First Sunday of Lent (Lk. 4:1-13) "Two Standards"
First Sunday of Lent (Lk. 4:1-13) “Two Standards”
Life is full of choices. What we choose emphasizes what we value. The thing we ponder this Sunday is whether we desire Christ’s values or the values of the evil one who we personify as the devil.
Jesus teaches us about his way of life. Some Christian spiritual masters throughout history have asked if we are committed to what they label the Regnum Dei. How do we translate that Latin term? Most often we hear that phrase rendered as “The Kingdom of Jesus.”
For some reason that doesn’t capture the all-embracing way of the Lord. A kingdom refers to a certain piece of real estate. We think of a physical place when we hear the word kingdom.
But the term Regnum Dei can also be translated as the “Reign of God”. Now this casts a wider net. When we talk about a ruler’s reign, we are referring to everything they represent. For instance, we talk about Julius Caesar’s reign which points to how he tried to lead the Roman empire. We might speak of Queen Elizabeth’s reign today. She would, I am sure, want to be seen as an upright person that had the best interests of her subjects at heart.
The reign of God, as Jesus described it, was outlined in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus’ moral system was captured by the beatitudes. His reign could be summarized by the two great commandments. We are to Love God and we are to love our neighbor.
St. Ignatius would describe the choice we have to make in Christian life as a choice between two standards. When an army went off to war in medieval times the standard bearer would ride out in front leading the army. The standard bearer would have the code of arms of the king or queen that the army was loyal to. The standard represented the values of the ruler and the values of the nation. If the standard bearer was killed in battle someone else would pick up the banner to carry it forward.
St. Ignatius would say that we have a decision to make. Will we make a deliberate choice to follow the standard of Jesus Christ? Or will we follow the standard of the devil.
Jesus shows us the way. We remember today that, as Jesus began his ministry, he was confronted with a choice. What was he tempted with? He was confronted with three fundamental hungers that all humans crave. He was seduced by the three p’s which are power, possessions and popularity. Jesus rejected each one in turn. He chose to serve humanity. Jesus chose to give everything away. Jesus chose to be scorned and ridiculed rather to be worshiped.
What happens if we choose the devils standards? Somehow the opposite values don’t seem all that bad at first glance. Who doesn’t like to have nice things? Which one of us doesn’t like to have influence in organizations we belong to? Who doesn’t want to be liked by everyone? But these hungers can go easily awry.
Look at what is happening in Ukraine right now. A tyrant is attacking another country. He already has complete power. He is already one of the richest people in the world. He has orchestrated the adulation of his people through total control of information. Yet, it isn’t enough. The leader of Russia wants more. He wants to dominate the world. He wants even more wealth. He will imprison anyone who gets in his way. He will murder people to get what he wants. This is evil of the worst kind. Jesus could easily have been this type of leader, but he rejected this plan.
We also must be struck by those who are modeling the alternative way of living in the war we are witnessing. Who is exemplifying the values of Jesus? The Polish people have opened their borders to their neighbors. A million people have searched through their country. The people of Denmark have said that refugees are welcome to move into their homes. Generosity like this, exemplifies the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The choice for or against the Reign of God is being played out in real time for all of us to see.
Jesus didn’t make a choice to gratify himself. He didn’t choose to serve the reign of God in order that he might be worshipped. He set an example. He wants us to reject Satan’s value system. He wants us to embrace how he lived.
As we contemplate the destruction of Ukraine and barbarism that is going on there, we need to see that this is the embodiment of the evil Jesus resisted. We need to rediscover the treasure that is our Christian faith. What our world would be like if God truly reigned? May Lent be a time when we prepare ourselves through prayer and penance to stand up on Easter Sunday and recommit to the way, the truth and the life. We need to implement the plan of Jesus now more than ever.
Reflection Questions:
- What choices have I made lately that reflect the values of Jesus? Has it been a sacrifice?
- Am I shocked by what I see in Ukraine? What is this horrible situation teaching me?
Dear Parishioners,
I am sure that we all feel terrible about the war in Ukraine. What are some things we might do? One thing might be to fast and pray in a special way on each Wednesday of Lent. Another thing might be to take a Rice Bowl home this year and to really sacrifice to put money into it. These monies go to Catholic Relief Services. CRS is always on the front lines whenever there is a crisis offering emergency assistance. At least some of the money we give to the Rice Bowl will end up helping the Ukrainian people. Another time of prayer that I have been asked to mention is the Friday Rosary. Members of the parish lead a rosary every Friday at 8:40 a.m. They will be offering this rosary for Ukraine.
Attending the Stations of the Cross on Wednesday evening would also be a good thing to do right now. Jesus is still suffering, and he is being crucified each day as war rages in Eastern Europe.
This is truly a dangerous time for the whole world. The church’s peace and justice teaching is often dismissed as political. The church cannot be silent at this moment. Pope Francis visited the Russian Embassy at the Vatican the day the war started. He pleaded for peace. This was unprecedented. Popes usually summon diplomats to see them. Francis did not stand on ceremony because he knows the dangers of war in Europe.
Let us pray that suffering will end. Let Paul VI’s words be ours. Paul said in his visit to the United Nations in 1965, “No war ever again! Lay down your weapons.”
May our Lady of Peace Watch Over Our Troubled World.
Fr. Mark