Who are you?

And so, we find ourselves in the season of Lent - a penitential time for prayer, reflection and self-examination. It is a time for getting our spiritual and earthly lives in order and a time for creating personal space to begin to truly understand ourselves. Do you know who you really are?

In today’s Gospel reading from Luke (Chapter 4 verses 1-13) we hear the story of the temptation of Jesus. The Devil is shown tempting Jesus to worship him. Effectively, Jesus is asked to show that the Devil is worth more to him than his Father, because the Devil can give him earthly power and authority. It was a real temptation, because Jesus really wanted the power to bring peace to this troubled world. However, Jesus realised that you can’t bring about God’s ends using the Devil’s means. Peace can’t be brought about by powerful force alone.

During his time in the wilderness, Jesus began to fully understand who he was, his mission and his purpose. Jesus did not engage with the Devil’s temptations. He simply quoted the Word of God in scripture. God’s Word has power, even over our demons. Each temptation involved a seizure of power. Firstly, power over the elements of creation by turning stones into bread. Secondly, political and military power by gaining authority over the kingdoms of the world. Thirdly, power to force God’s protection in an inappropriate manner.

That Jesus was tested throughout his ministry was widely held in early Christianity. The Letter to the Hebrews clearly reminds us that Jesus was tested in every respect, ‘yet without sin’. Ultimately, Jesus’ experience teaches us that there is nothing wrong with being tempted. It’s how we react to the temptation that matters.

‘Know yourself!’ Is an ancient piece of Greek wisdom. The question is, ‘Do we know ourselves and our temptations?’ Am I a perfectionist, or lazy? Do I desire to be noticed or praised? Am I holding on to the gifts and talents that God has given me, instead of putting them at the service of others? Do I focus on the best in people, or get myself angry at their flaws? Do I love only those who love me? Do I have a closed mind so that I miss out on the surprises and graces of every new situation? Do I judge others or try, as Ignatius suggests, to put a good interpretation on what they say or do? Where am I ignoring the grace of God?

We need to remember that God knows us better than we know ourselves, but he loves us as we are. God also works, often through others, to help us recognise how we spoil ourselves. God wants to help us be more compassionate and easy to get on with. All we have to do is ask God to help us grow in LOVE and challenge ourselves to see the temptations of the world as the backdrop to the vocations to which we have been called.

This Lent, take time in prayer and reflection to ask that most difficult of questions - ‘Who am I?’ Only by seeking to understand ourselves can we truly grow in faith, the service of God and our neighbours.

With every blessing,

Christian

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