Father Albertus Herwanta, O. Carm
During the forty days of Lent, we are invited to enter a desert of introspection and confront the inner conflict. Our desire is at the center of this conflict. It is a powerful force that either leads us toward God or drives us toward disobedience. We have traced this very conflict from the Garden of Eden to Christ's temptation in the desert. Today's readings help us understand it.We read about the creation of humanity in Genesis. God creates Adam from the dust, instills in him the essence of life, and places him in a garden with trees that are visually pleasing and nutritious. We also find that desire is a gift from the Creator and, therefore, is initially beneficial. The serpent, however, takes advantage of this gift. Eve has a new desire to be like God, with knowledge of both good and evil, as a result of the serpent challenging God's command.
Internal conflict begins at this point. When the woman discovers that the fruit is "desirable for gaining wisdom" her desire for transgression breaks the harmony of obedience. The consequence is immediate and total: their eyes are opened, not to enlightenment, but to shame and separation from God.
"Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves." (Genesis 3:7)
This ancient disintegration is what the Apostle Paul explains in his letter to the Romans. He teaches that one man's disobedience brought sin into the world, and that sin and death spread to all people. We frequently fail to accomplish the good we wish to do and commit the bad. We are drawn away from the life that God planned for us by our disordered desires. Not only does this disobedience result in bodily death, but it also causes spiritual alienation and a break in our relationship with the source of all life.
However, the Lenten season is a theme of hope and rebirth rather than hopelessness. Jesus goes to the wilderness in Matthew's Gospel. The spirit guides him to give in to the devil's temptation. In a desolate desert, Jesus succeeds where Adam and Eve failed in a lush garden. The devil exploits human desires for power ("I will give you all this"), protection ("Throw yourself down"), and provision ("Turn these stones into bread"). However, Jesus, the second Adam, clings to his humanity in obedience, whereas the first Adam seeks divinity through disobedience. He completely aligns his will with the Father's by responding with the Word of God rather than his strength.
"One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)
For the Christian during Lent, this narrative is intensely relevant. Lent is our annual journey into the desert to watch our desires. It is a time to honestly confront the internal conflicts within us—the temptations toward pride, comfort, and control that lead us away from God. Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we practice reordering our desires.
Like Jesus, we learn to say, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Disobedience has actual consequences that break apart our world and our lives. However, we also hold on to the promise stated in Romans: many will be rendered righteous through the obedience of one man, Jesus Christ. So as to prepare our hearts to seek God above all else and to rise with Him at Easter, Lent is a journey from the shame of the garden to the hope of the cross. (*)