CLARITY AND FIDELITY
It wasn’t easy for Jesus to remain faithful to the mission he has received from his Father and not depart from God’s will. The Gospels record the inner struggle and tests he had to overcome, along with his disciples, throughout his life.
The teachers of the law harass him with cunning questions to subject him to the established order, and thereby forgetting the Spirit who drove him to heal even on the Sabbath. The Pharisees asked him to stop relieving the suffering of the people and to do something more spectacular, «a sign from heaven», of cosmic proportions, with which God would confirm him before everyone.
The temptations came to him even from his dearest disciples. James and John asked him to forget the least ones and to think more about reserving for them the positions of most honor and power. Peter rebukes him for putting his life in danger and possibly ending up killed.
Jesus suffered and his disciples also suffered. Nothing was easy or clear. All needed to seek the Father’s will, overcoming tests and temptations of various kinds. A few hours before being arrested by the temple security forces, Jesus says this to his disciples: «You have stayed with me all through my trials» (Luke 22,28).
The episode known as the «temptations of Jesus» is a story in which we find grouped together and summarized the temptation that Jesus had to overcome throughout his life. Although he goes about moved by the Spirit received in the Jordan, nothing dispenses him from feeling drawn to false forms of messianism.
Should he think about his own interest or listen to the will of his Father? Should he impose his power as Messiah or put himself at the service of those who need him? Should he seek his own glory or show forth God’s compassion toward those who suffer? Should he avoid dangers and escape the crucifixion or hand himself over to his mission, trusting in the Father?
The story of Jesus’ temptations was gathered in the Gospels to warn his followers. We must be clear. Jesus’ Spirit is alive in his Church, but we Christians aren’t free to falsify again and again our identity, falling into multiple temptations.
To follow Jesus with faithfulness we need to identify the temptations we Christians have today: the hierarchy and the people, the religious leaders and the faithful. A Church that isn’t conscious of her temptations will quickly falsify her identity and mission. Aren’t we going through something of this? Don’t we need more clarity and vigilance to not fall into infidelity?
José Antonio Pagola
Translator: Fr. Jay VonHandorf
