On the first two Sundays of Lent we always hear the same Gospel stories, of the temptations of Christ in the wilderness and of the Transfiguration respectively. We continue to follow the three-yearly cycle of Matthew, Mark and Luke that we have been following in Ordinary Time, and so this year we will hear St Luke’s versions of these two events. What insights do these stories from the life of Christ have to offer us as we begin our “Lenten warfare”, and in particular what aspects of them are highlighted by St Luke?

The relevance of the temptations to Lent is fairly obvious: this penitential season is indeed modelled on Christ’s 40 days’ fast in the desert. But it’s worth glancing at the first reading from Deuteronomy for a deeper insight. Moses offers a very short summary, a sort of historical creed, of the pre-history of Israel, from the call of Abraham to the settlement of the Promised Land, and this reminds us that the wilderness is the place where Israel herself was tried by many tribulations before entering into the Land, and where she put God himself to the test (cf. Exodus 17:1-7; 32:1-10; Numbers 14:1-12). As we make our own journeys to the Promised Land of heaven, are we the tempters or the temptees? Do we stand with the faithless Israelites of the exodus generation, in with Satan himself, and put our God to the test? Or with Christ, allowing him to lead us through the trials of this life so as to enter into our heavenly inheritance?

It is clear that for St Luke especially the story of Christ’s temptations represents his victory over the wiles of the devil. Later in the Gospel, he records Christ saying, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy” (10:18-19). Christ has won this authority for us in his own temptations. But this is not the end of the story: Luke alone adds that, having been defeated in a theological battle by Jesus, the devil left him “until the appointed time” (4:13), clearly pointing towards the crucifixion. This will be Christ’s definitive victory over evil, and the purpose of Lent is to prepare ourselves to share in this victory.

A final point to note is the difference between Luke and Matthew in the ordering of them. St Matthew makes the climactic temptation the one on the high mountain, where Satan offers Christ kingship and glory if he will worship him. Have a look at the very end of Matthew, and you will see why this makes sense as the last of the three temptations. For Luke, it is the temptation to throw himself from the top of the temple that comes last, and this is because of the centrality of the temple in Luke’s Gospel (and Acts). Notionally, the temple is the dwelling place of God among humanity; yet it is Christ and no building that is the true temple, and Lent is the time for us to cast down all the stone temples we have built in our lives that pretend to replace Christ.

Briefly onto the Transfiguration: Luke makes the link to the previous week’s theme clear, by telling us that Christ’s discussion with Moses and Elijah concerns “his passing [literally ‘exodus’] which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem” (9:31). It seems clear that Christ is giving his most intimate disciples this apocalyptic vision in order to prepare them – and us – for the Passion which is that exodus. What is it a vision of? The resurrection? I think not: the resurrection is nothing like this. Rather, it is his second coming, the consummation of all things, which we might think of as the ultimate exodus.

One of the biggest differences between the three accounts of the Transfiguration is when the disciples are afraid. For Mark, it is right from the off; for Matthew, it is the voice of God that causes fear, which certainly makes sense. For Luke it is the cloud – another reminder of the exodus, when a cloud led the people through the wilderness. We are indeed on a journey, through penance and passion, to the resurrection and the end of time, but it is a journey so often overshadowed by clouds of confusion and doubt. Lent is a time to hear again the words of the angel to Mary: be not afraid. 

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