, no rocking songs, no colors, not even air condition.
He asked why? Lucifer answered that when he first visited it was a tour program- this is the real hell. Welcome!
Devil is the deceiver and he has only one purpose in the bible that's to take us away is from the purpose of God or direct ourselves something other than God. It can be ego, pleasures of the world, sex, money, power..
As the first Sunday of lent, in today's gospel we see three basic level temptations:
First level is very basic level temptation. It's about bread; bread here symbolizes sensual pleasures. Devil is asking Jesus to make sensual pleasure center of his life.
There is nothing wrong with food, party, sex( inside marriage) but if they dominate you above the will and purpose of God there is the spiritual problem. Look at the world lot of people are addicted to food, sex, porn and other pleasures of body. When they become lord of our life and then your deepest desire for God is not realized . That's why Jesus says, It is written, One does not live on bread alone.
Then comes the second level of temptation; devil is taking to another level of temptation: devil says, I shall give to you all this power and glory. Power can be the greatest temptation, for some people power is temptation, can't imagine life without power. Some people use power to manipulate others. Power is not itself bad. Pope Francis has power, our president has power but if the power is used against the will of God or to manipulate others, then the spiritual problem comes. Lent is the time to reflect if I have quest for power and glory become center of life and forget God and his ways in our lives.
Third is another level of temptation; then devil led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” This is temptation of ego. In this level devil is asking som one to make himself as the center of the world. We have heard about narcissistic generation - they love themselves so much and they think they are the center of the world! It's the time to think if I am putting myself in place of God? Your life is not about you but about God.
All the spiritual leaders both in the Bible and outside have gone through some kind of dessert experience. And today's gospel Jesus is asking us to go through these dessert experience and make God as center of your life. And Lent:
L stands for Love God
E stands for Eat mindfully
N stands for Neighbour - love others
T transform- the whole spirit of LENT.
If you follow the spirit of lent going through a dessert experience, then we will be able to celebrate resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Fr. John Pozhathuparambil
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