REFLECTION | The temptation of Jesus: ‘This is the time of fulfillment

By Rev. Fr. Christian B. Buenafe, O. Carm. |  InterAksyon.com

In today’s gospel and in line with the start of the Lenten season, Christians are called to find a quiet place where they can talk and convene with God. Reflection file photo by Bernard Testa, InterAksyon.com.

“The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

—Mark 1:12-15
The gospel account took place immediately after his baptism at the river Jordan. Jesus went to the desert (wilderness) for forty days to pray and fast. It was there that Jesus was tempted by Satan for three times. Jesus learned about John the Baptist’s arrest and later he was beheaded by the order of the king as a gift to the daughter of Herodias to whom the Herod was so pleased. This was a very sad time for the followers of John the Baptist and to those who are waiting for hope and salvation. After the desert experience of Jesus he started his public ministry first in Galilee then to the other parts of the region. This is now the time when the Son of Man will do what God wants him to do.

In the very words of Jesus: “this is the time of fulfillment” means Jesus will now fulfill his role and task in building God’s reign in the world. The Kingdom of God is at hand.

The Kingdom of God is at hand, it is up to the people if they would heed and listen to God’s call for real conversion, for genuine reconciliation. To be part of the Kingdom would mean to belong to God, to be with Him and live in God’s bosom. The call to return to God is a call for all and the way is through personal preparation. Jesus calls everyone to repent and believe in the gospel. To repent and believe in the good news is an invitation and a call for everyone not only during the time of Jesus but it is also addressed to us today.

This is the opportune time, the Kairos, the time of fulfillment, a moment of grace because the Lord has fulfilled his promise. The promise of salvation is at hand. Let us take this moment with zeal, let us seize the moment therefore for this is the time of the Lord, the time of God’s favor, a time of fulfillment. The Lord has fulfilled his promise of mercy by sending Jesus to us and since then, Jesus has never left us. Jesus has been with us, thus, He is already in us. And all along, Jesus has been always with us. The Kingdom of God as promised has been slowly built by the disciples and those who followed Jesus since then.

The Kingdom is at hand, God is here with us. What shall we do to remain in the reign of God and to live in God? It is when we listen to His will for us through His Word and the signs of the times in our present world. Let us look into ourselves, have we repented and changed our old selves to new selves?
Repentance is the way to God and to be reconciled with God. It is only when we are back in the arms of the Father can we truly be united with God. A person whose only desire is God will surely live in the presence of God. And when we believe in the gospel, it would become our light and our shield from temptations and sins. The gospel or the good news is the when we return to God and allow Him to live in us. But how? Just like Jesus, we need to listen to the will of God, we need to pray and spend  some time in silence.

Jesus fasted and had himself open and free to know the will of the Father. It is not necessary for us to go to a physical desert just as he did but we can also create our desert: The desert of silence and sacrifice where we can talk to God in prayer and in contemplation. The desert may not be a physical place but a state where we can talk and feel the presence of God.

Let us pause and pray, reflect and ask ourselves:
Do I have my own desert in my heart in my life?
Do I pray and fast for a cause?
Am I sorry to God especially in times that I displeased and offended Him?
Am I strong enough to resist temptation?  Where do I get my strength and will?
Do I call on God when I am in trouble and when being tempted?
Do I repent for my sins and ask the Lord for pardon for strength, for mercy?
Do I live in God’s grace?  Am I well with my relationship with God?
Have I genuinely repented and believed in the Gospel?
Am I ready to prepared to celebrate the Paschal Triduum?

Prayer
Almighty and Ever-living God, own us and live in our hearts so that we do not succumbed to temptation and sin.  May we never displease and hurt you because of our weakness and actions, because of or wrongdoings and misgivings, because of our failures, faults and sins.  May we truly repent and return to you, and be merciful on us Lord and forgive us and restore s again in your fold. This we ask through Christ or Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Intention
Let us remember in our prayers those whom we promised to pray for; those who are sick and the downtrodden, those who are not well in the hospitals and in their homes, those who need healing from their illnesses, may the Lord heal them from their pains and sickness, may the Lord listen to their prayers and grant their intentions in accordance to His holy will.

In this Lenten season, let us now prepare ourselves for the Paschal Triduum of our Lord Jesus Christ, hence, may our Lenten observances be meaningful and fruitful.